Some are big and powerful. Others are smaller and shifty. They can turn the corner or create their own path up the middle — sometimes both.

But there's a common characteristic among USF's running backs.

They block effectively in pass protection. It's a primary job requirement.

If not able or willing to carry out those duties, their role is diminished — or maybe they don't play at all.

"If you can't protect, you're a liability,'' offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said.

On the surface, it's easy to see why the Bulls were interested in transfers Cartevious Norton and Sam Franklin.

Norton (5-foot-11, 225 pounds) rushed for 525 yards and seven touchdowns last season with the Charlotte 49ers, part of his 31-game resume in college football, which includes time at Iowa State and career rushing marks of 1,180 yards and 12 scores.

Franklin (5-10, 202) was a reserve runner and primary kickoff returner last season with the Oklahoma Sooners, but also had a notable career at the Football Championship Subdivision level with UT-Martin. He rushed for 2,129 yards and 20 touchdowns in three seasons, while being named a Walter Payton Award (best FCS back) finalist.

Norton and Franklin can make things happen while carrying the ball.

They can also prevent bad things from happening in the backfield while serving as pass protectors for quarterback Byrum Brown.

"I really enjoy that part of the game because it shows you're not a selfish guy,'' Norton said. "You're laying your body out for the team — the other 10 guys and especially the quarterback, so he can execute his job.

"You just have to have the willingness — the have-to and the want-to. You thud up and hold him (defender) out for three or four seconds, so the quarterback can get rid of the ball. If you can't do it (block), you're going to be taken off the field on important downs, like third down. The other team is sending blitzes and you've got to be there. They recruit you because they know you can run the ball. But the protection piece has to be there. Everywhere he (quarterback) goes with the protection, your alignment and your assignment changes. You've got to be tough and you've got to be smart about it.''

Gordon said Norton and Franklin should fit nicely into a backfield that was filled with veteran experience in 2024. Last season, the Bulls featured senior veterans Kelley Joiner, Nay'Quan Wright and Ta'Ron Keith, who combined for 80-percent (1,863 yards) of the team's rushing production. Not only that, but it was a tough trio, a group that understood offensive concepts and a team-first attitude.

"We're going to throw the rock, so if we're looking at a running back who didn't have the mindset and ability to protect, we wouldn't recruit them,'' Gordon said. "These guys all know that. We never say, 'All you're going to do is carry the ball.' We're honest with them.

"Anybody who loves football and grew up playing running back, obviously they want to carry the rock. But at the same time, if you study football, you  realize what's going on and you know that blocking is a big, big part of that position.''

Gordon said running backs from elite high-school programs are generally taught blocking skills from an early age, but sometimes that teaching must take place at the college level.

"In high school, the blocking responsibilities might be limited schematically,'' Gordon said. "We have Coach James (Micah, running backs coach) showing them, 'Hey, on this play call and this protection, this is who you're responsible for.' In a classroom, it's easy to see up on a board what you're supposed to do. It's easy to watch somebody else do it on video. But it's something else to go out there and do it, especially when you've never had a rep doing it.

"You're going to be asked to block linebackers and safeties. A lot of times, they're going to be running full speed right at your face. You've got 225-pound linebackers trying to run through your face and lot of high-school linebackers are a buck-80. So, it's a learning process. But no question, at this level, you've got to be able to protect.''

USF's running game will have an added dimension with the healthy return of Brown, who rushed for a team-best 809 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023. In that season, Brown and LSU's Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels were the only Football Bowl Subdivision players to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 800.

"Until Byrum got dinged up, he was as good a dual-threat guy as there was in the country,'' Gordon said. "When it's time to use that (Brown running), we'll use it. It could happen at any point in time. If Byrum pulls the football down and turns into a runner on a passing play, he's a fantastic runner. He's excited to be healthy.''

And no doubt, Brown is also excited to have promising new weapons in the USF backfield.

Head coach Alex Golesh pointed to the potential of holdovers such as sophomore Alvon Isaac (5-9, 185), junior Jaylen Johnson (5-9, 195) and sophomore Nykahi Davenport (6-0, 216), plus the potential emergence of freshmen Tray Kinkle (5-11, 196) and Chase Garnett (5-9, 215).

But for veteran experience — along with superb blocking — USF's top backfield names to watch could be Norton and Franklin.

 Gordon was on the staff at Iowa State when Norton was a Cyclone, so there's familiarity. He's still getting to know Franklin.

"He (Norton) is a rugged, physical running back who has a way of lifting you up,'' Gordon said. "He's a quiet guy but he has his own ways to lead and a lot of that is just through how he plays.''

"I'm becoming more vocal since I know that I'm the oldest player in the room or the most experienced,'' Norton said. "I want to lead by example and have the guys follow. We all have one standard. That's just to be us every day, be a dog, execute the plays, be the same person.''

Norton and Gordon agree that Franklin will bring more positive qualities to USF's backfield.

"He (Franklin) has flashed in two days (of fall practice), for sure,'' Gordon said. "He has played college football before at a high level. He has lifted weights and been in a nutrition program. He understands college football and what's expected of him. We expect him to come in here and not blink.''

"I feel like Sam can add toughness and grit,'' Norton said. "He's another older guy in the room with experience. He can pass down knowledge to the other guys and even to me because we haven't played together yet. I'm excited to have him here.''

–#GoBulls–