For the first time since 2018, the familiar sight of Sean Atkins will not be seen on the USF practice field.

It's a whole new era for Bulls' receivers without No. 38 (although that number is currently being used by Dorian Mallary Jr., a freshman cornerback from Fort Myers).

"We've been going through spring and summer, figuring out how we're going to close that gap,'' offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said. "Great players come and great players go. When they leave, it's an opportunity for the next man up to try and learn and hopefully emulate a lot of the things that Sean did.''

Atkins might be gone, but his USF legend will never die. As a former walk-on, an undersized player who was initially dismissed as a non-factor by many observers, Atkins finished as USF's all-time leader in catches (200) and receiving yards (2,167), along with 17 touchdowns.

"What we're trying to recreate what we had with Sean, a consistent guy every single day in practice and games,'' Gordon said. "The new guys on our team are going to be a little different. They have a different skill set. Their body shapes are different.

"Part of our mission in fall camp is to figure out each one of those guys and figure out how we can use them the best way in our offense. That's what we were able to do with Sean and it took a little while. There's not going to be another guy like Sean Atkins. Now we have to figure out what we've got. It's going to be about the guys who are the most consistent throughout training camp, the ones who can do it day-in, day-out.''

Returning from a strong finish to the 2024 season, Keshaun Singleton (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) figures to be one of USF's leaders at receiver.

In 2024, he emerged as a big-play threat at mid-season, finishing with 27 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns. With a wide wingspan, big hands, and a physical approach, he should continue as a matchup problem for opponents.

"I wasn't very vocal last year, but I think I'm going to change,'' said Singleton, who saw the first game action of his career in 2024. "I'd like to be more of a leader or a guy other people come to with questions. I can be that guy. I just want to pick up from last year and keep being a productive player.

"It will be different without Sean Atkins, but we've got plenty of talent in our room. I think you're going to see a lot of great receivers at USF.''

The Bulls added to their wide receiver room through the transfer portal with senior Chas Nimrod (Tennessee, 6-2, 198) competing with the Bulls during spring drills. Graduate student Mudia Reuben (Stanford, 6-2, 210) and Minnesota transfer Tyler Williams (6-3, 206) of Lakeland High School joined the Bulls in the summer.

There's potential productivity with holdovers JeyQuan Smith (5-10, 185), a junior and one of USF's fastest players and sophomore Joshua Porter (6-0, 184), who had 25 catches for 230 yards as a freshman. Graduate student Jaden Alexis (6-0, 200), who sat out last season with a knee injury after catching 23 passes in 2023, continues to work his way back.

Coaches are also intrigued by the potential of freshmen Kory Pettigrew (6-1, 180), who had 73 receptions on a Georgia state-championship team, and Jeremiah Koger (6-3, 209), who played on the nation's No. 8-ranked prep team with Baltimore's St. Frances Academy. There's also promising sophomores Brandon Winton (6-2, 190) and Arkese Parks (6-2, 175).

"Life after Sean Atkins is a little different because he was such a special player,'' quarterback Byrum Brown said. "But we have a lot of new players who are going to step up. I'm eager for this wide receiver room, as well as the tight ends. Same with the running backs. We've definitely got weapons.''

 "Sean Atkins had a love of football and a love of competing,'' Gordon said. "That's what got Sean to where he was the past two years. We'll have a new guy in that role — maybe multiple guys — but we're going to find guys who will step up and be playmakers. That's going to happen. So, it will be fun figuring out who's ready to do that consistently.''

–#GoBulls–