Here are some deep thoughts, featuring USF wide receiver Chas Nimrod, the Bulls newest deep threat:
"I definitely like being explosive, quick off the line and being able to stretch the field,'' Nimrod said.
"I'm extremely comfortable with Chas Nimrod,'' quarterback Byrum Brown said. "He sees it, then he goes and gets it. He's able to run past guys, make catches and get (yards after the catch). He has been very effective.''
"Chas has a chance to be as good as he wants to be,'' offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said.
So far, Nimrod has been pretty darn good for the Bulls (3-1), who open American Conference play on Friday night at Raymond James Stadium against the Charlotte 49ers (1-3, 0-1).
Nimrod, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound transfer from Tennessee, can become only the second player in USF history to record three consecutive 100-yard receiving games (along with Andre Davis in 2013).
Nimrod had four catches for 128 yards at Miami on Sept. 13, then followed up with four receptions for 119 yards (including touchdowns of 42 and 22 yards) on Sept. 20 against South Carolina State. Overall, he has 14 catches for 367 yards and a 26.2-yard average, which ranks sixth nationally. USF's single-season record is 23.3 by Clif Dell in 1998.
Head coach Alex Golesh, while serving as the Volunteers' offensive coordinator from 2021-22, helped to recruit Nimrod to Tennessee. Also involved was assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Kodi Burns before he left the Vols to join an NFL staff.
"I saw Chas as a high-school junior and senior, then as a college freshman,'' Golesh said. "It (going deep) always has been his game. The next step to his game is making the competitive catches.
"He has become a really good route-runner. He's super competitive and he's getting better at the intermediate stuff. But as Chas continues to go and improve, we're going to need him to continue to make explosive plays.''
So far, Nimrod has made receptions of 55, 53, 43 and 42 yards. USF has become an excellent destination after Nimrod played in 23 Tennessee games (starting six) with 29 career catches for 315 yards.
"He has SEC experience,'' Gordon said. "When he walked into that stadium at Florida, he had walked into that stadium before. He has been in those environments before and he has produced in those environments before. So he has a level of confidence.
"He's smart. He understands how to play the position. He understands releases, how to work routes, how to create separation and he's fast. Really good size, good hands and good ball skills. The combination of all those things together … and he can be really special.''
Nimrod set a goal during training camp — "make a play a day,'' he said — to remind coaches of his skills and show everyone why he came to USF.
"It wasn't an easy decision to leave Tennessee, but I already had great relationships here at USF with Coach Burns and Coach Golesh,'' Nimrod said. "I've talked with people who played for Coach Burns and they all talked about how he gave them so much confidence. And with this offense, it was a pretty easy transition for me.''
Golesh said he admired Nimrod's transfer decision because the player sought good relationships and a solid program foundation instead of reaching for "the nearest shiny object.''
"I trust my gut a lot and this was a gut decision,'' Nimrod said. "I feel like I was led in a very good direction.''
Nimrod described himself as a "homebody'' off the field. There's nothing better to him than hanging out with his rescue cat, Phil, who he got from an animal shelter in Knoxville. His mother, Rebecca, was a yoga teacher, so he works on that discipline in his free time, making sure that his body is flexible.
She didn't want her sons playing tackle football at an early age, so Nimrod actually spent most of his formative years as a soccer player. He originally thought he'd be a place-kicker in football — and he still believes he can knock in a field-goal attempt in a pinch — but settled into receiver on his eighth-grade team.
"That's obviously where I can make the biggest impact,'' Nimrod said. "I just hope to keep improving and keep contributing.''
So far on this 2025 season, his contributions run deep.
–#GoBulls–
