USF Spring Game presented by LifeLink
Sunday, April 19 at 3:30 p.m.
Corbett Stadium on the USF Campus
TICKETS: HERE - $10 for general public and $5 for season ticket members
LISTEN: 1010 AM & Bulls Unlimited
PARKING: Is FREE. Lots will be open Sunday morning. 
    Fan parking is in Yuengling Center Lots 22D, 22E, 22F, 23A, 23B
GATES: Stadium Gates will open at 2:00 p.m.
GAME DAY ACTIVATIONS: Activations inside Corbett Stadium will begin at 2:00 p.m. and remain open through the game. 

• 4 Food Trucks & Beverage Stations
• USF Sun Dolls, Cheerleaders & Rocky
• Herd of Thunder Band
• Photo Opportunities
• Kids Zone (face painting, caricatures and games)
• Fan Activations & Merchandise Vendors

It's time for USF's annual spring football game. Maybe "game'' isn't the correct word because Sunday afternoon's proceedings at Corbett Stadium will include modified rules all around.

There will be 12-minute quarters (with a running clock in the fourth quarter, except for the last two minutes).

The overall offense (wearing green) will compete against the overall defense (wearing white), with scoring for each unit tabulated on the scoreboard.

A kickoff will start each half with a full kickoff team rundown, but the returner will only catch the ball without advancing it. The ball will start at the 25-yard line.

Quarterbacks are off-limits for contact.

There will be specialized scoring. Offensively, it's like a normal game with the addition of one point earned for consecutive first downs gained. Defensively, four points can be gained for causing a turnover (fumble recovery/interception), three points for a fourth-down stop, three for a missed field goal/PAT, one for forcing a three-and-out, and one for forcing a punt.

Bulls head coach Brian Hartline said it's more of a scrimmage than a full-fledged game — the final spring practice, really — but he also acknowledged that the presence of fans, band music, cheerleaders and a game-like environment will naturally provide a different feel.

"Any time you're playing football, it's fun, so we'll be out there having fun,'' Hartline said. "Our main focus is the opportunity for these guys to compete and really showcase what they've learned over spring, really put a bookmark to the end (of spring ball).

"We want to stay healthy for sure. But our players deserve the opportunity to put it more … on a pedestal, to do a good job, then put a little stress on them and see how they react to that. It's not a practice. It's a spring game. It will be graded, so there's more impact than just a practice. They've earned this, so I'm excited for these guys to showcase what they can do.''

Here are some things to watch and/or observe at Sunday's USF Spring Game presented by LifeLink:

 

The Quarterbacks

If you're a diehard USF fan, this is undoubtedly the top unanswered question. Who will be QB1?

Hartline isn't ready to name a starter, but he indicated it's currently a two-man race between Michael Van Buren Jr. (6-feet, 190 pounds, Mississippi State/LSU) and Luke Kromenhoek (6-4, 220, Florida State/Mississippi State). Both were four-star prospects coming out of high school. Both have collegiate starts and at least nine games of collegiate experience under their belt. 

Nothing will be settled Sunday — obviously — but at least it's an opportunity to see the QBs operate and get a feel for their skill sets.

"They're both doing a good job and they're both chasing being that same guy every single day,'' Hartline said. "Just the efficiency and frequency of what they're doing is really what's telling the tale. Any time you have healthy competition, you get the best version of these guys.

"We're trying to put them in situations as much as we can so they can evaluate themselves. We're trying to make it hard to, so they can separate themselves. The more you push, the more you challenge, the more there's a separator. We'll see how the spring game goes, but we're looking forward to these guys competing through the summer and seeing (how that transpires).''
 

The Flavor

Could it be … vanilla?

"Our fans will probably be rolling out … and I'm sure some other people will be rolling out (to the game),'' Hartline said. "Probably a good chance there's going to be some scouting going on (from opposing programs). So, we'll be particular about what we really want to run and what we want to show. 

"I think our focus will be more around technique, fundamentals, winning with our hands, winning with leverage, understanding our concepts. Physicality and things like that versus schematic value. We'll be purposeful. It's a great opportunity for guys to showcase what they've learned and how they've grown. But it will probably be a lot of base things just to make sure we're strategic in sharing information.''

 

The Size and Experience

There are 41 new players who have arrived from the transfer portal. The commonality? Many of them look the part.

USF might have the largest offensive line in program history (potential starters could average 6-foot-5, 315 pounds). 

There are 19 players listed at 300 pounds or greater, including 330-pound Major Dillard (Norfolk State) and 325-pound Terry Simmons Jr. (Duke), who should be key pegs on the interior defensive line.

Meanwhile, the Bulls have added 28 transfers who are either seniors or graduate students academically, each with at least three seasons of college football experience.

 

The Defense

Defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge, who helped East Carolina to last season's American Conference lead in seven defensive categories, already has won over some fans by his promise of "creating constant havoc.''

Who doesn't love sacks, tackles for a loss and pass breakups?

"We're going to swing first and ask questions later,'' Aldridge said. "We're going to be the aggressor. This game is kind of tailored for the offense. I think to be good on defense, you've got to be aggressive.

"Offenses want to dictate what you do by their tempo or their formations. We're not going to let anybody dictate what we do. The three things we talk about every day are effort, tackling and execution. You've got to play hard. You've got to get people on the ground. And you've got to do your job.''

 

The View

Just north of Corbett Stadium, fans can witness the future — the rapidly progressing $349-million on-campus stadium and football operations center. If you think it's fun having the spring game on campus, just wait until 2027.

"Our new football facility really speaks to the importance of allocating resources to our program,'' Hartline said. "In an environment where a lot of these buildings are getting cut because of rev share or other reasons, we've chosen here at USF to invest into our program and invest into the players to provide them with all the resources they need to be the best version of themselves. We look forward to all of that in the near future. It's pretty cool to have it as the backdrop for our spring game.''

 

The Skill-Position Players

Who's going to catch it? Who's going to tote it?

There's a proliferation of new pass-catchers such as Bryson Rodgers (Ohio State), Cam Seldon (Virginia Tech), Jaron Glover (Mississippi State), Armani Winfield (Colorado State), Arhmad Branch (Purdue) and Kenny Odom (UTEP), along with familiar faces such as Mudia Reuben – who had 14 receptions for 324 yards and four touchdowns in last season's final three games, Jaden Alexis, Arkese Parks, Josh Porter and others.

There are interesting running-back prospects in D.J. Crowther (929 yards, 10 touchdowns last season at Dartmouth) and Jason Collins Jr. (1,009 yards in 18 career games at Morgan State), plus holdovers such as Alvon Isaac (360 yards in 2025), Chase Garnett and Tray Kinkle.

The possibilities abound.

 

The Environment

Spring football is like a family reunion, a chance to gather with like-minded fans who are counting the days until Sept. 5 (the season-opener against Florida International University). There's plenty to soak in for Bulls fans. It's the 30th anniversary season for USF football and the last go-round at Raymond James Stadium, the program's home since 1998.

After returning to the top 25 rankings and making the program's first appearance in the College Football Playoff standings last season, USF got a taste of prosperity. In Hartline's first season, the Bulls are expected to again contend for the American Conference title and a spot among the nation's elite.

The start of something big? Perhaps. The spring game is the first opportunity to sample what could become a special season.

 

–#GoBulls–