Running back Ta'Ron Keith has found a home with USF football.
Finally.
Keith, from DeLand High School, originally committed to USF in 2019, but chose other options following a coaching change. He had an ultra-productive career as a runner, pass-catcher and kickoff returner at Bowling Green. For his final season, he originally transferred to Western Kentucky, where he played in the spring game, but already knew that WKU's offense wasn't a fit.
So, Keith was on the move again.
Now he's back to the place where his college football odyssey actually began.
"It's crazy,'' Keith said. "But I feel like this is where I belong.''
Keith (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) is also working at kickoff returner, where he performed at an elite level for BG, and punt returner, which would be a first for his career. He owns a 23.9-yard career kickoff return average with long returns of 83 and 76 yards, and ranked fifth nationally in 2022 with a 27.3 average, when he was named second-team All-MAC.
The USF-to-Keith connection was jump-started at the Bulls' spring game, when K'wan Powell was carted off with a serious knee injury.
"We were looking (in the transfer portal) for a guy who had played a bunch of football,'' head coach Alex Golesh said. "If it was going to be a young man from the state of Florida, that was a bonus.
"But man, you talk about a pro (approach) in terms of how he handles himself. He knew he got here late (May), so he had to catch up and he couldn't use fall camp to catch up. His summer was incredible. He'd work out, grab lunch, then come up and spend the rest of the day in the coaches' offices. He's mentally locked in. And we know that physically, he has been through it.''
Coaches view Keith as a Swiss Army knife-option in the backfield, which also counts 5-9, 206-pound Nay'Quan Wright (797 yards, eight touchdowns), 5-9, 190-pound Kelley Joiner (156 yards, 12 receptions) and freshman 5-9, 174-pound Alvon Isaac among its options.
At BG, Keith rushed for 693 yards on his career (4.6-yard average) and five touchdowns, while catching 104 passes for 1,033 yards and eight scores, serving as the team's leading receiver last season (44 catches, 457 yards, three touchdowns).
"For us, it starts with running between the tackles and pass protection (as running back skills) before you get too crazy,'' Golesh said. "All of our backs are unique in their own way. Ta'Ron is pushing for more reps now. He knows it's his last shot to go get it, so he's working like that. He's back home.''
From BG, where he played in a game at 7 degrees and another where snow covered the field, Keith has arrived at USF, where the heat and humidity can be oppressive, especially when trying to keep pace in Golesh's go-go offense.
"With the tempo that we play and the amount of plays that we play, guys are going to rotate regardless,'' running backs coach Micah James said. "We need to keep everybody fresh. But when you turn on the film and see what Ta'Ron has done (at BG), it's impressive. We're excited about what he can bring to us.''
"You pick your poison with our backfield,'' said Joiner, 25, entering his sixth season at USF. "We each have our own playing style. But me and Ta'Ron, we're kind of similar — same height, same body build, same hairstyle. He's a very explosive back. I can't wait to see what he'll do for us this season.''
James said Keith has shown some leadership skills, but the player is more intent on earning his green-and-gold stripes before unveiling that side of his personality.
"As soon as I got here, I just put my head down and went to work,'' said Keith, who has been reunited with his first cousin and youth-football teammate, Bulls' cornerback Ben Knox. "I've got to show I'm a worker and show what all I can do first. Then that's when I can become a leader and start helping out the team vocally.
"I've been working and studying. I feel like I know the playbook almost like the back of my hand. There's more stuff I can learn, but the rhythm is going real smooth.''
Keith said one of the off-field skills he picked up at Bowling Green was … bowling. Picking up on the Midwestern penchant for the lanes, Keith and his teammates were regulars. Keith, who has his own ball, once rolled a 233 game. But at USF, he hasn't made time for such ventures.
It's round-the-clock football. He's making up for lost time.
And so far, Keith has been impressive. He could be valuable on offense and he certainly should help the return games (USF was 71st nationally on kickoffs and 102nd on punts last season).
"The end goal is to be a pro (in the NFL),'' Keith said. "So, if you want to be a pro, you've got to act like a pro. Learn as much football as you can. Never think you know it all. There's always something you can learn and you just try to get one-percent better every day.
"I'm not really playing for numbers. I have personal goals, but team goals come first. If I do everything I can for the team, my personal goals should fall in line. I'm going to give it everything I've got.''
–#GoBulls–
