Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook write-up on USF

[Mama_Bull]

A few mistakes, here and there, but a decent write-up of USF football from Blue Ribbon:

Team preview: South Florida

Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

South Florida Bulls

LOCATION Tampa, Fla.

CONFERENCE Big East

LAST SEASON 9-4 (.692)

CONFERENCE RECORD 4-3 (t-3rd)

OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 8

DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 8

NICKNAME Bulls

COLORS Green and gold

HOME FIELD Raymond James Stadium (65,000)

HEAD COACH Jim Leavitt (Missouri '78)

RECORD AT SCHOOL 70-43 (10 years)

CAREER RECORD 70-43 (10 years)

ASSISTANTS • Dan McCarney (Iowa '75), Assistant head coach/Defensive line

• Greg Gregory (Richmond '80), Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks

• Wally Burnham (Samford '63), Defensive coordinator/Linebackers

• Mike Canales (Utah State '84), Passing game coordinator/Wide receivers

• Troy Douglas (Appalachian State '88), Safeties

• Carl Franks (Duke '83), Running backs

• Rich Rachel (Parsons College '69), Cornerbacks

• Larry Scott (USF '00), Tight ends

• Mike Simmonds (Indiana State '85), Offensive line

TEAM WINS (Last five yrs.) 9-7-4-6-9

FINAL RANK (Last five yrs.) 32-45-79-58-26

2006 FINISH Beat East Carolina in Papajohns.com Bowl.

2007 Schedule | 2006 Results | 2006 Stats

COACH AND PROGRAM

As the godfather of USF football, Jim Leavitt is a busy man. One would expect that of any head coach. Between recruiting, scheming to beat the opposition, managing the behaviors of 80-plus young adults and the myriad demands placed on his time by alumni, fans and the university itself, Leavitt is busier than Jack Bauer.

But on this particular spring afternoon, Leavitt is even more harried than usual. He's on the road again, looking for more talent amidst the unfriendly Florida climes, where the big boys don't take too kindly to the likes of the Bulls coming in to steal their prospects. He's glad to take a little time on the cell phone, just as long as the conversation is finished before he reaches the next high school he's visiting. And it had better get done today, because tomorrow, his daughter graduates from elementary school.

"That's a big deal," he says in his trademark staccato cadence. "I'm supposed to be in Miami tomorrow, but that will have to wait."

Now a full decade old, the USF program has made remarkable strides, moving from an extremely minor player on the Football Bowl Subdivision scene to a team with back-to-back bowl bids (including its first-ever postseason triumph, over East Carolina last year) and a solid portfolio within the Big East.

Much of the success is owed directly to Leavitt, who has moved relentlessly ahead with his efforts to establish USF as a factor within the Big East. More importantly, he has tried to make USF a legitimate heavyweight in Florida, home of the nation's most plentiful harvest of high school talent. A realist, Leavitt understands USF is not there yet. Last year, he talked about being in the room but not being in the room. Now, he's talking about making some progress against the state's Big Three -- Florida, Florida State, Miami -- where before the program was just "sniffing around."

"We're still trying to build a tradition," he said. "We still have to find some guys under rocks. But we're beating Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Purdue and Indiana for some players now.

"We're also doing well against Louisville and Rutgers, who both recruit Florida. We're going head-to-head against them, and we have a little pop."

When Leavitt talks about recruiting, he does so with an evangelical fervor, because he knows the more of the state's top talent he can convert into Bull believers, the sooner he'll be able to establish USF as a full-fledged Big East powerhouse. From there, he can move into the national sphere of influence. In order to do more than play in games like the Papa-johns.com Bowl, USF has to cultivate that rich Sunshine State soil.

That's why Leavitt is so excited about his coaching staff, which is filled with some strong teachers and top-shelf recruiters. They may not be selling SEC titles and BCS bowl berths, but they know how to close deals and pitch prospects on the opportunity to be part of something that's moving forward. As he lists his assistants, he adds "great recruiter" to their resume. For instance, Dan McCarney, the recently deposed Iowa State head man, is "one of the best defensive line coaches in America and a great recruiter."

New O-line man Mike Simmonds is a "huge recruiter and a tremendous coach." You get the picture. Leavitt is proud of his staff.

"It's a darned good staff," he said. "They all recruit with energy and passion and can coach. That gives us a chance. They all have credibility."

That's great, but there is more to attracting 18-year-olds than credibility. You need some bling, too. Leavitt understands that, so he is almost as enthusiastic when he talks about the "two-story, glass-enclosed dining hall" in the football building. He's also happy to report that USF just installed its "second 55-inch plasma TV in the weight room."

Forget posing in front of the mirrors. Pump that iron to "Maui Fever" instead. About the only thing -- besides tradition -- that is keeping USF from catching the other Florida schools is that it plays its games in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, rather than an on-campus facility. In other words, the rest of the stuff is in place.

This year should be another example of how the program is moving forward. It's impossible to guarantee a duplication of nine wins, last year's win total. A Sept. 8 trip to Auburn will hurt that goal. But ask anybody who plays the Bulls about their talent, and you'll get the comments of some highly impressed people. USF has great speed and athletic ability. It has a young quarterback with a penchant for making big plays. Its skill position fleet is fast and talented. What's missing?

"We lost some incredible leaders," Leavitt said. "[Linebacker] Stephen Nicholas was a giant. I don't know what kind of leadership we'll have. I hope we get some, because we have a lot of talent running around."

It's running, all right, but hardly as fast as the USF coach.

QUARTERBACKS

When one defensive coordinator whose team played the Bulls in '06 said, "USF's quarterback is a freshman Joe Montana," he wasn't piling on the hype. Sophomore Matt Grothe (6-0, 200) was a remarkable performer last year, taking over halfway through the USF opener and piling up 3,198 total yards. Grothe was the runaway Big East Rookie of the Year and was chosen Big East Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News.

"He's a playmaker," Leavitt said. "He is confident, competitive and he'll fight you. He makes all the throws, can run, sees the field and reads coverages."

Grothe completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns in his rookie season. His 8.1 yards per attempt were impressive for anybody, much less a freshman. He ran for 622 yards and nine scores and was chosen Big East Offensive Player of the Week twice. Grothe led the Bulls to come-from-behind wins in each of his first three games and shrugged off a pair of early interceptions to key the 22-20 upset of seventh-ranked West Virginia.

With three years remaining in Tampa, Grothe will establish a trove of records that may never be matched -- or at least will stand in some form for a long, long time.

Leavitt sounds pretty enthusiastic about Grothe's backup, although he isn't about to concede the starting position to anybody other than the sophomore.

Junior Grant Gregory (6-1, 205) is the son of offensive coordinator Greg Gregory and transferred to USF from Indiana before the 2005 season. He shifted from safety to quarterback during spring drills last year and spent the '06 season adjusting to the offense and the position, which he played in high school. Gregory didn't take a snap last year, but Leavitt has confidence in him.

"Because his father is a coach, Grant is a gym rat," Leavitt said. "He runs well and crushes it when it comes to throwing."

The Bulls lost last year's backup, Pat Julmiste, to graduation, and watched Carlton Hill, whom many believed to be the team's quarterback of the future, struggle with some off-field problems in '06. He is back on the team but will try his hand at defensive back this year.

Senior Matt Severino (6-2, 185) is the holder on placements and a former walk-on who is unlikely to see any action. Freshman Alton Voss (6-2, 210), from Gulf High School in Holiday, Fla. was a dual-threat quarterback last year, running and throwing for more than 1,000 yards.

RUNNING BACKS

This was not a great area for the Bulls last year. Grothe led the team in rushing, with 622 yards, and junior Ben Williams (5-7, 190) was second with just 436 and a 3.6-yard average.

"He's a solid guy who can get tough yards," Leavitt said.

Though Williams is listed first on the depth chart, it wouldn't surprise anybody if he loses his starting job as the year wears on, thanks to a pair of freshmen whom Leavitt believes will be top-notch backs.

The first is redshirt freshman Aston Samuels (5-10, 190), who ran for 1,553 yards as a senior at Glades Central (Fla.) High School and averaged 8.2 yards per carry.

"He can fly," Leavitt said. "He's a great kid who works his tail off."

The other name to remember is freshman Mike Ford (6-2, 228) a native of Sarasota, Fla. who last season attended Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy. He runs a 4.5 40 and has the potential to do it all from the running back spot. In '04, he rushed for a state-record 2,836 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Ford signed with Alabama originally but didn't make his grades, so he spent a year at Hargrave. Ford arrived on campus in January and made quite an impression during spring drills. In fact, he led his team in rushing during the spring game with 55 yards and a score. Samuels had 58 yards.

"Ford is one of the best running backs ever to come out of the state of Florida," Leavitt said.

That statement takes in some ground, but the coach may be right -- Ford is one of only two Floridians (Travis Henry is the other) to rush for at least 200 yards in 11 straight games.

Junior Shawn Cannon (5-11, 200) is another back in the USF stable who transferred last year from Highland (Kansas) Community College but didn't play.

"He can run, and he's tough," Leavitt said. "He's a solid Big East back right now."

Junior Ricky Ponton (5-11, 205), who rushed for 306 yards last year, should also get some work, particularly if he can stay out of trouble. Ponton missed six games last year because of a suspension.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

The Bulls have plenty of talent here, and some pretty good experience, too. Although last year's leading receiver, Ean Johnson (49 receptions) is gone, the next three on the list return, led by junior Taurus Johnson (6-1, 190), who caught 37 balls and scored twice last year. Marcus Edwards (5-11, 175), a junior who had 27 receptions and a pair of scores, is also expected to see plenty of time, as is senior Amarri Jackson (6-5, 195), who scored three times and averaged a strong 15.1 yards on his 26 receptions.

Although sophomore Antwon Hanks (6-3, 210) didn't make any catches last year, the USF track standout has excellent speed and size and fought his way onto the second team on the post-spring depth chart.

Sophomore Amp Hill (6-3, 205) flashed some talent last year by catching 13 passes, and sophomore Jessie Hester (6-0, 170), who caught three balls in '05 but used last year as a redshirt season, will also figure in the rotation. Hester could be used in the return game, too.

"He's really good and has gotten bigger and stronger," Leavitt said.

The Bulls don't use a tight end too much in a pure sense, but sophomore Cedric Hill (6-3, 240) fits the team's unique needs. He can block well and catches the ball from the traditional tight end spot or the slot. He caught 11 passes last year and took one 64 yards. Sophomore Ben Busbee (6-3, 240) had one catch last season.

OFFENSIVE LINE

All five starters return along the line, and of the top 15 linemen on the team, all but three are underclassmen. That sets the Bulls up for a long time. It's not a dominant front wall, but it is capable of protecting Grothe, who can make up for some inadequacies along the line with his quick feet.

The center is senior Nick Capogna (6-3, 275), now in his second year as a starter. He came to USF as a tight end and displayed quickness and smarts during his first year as a regular.

He'll be backed up by true freshman Kevin McCaskill (6-2, 305) of Godby High School in Tallahassee, Fla. McCaskill enrolled in January and impressed during the spring. If McCaskill still needs seasoning, Leavitt can use either junior starting left guard Ryan Schmidt (6-4, 305) or junior backup Jake Griffin (6-4, 305).

Expect to see redshirt freshman Zach Hermann (6-3, 310) at the right guard position. Another young player with a bright future is true freshman Jeremiah Warren (6-4, 320) of Panama City, Fla. He also enrolled early and had a great spring.

"He'll be good," Leavitt said.

The tackle spots belong to junior Mark Dile (6-4, 305) on the left and senior Walter Walker (6-5, 320) on the right. Walker is a third-year regular who played the first five games of 2006 at right guard before moving to the outside. He's a solid veteran leader, while Dile may be the most talented O-lineman on the roster. Injuries limited him to seven games last year, but he's expected to be a stalwart in '07.

Backing them up are senior Jared Carnes (6-7, 315) and redshirt freshman Jacob Sims (6-4, 280), who has put on 35 pounds since arriving in Tampa last year.

KICKERS

Sophomore Delbert Alvarado (6-0, 175) was erratic in his debut last year, making 5-of-9 field-goal tries. Though he did hit a 56-yarder against Pittsburgh, he was just 1-of-4 from 30-39 yards.

Not that junior Mike Benzer (5-8, 185) was much better. He converted just 2-of-6 kicks and was 0-of-3 from 40-49 yards.

Because the Bulls don't have a kicker among their '07 recruits, it's up to those two to improve.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Get Leavitt talking about senior nose guard Richard Clebert (6-1, 305), and it's hard to get him to stop. Clebert made 22 tackles last year and is poised for more production in 2007.

"He runs a 4.86 [40] and can bench press 225 pounds 29 times," Leavitt said. "Watch out for him."

If Clebert is a dangerous man, then senior tackle Allen Cray (6-0, 295) is deadly. He had 31 stops last year, 8.5 of which came behind the line and 5.5 of which were sacks. He may not be huge, but he can run.

The backup situation is in good hands, too. Sophomore Aaron Harris (6-4, 255) made just 10 tackles last year, but Leavitt was impressed with his play during the spring. Leavitt is particularly enamored with senior Julian Riley (6-3, 290), who spent three years at Florida before transferring. A great athlete, Riley has the potential to make some noise inside. Riley benches 490 pounds and comes off the ball quickly.

And look out for true freshman Terrell McClain (6-3, 295) an all-state performer who had eight sacks as a senior at Pensacola (Fla.) High School.

The ends are led by senior Jarriett Buie (6-4, 255), who looks to close out what has been a disappointing career hampered by injuries and academic troubles. Buie was a reserve last year and made 17 stops.

The other end will be sophomore George Selvie (6-4, 245). Selvie was a full-time starter who made a huge impression last year with his 84 tackles (third on the team), 14.5 stops behind the line and 5.5 sacks. The primary backups are senior Woody George (6-3, 275) and redshirt freshman Josh Smiley (6-3, 230).

LINEBACKERS

There is the potential for some great things here, even though the Bulls lost Stephen Nicholas. Senior Ben Moffitt (6-2, 250) handles the middle after leading the team with 112 tackles last year. Moffitt will be a fourth-year starter and has been a regular in 30 consecutive games. Few work harder than he does, and no one on the team produces at his level.

"He can flat play," Leavitt said. "Plus, he runs real well."

Perhaps the best athlete on the USF defense (and that's saying something), is strong side linebacker Chris Robinson (6-3, 240), a sophomore who made 28 tackles last year. That may not seem too impressive until you realize that nine were behind the line and seven were sacks.

"Robinson has all the ability in the world," Leavitt said. "He runs a 10.9 100 meters."

He can also hit, as he proved by forcing four fumbles, including one in the win over West Virginia that Selvie scooped up and took in for a touchdown.

When the spring ended, junior Brouce Mompremier (6-1, 225) was the leader at the weak-side spot. That's subject to change, especially because junior Iowa State transfer Tyrone McKenzie (6-2, 230) looked good during the spring. McKenzie didn't get the starting job, but it sounds as if he'll be in the lineup before long. He was the top scout team player on the Cyclones in '05, after playing sparingly at Michigan State in 2004.

Of course, that is if he can hold off junior college All-American Donte Spires (6-3, 240), a Tampa native who originally signed with USF but spent a couple of years at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College. Spires was the best defensive player on a team that reached the JUCO national title game. He's big and can run.

Behind Moffitt is redshirt freshman Alonzo McQueen (6-1, 230), who was a tackling machine in high school, while the top strong-side reserve is senior Sam Miller (5-11, 220), although either Spires or McKenzie could take that spot.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The move of Hill to the defensive backfield could make an already strong area even stronger. The main man in the secondary is senior cornerback Trae Williams (5-10, 185), who intercepted seven passes last year, broke up nine more and had 49 tackles. He was a first-team All-Big East performer and the league's premiere shutdown corner.

He'll be book-ended by senior Mike Jenkins (6-0, 200), another strong cover man who had only one interception last year but knocked away 15 passes. Together, they were a big reason opposing quarterbacks completed just 51.2 percent of their passes last year.

"They can play man or zone, and they both have a chance to be drafted next year," Leavitt said. "They both can fly."

Leavitt doesn't seem too worried about the fact that both of his starting corners are seniors, largely because of sophomore Jerome Murphy (6-1, 190), who will be this year's primary nickel man and a starter in '08.

"That cat can play," Leavitt said.

Murphy made 20 tackles last year and has run a 4.4 40. Plus, "he'll knock your head off," Leavitt said.

The other primary backup is junior Tyller Roberts (6-1, 190), who had an interception and four passes knocked away last year. Senior Ryan Gilliam (5-10, 175) made his debut last year in Tampa after transferring from Oregon. He had 12 tackles and impressed with his tremendous speed (4.27). He'll also get a shot at a job in the return game.

The safety spot is in good hands, too, thanks to the return of Carlton Williams and the ascension of Nate Allen. Williams (6-4, 215) is a junior strong safety who had 43 stops last year, while the sophomore Allen (6-2, 190) is ticketed for big things.

"He does it all," Leavitt said. "He's the whole deal."

Allen beat out junior Danny Verpaele (5-11, 200), last year's starter, who made 39 tackles in '06. Verpaele could end up as the third man on the depth chart if Hill can handle the free spot. At 6-3, 220 and with some serious jets, Hill is an intriguing prospect.

The backup strong safety is junior Louis Gachette (6-3, 215), who had 14 tackles and a pick last year.

PUNTERS

Junior Justin Teachey (5-11, 170) returns after averaging 38.2 yards on 45 kicks last year. He put eight inside the 20 and had four fair catches, numbers that must improve.

Teachey also handles kickoffs for the Bulls and has a big leg. Kicker Delbert Alvarado will also punt on occasion, but he is of more use inside opponents' territory. He averaged 34.3 yards on 10 kicks.

SPECIAL TEAMS

With all the speed the Bulls have, one would imagine they are loaded with game-breakers in the return the game. That's not necessarily true, although there are plenty of candidates. Johnson averaged 22.6 yards returning kicks last year and tops the depth chart, with sophomore Colby Erskin (5-9, 185) behind him.

Trae Williams will get a chance, as will Jenkins. But don't rule out Hester, Gilliam, Edwards or redshirt freshman wideout Carlton Mitchell (6-4, 190), who broke the USF record in the 400.

With Ean Randolph (14.8-yard average) gone, Erskin and Edwards will get a chance at returning punts. Jackson, who brought back six for a 7.3-yard average, will also have an opportunity.

The Bulls must tighten up their coverage units, particularly the punt side, which allowed two touchdowns and 14.0 yards per return in '06. That's unacceptable. USF was fair slowing down enemy kick returners last year, allowing 20.1 yards, but with kickoffs moving back to the 30, they'll need to improve there, too.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

The Bulls aren't ready for their shot in the spotlight yet. What do you want after just a decade of football? But the progress made by the program has been pronounced and dramatic, and bigger things are on the horizon. USF is recruiting better and growing as a program, as the schools two consecutive bowl berths indicate.

Grading the Bulls

Unit Grade

Offense B-

Special teams C+

Defense B+

Intangibles A-

Not that everything is perfect. While Grothe is a strong quarterback who can run and pass and will pile up the yards in both areas, the ground game needs somebody to emerge as a reliable ball carrier, the better to take the pressure off of Grothe. That could be Samuels. Or Ford. But there has to be a top option. And speaking of main men, who will be Grothe's top target? That's a big deal, and a solution has to be found.

The defense should be strong, especially the back seven. The linebacking corps is deep and talented, particularly if McKenzie and Spires emerge quickly. Trae Williams is a first-rate cornerback, and there is a lot of talent in the secondary. If the front line comes together, and there are reasons (Selvie, Cray) to believe it will again be strong, USF will be tough to do anything against.

The prospects for another bowl berth are bright, but USF isn't ready to compete for the league title. The Big East is getting better, so there is more competition. But it won't be long until the program is ready for its star turn, particularly if the recruiting successes continue, and Grothe stays healthy and continues to develop. Leavitt's enthusiasm is contagious, and more people will catch it. Before long, a lot of talented football players could be infected.

http://www.wemustignitethiscouch.com/modules/newbb/report.php?forum=9&topic_id=1589&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&post_id=24115

[KB]

That's great, but there is more to attracting 18-year-olds than credibility. You need some bling, too. Leavitt understands that, so he is almost as enthusiastic when he talks about the "two-story, glass-enclosed dining hall" in the football building. He's also happy to report that USF just installed its "second 55-inch plasma TV in the weight room."

Did he misunderstand CJL?  I'm sure CJL said it's in the works?

[crambone]

ummm, no?

[ProudBull]

No matter what ESPN never really gives USF credit. I remember listening watching the WVU game last year and the announcer would not give us credit until the last few mins. of the game.  I don't remember her name, but I was ready to smack her.  Everything was luck or WVU's fault, USF just happened to be there.

[nobull.Bulls]

Anybody who has Lee Corso as an analyst cant be that good  ;D

  That dining hall does not exist yet,  Leavitt is working on trying to get the ground broken on that by sometime this fall.