The calm through the storm.

That's how USF offensive-line coach Tyler Hudanick characterizes his unit, which includes four primary returning starters, a combined 114 starts in college football and a ready-to-roll rotation of 10 players.

"I think we've done a good job of keeping that veteran presence (through fall training camp),'' Hudanick said. "Now I'm looking for them to remain consistent. I think they have a really good grasp of not only our room, but having their hand on the whole team. So, I expect a lot of veteran poise out of them, more so than anything.
 

"Any time you have a presence up front, whether that's on the D-line or the O-line, it creates a culture for your program. It creates that sense of physicality. From a quarterback's standpoint, he knows he has 10 guys who are going to step in there, and he doesn't have to blink an eye or worry or feel unprotected at any moment. And when that guy (quarterback) feels comfortable, you've got a chance to beat anybody. When you're deep up front like we are, you have a chance to be really, really special.''

The Bulls return starters from last season in center Cole Best (6-foot-4, 315 pounds), left guard Jack Wilty (6-4, 321), right guard Zane Herring (6-5, 315) and right tackle Derek Bowman (6-5, 292), along with veteran center Mike Lofton (6-2, 315), who has started 22 games at USF.

Big things are expected from Stanford transfer Connor McLaughlin (6-7, 304), who can play at either offensive-tackle position, and Appalachian State transfer Thomas Shrader (6-5, 312), a versatile talent who's expected to play an interior spot.

Meanwhile, junior Cole Skinner (6-5, 325) continues to push for time after a great camp. Hudanick is high on freshman Khalil Collins (6-1, 312), while characterizing freshman Caleb Harris (6-4, 280) as a training-camp "surprise'' who can't be dismissed. Sophomores TJ Lawrence (6-5, 285) and Terriyan Morman (6-5, 380) also have the capability of playing meaningful snaps, while Khalil Walker (6-5, 322) arrives with great credentials from Coffeyville Community College.
"I love our offensive linemen,'' quarterback Byrum Brown said. "Those are my guys. I'll go to battle with those guys any day of the week.''

The first day of the week for a real battle is Thursday, Aug. 28, when the No. 25-ranked Boise State Broncos visit USF at Raymond James Stadium. It's the first of a three-game trifecta that includes trips to No. 15-ranked Florida (Sept. 6) and No. 10-ranked Miami (Sept. 13).

That gauntlet requires a sturdy and dependable O-line performance. That's what Hudanick expects.

"You're asking these guys to take on their man, against his will, every single play, every single day with no reward,'' Hudanick said. "That's where it starts. Then you build that connection and hopefully it carries over to the whole team. If you motivate these guys to want to do that blindly, then you have a chance to be really good.

"We drill it (urgency) into their brains from the first meeting on. It's how you have to live. You can't kind of sprinkle or dip your toe in. Every single day on the practice field, every drill, there has to be urgency and tempo to it. If you just try to sprinkle in, your guys won't be in shape enough. You have to get them ready to go.''

McLaughlin, a Jesuit High School product who's ecstatic to play his final college season at home, said he has been impressed at how USF's new faces have quickly meshed with the returning players.

"We have a lot of experience and a lot of snaps, so that obviously helps,'' McLaughlin said. "We get along really well. There aren't any 'me' guys here. Everyone's ready to grab their lunch pail and chop wood. I've been trying to get into the minute details of this camp and figure out how to get my game better. We all have different playing styles. Now it's a matter of refining that and working together to create the best unit possible.''

Bowman, going into his third and final season at USF after transferring from Houston, said he expects experience to make a big difference.

"We all know what it takes,'' Bowman said. "When the bar gets raised, we've got to raise it and make each other better in the process.

"Coach (Hudanick) and Coach Golesh say that every good team they've been a part of, the offensive line sets the culture for the offense and the whole team. We've made that our mission. We're going to set the culture and control how things go because we want the outcome to be very successful. We have that capability on this team to have a great season.''

Here comes the storm — Boise State, Florida and Miami — but USF's offensive line intends to bring the calm with its experience and poise.

"It's a very good group,'' Hudanick said. "I believe they're going to lead the way.''

–#GoBulls–