USF Bulls 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: When Willie Taggart moved on after rebuilding the Bulls successfully for Oregon, the perfect fit was the move to hire Charlie Strong, who had just been fired at Texas. Strong was never going to work out at Texas, and never had full support there, but in Tampa, he could be a star that he should be, and after a 10 win season in his first year at USF, it was proven that he could absolutely still coach. The Bulls have some challenges now, and Strong must replace several key positions , as just 11 total starters return this fall, and none of them are named Quentin Flowers.
Breakdown Offense: Brett Kean has been given the edge at QB for now, as he is the most experienced of the group coming into fall camp. He completed 7/11 passing attempts last fall, and had a solid showing in spring camp. Chris Oladokun is a physically gifted player, who may better fit the job, and he is still very much in the mix as we enter fall camp to replace Flowers. He played in just 2 games last season, and completed his only pass attempt.
The Bulls are literally starting over again at RB, as they lose 4 of their top 5 rushers from a season ago, including Flowers, who led the team. Elijah Mack is getting the edge for now, but carried the football just 3 times for 10 yards last season. Jordan Kronkite could see some time as well, and Trevon Sands returns as the most experienced back here from last season, as he carried the ball 26 times, but did not overwhelm anyone.
The new QB will have 2 returning starters at WR coming back, which is solid news. Darnell Salomon and Tyre McCants are both back. McCants was the better of the 2, as he posted 36-686-7, and averaged 19.06 yards per catch. Salomon posted 32-512-5, and averaged 16 yards per catch, so big play options remain in the passing game. Ryeshene Bronson projects as the 3rd starter, but Randall St. Felix could also still emerge with the job when the Bulls open the season against Elon on 9/1. DeAngelo Antoine will back up McCants in the SLOT, while Stanley Clerveaux backs up Salomon.
Mitchell Wilcox will return to start at TE, and caught 17 passes last fall as a sophomore. Frederick Lloyd, Jr., a RS freshman, has emerged as the possible backup.
The line returns 3 starters in LT Eric Mayes, RG William Atterbury, and RT Marcus Norman. Mayes was banged up in spring camp, and Atterbury worked at LT in his absence, but will slide back to RG if Mayes is healthy. RS freshman Demetrius Harris projects to start at LG, while sophomore Michael Wiggs is the leader at C. Christion Gainer and Jeremiah Stafford are the backups at Tackle, and Hal Roberson projects to back up at both OG spots. Jean Marcellus is the back up at C.
Breakdown Defense: Strong, a former DC, has to fill 3 starter roles on the defensive line as we head to fall camp. Only DE Greg Reaves returns to start. He led the team last fall with 14 TFLs, and added 4 sacks, and will have to be the leader up front. Kirk Livingstone projects as the starter at the open DE spot. Josh Black and Vincent Jackson are the backups. Reaves was recovering from injury all spring.
The Bulls have 2 new starters at DT, with Kevin Bronson and Kelvin Pinckney having the edge to start. Kevin Kegler and Mi'Cario Stanley, both sophomores, are the backups. The Bulls recruited well, and 4 incoming freshman hit campus in fall camp, and any of them could push for time.
Nico Sawtelle is the lone returning starter at LB for the Bulls. He totaled 54 tackles , and added 4.5 TFLs last season, and will anchor the MIKE spot. Khalid McGee could win the OLB spot in fall camp as a senior, as he totaled 38 tackles last season. Keirston Johnson backs up the MLB spot, while freshman Dwayne Boyles could push McGee.
The secondary returns 3 starters in the 4-2-5 set in CB Mazzi Wilkins, NB Ronnie Hoggins, and SS Jaymon Thomas. Wilkins totaled 9 PBUs and 3 INTs last season, while Hoggins totaled 9 PBUs and 2 picks from the Nickel spot. Thomas finished with 3 PBUs, one INT, and 44 tackles. Chris Barr, a senior, could start at the open CB spot, but sophomore Mike Hampton and freshman Nick Roberts could push him into a backup role once again. Craig Watts is the backup at NB, while Mekhi LaPointe is the backup to Thomas. Naytron Culpepper and Nate Ferguson are in a battle for the open Safety spot heading into fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Losing Emilio Nadelman at PK will hurt, after he hit 21 FG tries last fall. Jake Vivonetto, a senior, will try to take over the job.
The Bulls will also turn to a freshman at Punter this fall in Trent Schneider after losing Jonathon Hernandez, who averaged over 43 yards per punt last fall.
McCants looks like he could inherit the KR job that is now open, while the PR job is wide open heading to camp.
Final Analysis: I cannot say to you that I expect the Bulls to get anywhere close to 10 wins again in 2018, especially with all the key losses and holes across the board. I can see them pushing for 8 wins this fall, as the schedule is more than forgiving for a team with so much work to do in camp. The Bulls could potentially start out 6-1 before they play the tougher part of their schedule, and a fast start would go a long way to getting them back into the chase in the AAC, especially as that kind of start builds confidence. I do not see the Bulls pushing UCF in the AAC East, but a very solid season could still be in store if all the new parts gel.
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