Football The Oracle: Bulls find answer in backfield

[Brad]

Bulls find answer in backfield

 

By Jacob Hoag, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

On August 26, 2014

 

The Bulls entered this past offseason with hopes of a sound rushing attack only for things to be shaken up, leaving them with decisions to make.

 

With the graduation of Marcus Shaw, who led the team with 816 yards last season, and the transfer of redshirt junior Willie Davis to Tennessee Tech, the Bulls lost depth and experience from their backfield.

 

USF now looks to lean on sophomore Darius Tice, who is pegged as the opening day starter on the official depth chart, to carry the workload. Freshmen Marlon Mack and D’Ernest Johnson follow close behind to help strengthen a major point of weakness in the offense.

 

“It’s a committee approach,” Tice said. “I’m leading it off right now with (Mack and Johnson) behind me, so we’re all contributing and doing our part.”

 

Tice finished the season with the second most yards on the team (151), but only played 65 snaps. The lack of experience across the board will be a struggle for the Bulls rushing attack.

 

Behind Tice stand two four-star freshmen that look to contribute early and often.

 

“We lost Mike Pierre halfway through the summer, so we definitely had some concerns,” offensive coordinator Paul Wulff said. “But in the back of our mind we knew we had signed two running backs that could play early and they’ve proven that in camp.”

 

One of these freshmen is Mack, a Booker High School star who came to USF as a four-star recruit according to ESPN.com. Under head coach and former USF defensive back Johnnie Jones, Mack rushed for 1,527 yards and 19 touchdowns in his senior season.

 

Mack, who split first-team reps with Tice, will start out the season behind him, but....

 

 

Rest of report

 

[raptorcj]

...coach Telly Lockette said. “Right now we’re just trying to find some stability and see who's going to take the bull by the horns.â€

 

ba-dum, ching!

 

Hope one of these guys breaks out, we need them to!

[GaUSFBull]

Hope one of these guys breaks out, we need them to!

 

Hoping they ALL do!   I want them to force some tough decisions on the part of Lockette and Taggart on who needs to be on the field more.

[Bear]

The ORACLE finally improved their website -- looks great!

[raptorcj]

 

Hope one of these guys breaks out, we need them to!

 

Hoping they ALL do!   I want them to force some tough decisions on the part of Lockette and Taggart on who needs to be on the field more.

Would be a great problem to have.

[CRBULL]

What about McCray?

[cmhatter]

i like mack and johnsons talent over mccray