Strength in Unity.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Malcolm Francois, USF agree to contract extension through 2031
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

USF has signed coach Malcolm Francois to a contract extension that will keep him with the program through the 2031 season, the university announced shortly after the Bulls 49-28 victory over Kansas.

Francois took over as the head coach at USF in 2013 after he was both a player and an assistant with the program. Francois has an impressive 120-30 record while at USF including 33-7 against Top 25 opponents and has beaten UCF eight times in eleven years.

Francois has led USF to six wins in 9 bowl game appearances, including a BCS National Championship victory in 2021 that capped a 14-0 season.

This season, USF is 11-2 and will face Alabama in a rematch for the Sugar Bowl.

The deal is expected to make Francois the highest paid non-SEC coach in the sport, coming in just below $8 million per year with incentives that could make him top $9 million. He signed a 7-year extension back in 2019 at $6 million per year and has won the Big 12 every season since including a thirteen and fourteen win season in 2020 and 2021. With some high profile jobs such as Oklahoma and Auburn potentially having openings this winter, USF was able to lock in their guy.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Bulls 'at full participation' during bowl practices according to head coach Francois
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

The USF Bulls will be at full-go when they face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 2nd.

"The guys that are health are expected to play," USF head coach Malcolm Francois said on Wednesday when asked about player's availability.

Heisman winner Troy Henry did not play last season in the team's bowl game and safety Sam Peterson only played an half. With similar high profile draft eligible players such as junior defensive backs Jason Garcia and Edgar Thompson along with receivers William Stone and Andrew Vincent, many wondered if they would also choose to skip the bowl game.

Running backs Gerald Mitchell and David Fuller returned to practice as well. Both were out for several months with injuries, leaving USF with just two scholarship running backs in Derrick Green and John Dixon.

Prior to his injury, Mitchell was averaging 68.1 yards per game and 6.4 yards per carry and five touchdowns.

USF will be without sophomore receiver and team captain Joel Bass. Bass suffered a rib injury in the Big 12 Championship Game and has since been sidelined. Bass' injury does allow the Bulls to get a jump start on scouting for next year's crop of receivers with Stone and Vincent likely heading to the draft and Chad Hale graduating. One of the newer faces has been safety Malcolm Francois Jr, the son of USF's head coach. Francois Jr. played safety and receiver in high school but has exclusively played safety for the Bulls. Francois Jr. has been working with the receivers during the bowl practices but Francois Sr. was hesitant to declare a permanent position switch.

"We'll see," said Francois Sr., "We like a lot of guys there so it's a tough rotation to crack but with the bowl practices, you're also trying new things so we're not married to anything right now."

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Sugar Bowl Preview: #4 Alabama Crimson Tide
Record: 11-2, 9-1 SEC
Head Coach: Kevin Sherrer (11-2 at Alabama, 1st year, 66-28)

Team Leaders
Passing: Phillip Griffin (64.9% completion, 3520 yards, 37 TD, 8 INT, 174.3 QB rating)
Rushing: Scott Fine (1159 yards, 6.1 ypc, 18 TD)
Receiving: Troy Holmes (58 receptions, 958 yards, 10 TD)
Defense: Timothy Hill (75 tackles, 27 TFL, 9.5 sacks)

Team Rankings
Total Offense: 5th
Total Defense: 33th
Points Per Game: 7th
Turnover Differential: 43rd

Team Schedule
at Arkansas State: W 34-14
vs. Florida: W 42-21
at #15 Georgia: W 48-20
vs. #9 Ole Miss: W 28-24
vs. #6 USF: L 27-21
vs. Southern Miss: W 45-24
at #7 Arkansas: L 35-30
vs. Tennessee: W 27-21
at LSU: W 42-20
at Mississippi State: W 70-39
vs. Texas A&M: W 37-14
vs. Auburn: W 56-7
vs. #15 Georgia: W 24-7

Injuries
None

Alabama Crimson Tide Projected Starters
QB Phillip Griffin, Rs Senior | 6'3", 225lbs | 98 ovr, 94 spd, 93 acc, 89 thp, 94 tha
HB Neil Griffin, Rs Junior | 6'2", 262lbs | 95 ovr, 92 spd, 93 acc, 94 btk, 85 car, 94 btk
WR Brad Weber, Senior | 6'2", 193lbs | 86 ovr, 95 spd, 91 acc, 71 cth
WR Troy Holmes, Rs Senior | 5'11", 185lbs | 86 ovr, 87 spd, 82 acc, 91 cth
WR John White, Rs Senior | 6'2", 201lbs | 85 ovr, 83 spd, 89 acc, 89 cth
TE Cedric Huston, Senior | 6'4", 261lbs | 83 ovr, 76 spd, 82 acc, 71 cth, 82 rbk
LT Dustin Francis, Rs Freshman | 6'4", 315lbs | 84 ovr, 90 str, 87 pbk, 83 rbk
LG Ben Shelby, Senior | 6'2", 337lbs | 94 ovr, 90 str, 93 pbk, 94 rbk
C Nick Gordon, Junior | 6'1", 290lbs | 89 ovr, 83 str, 89 pbk, 87 rbk
RG Eddie Newton, Senior | 6'3", 305lbs | 94 ovr, 94 str, 87 pbk, 98 rbk
RT Daniel Graham, Freshman | 6'4", 319lbs | 79 ovr, 83 str, 82 pbk, 83 rbk
---------------------
DE Timothy Hill, Junior | 6'2", 261lbs | 90 ovr, 75 spd, 87 acc, 87 str, 80 pmv, 96 fmv, 83 bsh
DE Phil Reed, Junior | 6'3", 255lbs | 89 ovr, 81 spd, 86 acc, 79 str, 88 pmv, 95 fmv, 88 bsh
NT Jonathan Wilson, Senior | 6'5", 275lbs | 94 ovr, 78 acc, 92 str, 95 pmv, 91 fmv, 93 bsh
OLB Josh Hudson, Rs Senior | 6'2", 222lbs | 85 ovr, 83 spd, 96 acc, 90 bsh, 85 tkl
ILB Brandon Pierce, Rs Senior | 6'3", 239lbs | 90 ovr, 82 spd, 93 acc, 92 bsh, 90 tkl
ILB Alan Jordan, Sophomore | 6'3", 243lbs | 83 ovr, 82 spd, 87 acc, 84 bsh, 85 tkl
OLB Tony Hairston, Rs Junior | 6'5", 235lbs | 92 ovr, 87 spd, 99 acc, 99 bsh, 80 tkl
CB Matt McIntosh, Senior | 6'5", 194lbs | 94 ovr, 98 spd, 92 acc, 99 mcv, 97 zcv
CB Jason Cunningham, Junior | 6'0", 189lbs | 91 ovr, 99 spd, 97 acc, 93 mcv, 96 zcv
S John Freeman, Rs Sophomore | 6'2", 200lbs | 86 ovr, 96 spd, 94 acc, 80 zcv, 85 tkl
S Bobby Miranda, Senior | 6'3", 197lbs | 93 ovr, 84 spd, 97 acc, 98 zcv, 84 tkl


-------------------------

https://youtu.be/7FxEZ9697a4

-----------------------------------------------
#6 USF (11-3, 8-1) | 7 | 13 | 8 | 3 || 31
#4 ALA (12-2, 9-1) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 || 42
-----------------------------------------------

Tide, Bulls Split Season Series as Griffin Brothers Lead Comeback Sugar Bowl Win
After losing his starting job to James Pittman to begin the season, Mike McFarland seemed on his way to lead the Bulls to a BCS bowl victory over mighty Alabama.

The Tide had different plans, scoring twenty-one points in the fourth quarter including a game-sealing pick six to beat USF 42-31.

McFarland replaced an injured Pittman and was able to withstand Alabama's early 14-0 run. USF tied the game with a McFarland scramble for a touchdown and after surrendering a touchdown but countering back with a field goal and a defensive stop, USF had the ball on the 5-yard line with 50 seconds left in the half. McFarland would throw a touchdown pass to Malcolm Francois Jr. and Erik Bass but both would get called back due to holding penalties, forcing the Bulls to settle for a field goal which would prove to be costly down the line.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[ALA] S. Fine, 2 Yd run (7:45)
[ALA] T. Holmes, 42 Yd pass from P. Griffin (5:29)
[USF] G. Mitchell, 3 Yd run (3:12)

Quarter 2
[USF] M. McFarland, 9 Yd run (9:01)
[ALA] S. Fine, 4 Yd run (7:10)
[USF] K. Justice, 40 Yd FG (3:07)
[USF] K. Justice, 37 Yd FG (0:00)

Quarter 3
[USF] E. Bass, 18 Yd pass from M. McFarland (2pt) (6:19)

Quarter 4
[ALA] P. Griffin, 5 Yd run (6:22)
[USF] K. Justice, 30 Yd FG (3:45)
[ALA] N. Griffin, 4 Yd run (2:49)
[ALA] L. Branch, returned interception 75 Yds (1:15)
----------------------------------------------------------------
#6 South Florida Bulls
QB Mike McFarland: 33 of 43, 306 yards, touchdown, 3 interceptions.
QB James Pittman: 3 of 4, 7 yards.
HB Gerald Mitchell: 20 carries, 142 yards, touchdown.
WR William Stone: 3 carries, 16 yards, 3 receptions, 9 yards.
WR Andrew Vincent: 10 receptions, 88 yards.
TE Erik Bass: 6 receptions, 84 yards, touchdown.
LB Travis Hughes: 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss.
LB Montrell Jennings: 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, sack.

#4 Alabama Crimson Tide
QB Phillip Griffin: 25 of 31, 286 yards, touchdown, 11 carries, 83 yards, touchdown.
HB Neil Griffin: 15 carries, 49 yards, touchdown, 5 receptions, 81 yards.
HB Scott Fine: 3 carries, 15 yards, 2 touchdowns.
WR John White: 5 receptions, 51 yards.
WR Troy Holmes: 2 receptions, 44 yards, touchdown.
LB Brandon Pierce: 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.
CB Jason Cunningham: 7 tackles, interception.
LB Tony Hairston: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks.
CB Lamar Branch: 6 tackles, interception.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

2023 USF Bulls Records
Season Receptions -- WR William Stone, 109 (Previous Record: 87, Zac White, 2017)
Career Receptions -- WR William Stone, 233 (Previous Record: 233, Zac White, 2016-2018)
Season Receiving Yds -- WR William Stone, 1356 (Previous Record: 1268, Franklin Sapp, 2017)
Career Receiving Yds -- WR William Stone, 3196 (Previous Record: 3155, Franklin Sapp, 2016-18)
Career Receiving TDs -- WR William Stone, 28 (Previous Record: 26, Zac White, 2016-18)

2023 USF All-Americans
WR William Stone, first team
DE Stephen Hill, first team
DT Jeremy Daniels, first team
LB Montrell Jennings, first team
LB Travis Hughes, first team/freshman
LB Dallas Gross, first team/freshman
S Jake Lott, first team/freshman
S Edgar Thompson, first team
T Derek Charles, second team
S Ray Thompson, second team
KR Malcolm Francois Jr, second team
CB Sid Robinson, freshman
K Kevin Justice, freshman

2023 USF All-Big 12
WR William Stone, first team
T Derek Charles, first team
G Frank Lucas, first team
DE Stephen Hill, first team
DT Jeremy Daniels, first team
LB Montrell Jennings, first team
LB Travis Hughes, first team
LB Dallas Gross, first team
CB Ray Hill, first team
S Jake Lott, first team
S Edgar Thompson, first team
K Kevin Justice, first team
WR Andrew Vincent, second team
G Bernard Livingston, second team
DT Daniel Elliott, second team
CB Jason Garcia, second team
S Ray Thompson, second team

2023 South Florida Bulls Stats

Passing
QB James Pittman, Rs Junior: 276 of 358, 3215 yards, 24 touchdowns, 13 interceptions.
QB Mike McFarland, Rs Sophomore: 92 of 119, 1039 yards, 6 touchdowns, 3 interceptions.

Rushing
QB James Pittman, Rs Junior: 137 carries, 421 yards, 4 touchdowns.
HB Gerald Mitchell, Sophomore: 116 carries, 755 yards, 6 touchdowns.
HB Derrick Green, Freshman: 107 carries, 662 yards, 3 touchdowns.
WR William Stone, Junior: 98 carries, 699 yards, 11 touchdowns.
HB David Fuller, Freshman: 17 carries, 79 yards.

Receiving
WR William Stone, Junior: 109 receptions, 1356 yards, 10 touchdowns.
WR Andrew Vincent, Junior: 88 receptions, 1127 yards, 8 touchdowns.
TE Erik Bass, Senior: 57 receptions, 712 yards, 6 touchdowns.
FB Terrance Holland, Senior: 35 receptions, 286 yards, 2 touchdowns.
WR Joel Bass, Sophomore: 16 receptions, 218 yards, touchdown.
HB Derrick Green, Freshman: 15 receptions, 108 yards.
WR Shane Peterson, Freshman: 14 receptions, 96 yards.
WR Chad Hale, Senior: 13 receptions, 166 yards, 2 touchdowns.
WR Steve Townsend, Freshman: 11 receptions, 124 yards.

Blocking
LT Darren Charles, Senior: 5 pancakes, 14 sacks allowed.
LG Bernard Livingston, Rs Sophomore: 22 pancakes, 9 sacks allowed.
C Brad Jones, Junior: 8 pancakes, 4 sacks allowed.
RG Frank Lucas, Rs Senior: 19 pancakes, 5 sacks allowed.
RT Jimmie Hurd, Rs Sophomore: 22 pancakes, 7 sacks allowed.
FB Terrance Holland, Senior: 13 pancakes.
TE Erik Bass, Senior: 12 pancakes.

Defensive
LB Travis Hughes, Freshman: 131 tackles, 38 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 5 interceptions.
S Edgar Thompson, Junior: 98 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions.
LB Dallas Gross, Freshman: 96 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, interception.
LB Montrell Jennings, Rs Junior: 84 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, interception.
S Ray Thompson, Sophomore: 71 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions.
DE Stephen Hill, Rs Senior: 58 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 18 sacks.
S Jake Lott, Freshman: 55 tackles, 2 interceptions.
CB Sid Robinson, Freshman: 39 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
CB Ray Hill, Sophomore: 39 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions.
CB Ronnie Gay, Junior: 31 tackles, 4 tackles for loss.
CB Jason Garcia, Junior: 30 tackles, 3 interceptions.
DT Jeremy Daniels, Junior: 23 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 11 sacks.
S Corey Johnson, Freshman: 21 tackles, interception.
LB John Reed, Sophomore: 15 tackles, interception.
DT Daniel Elliott, Junior: 10 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 6 sacks.

Kicking
K Kevin Justice, Freshman: 15 of 19, 45 FG Lng, 64/64 XP

Punting
P Marcus McClelland, Freshman: 49 punts, 32.7 Avg Net, 11 inside 20, 5 touchbacks

Returning
S Malcolm Francois Jr, Sophomore: 21 kick returns, 685 yards, touchdown, 15 punt returns, 255 yards, touchdown.
WR William Stone, Junior: 16 kick returns, 539 yards, touchdown.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Everett announces final three schools during Under Armour All-American Game
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider

Five-star tight end Vincent Everett made a surprise announcement during the Under Armour All-American game, it just wasn't of the commitment variety.

Everett revealed the three hats that will be on the table come National Signing Day: USF, Florida and Houston.

The Gators and Bulls have long been fighting for the talented Florida prospect along with Auburn. Auburn did not make the cut but are still expected to make a run at the second ranked tight end in the nation.

Houston is a newer development and could be tied to the fact that Everett's high school head coach Jason Luque took an analyst job with the Cougars. Is Houston a legitimate threat? Maybe, maybe not. Everett could simply be doing his former coach a favorite by putting them in his top three as a way to boost their 76th ranked recruiting class. The Bulls did see themselves lose out on a talented prospect to a lesser known school with center M.J. Williams committing to Tulsa earlier this cycle.

The folks inside Temple Terrace still view Florida and Auburn as their biggest threat. Head coach Malcolm Francois is expected to meet with Everett now that the season is over.

2024 USF Recruiting Class
WR Jason Barbour [WR #2]: 6'2", 212lbs | Fairview Shores, FL | 5-star | 4.36 40-yd dash, 300 Bench Press, 300 Squat
WR Darius Downs [WR #5]: 6'4", 215lbs | Miami, FL | 5-star | 4.44 40-yd dash, 240 Bench Press, 280 Squat
LB Danny Love [LB #2]: 6'4", 238lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star | 4.58 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press, 620 Squat
DT James Faulk [DT #6]: 6'4", 275lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star | 4.92 40-yd dash, 435 Bench Press, 570 Squat
HB Jason Finley [HB #14]: 6'1", 212lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star | 4.46 40-yd dash, 255 Bench Press, 310 Squat
DT William Levine [DT #9]: 6'4", 292lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star | 4.94 40-yd dash, 425 Bench Press, 630 Squat
WR Ryan Wagner [WR #32]: 6'3", 209lbs | Coral Spring, FL | 4-star | 4.32 40-yd dash, 285 Bench Press, 325 Squat
WR James Harper [WR #41]: 6'5", 231lbs | Beeville, TX | 4-star | 4.44 40-yd dash, 265 Bench Press, 205 Squat
DE Kyle Swain [DE #13]: 6'2", 253lbs | Prichard, AL | 4-star | 4.78 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press, 560 Squat
QB Jay Jackson [QB #21]: 5'11", 204lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star | 4.66 40-yd dash, 255 Bench Press, 350 Squat
T Marcus Clark [T #50]: 6'5", 288lbs | St. Joseph, MO | 3-star | 5.16 40-yd dash, 435 Bench Press, 560 Squat
G Robbie Wade [G #78]: 6'0", 309lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star | 4.98 40-yd dash, 425 Bench Press, 630 Squat

2024 USF Recruiting Board
TE Vincent Everett [TE #2]: 6'1", 241lbs | Plantation, FL | 5-star | Florida, USF, Houston
------------------------------------------------------------
S Kelvin Ware [S #1]: 6'1", 199lbs | Cerritos, CA | 5-star | Michigan, Alabama, USC
C Ed Cade [C #1]: 6'2", 290lbs | Stanford, CA | 5-star | Committed to Penn State
C M.J. Williams [C #2]: 6'0", 290lbs | Beaumont, TX | 4-star | Committed to Tulsa
T Parker Wright [T #4]: 6'7", 283lbs | Gainesville, FL | 4-star | Florida, Minnesota
TE Tony Hurst [TE #15]: 6'3", 249lbs | Moses Lake, WA | 4-star | Committed to Oregon

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

New Years Six Bowl Results
Rose Bowl :: #5 USC 28, #24 Nebraska 23
Fiesta Bowl :: #6 Penn State 31, #8 Arkansas 21
Sugar Bowl :: #2 Alabama 42, #10 USF 31
Orange Bowl :: #3 Notre Dame 27, #14 Louisville 20
Cotton Bowl :: #11 UCF 35, Vanderbilt 30
National Championship :: #1 Clemson 31, #4 Navy 24

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

USF Football Post Sugar Bowl Notes
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

USF entered the season unranked, overlooked and clearly underestimated. The Bulls finished the season ranked tenth in the country, had eight players be named AP First Team All-American and won at least eleven games for the fifth straight season and at least ten wins for the ninth time in ten seasons.

With the 2023 season behind us, unloading the notebook.

1. McFarland almost entered the transfer portal before the season
   Mike McFarland's mysterious disappearance at the beginning of the season wasn't a mystery after all. According to a source, the California quarterback had told the coaching staff that he was leaving the program following James Pittman being named the starter. The coaching staff then gave McFarland a 'mental day' which is why the quarterback missed practice. McFarland eventually did return and got some playing time this season but will it be enough to keep him away from the portal once more?
   -
2. Vincent still weighing draft decision
   WR William Stone will declare for the draft, he made the decision official on his social media page. Counterpart Andrew Vincent, however, is still undecided despite previous reports alleging that he had hired an agent. Vincent had a breakout season in 2023 and while the draft is his most likely destination, I spoke to someone that's close to Vincent and it's not a foregone conclusion. He has an outside shot at breaking the school record for most receiving touchdowns, he'll need twelve as a senior and with Stone gone, opportunities will be plenty. Vincent seemed to develop a connection with James Pittman towards the second half of the season and the person I spoke to tells me that Pittman is recruiting Vincent to come back.
   -
3. Expect position switch for Francois Jr. in the spring
   Sophomore safety Malcolm Francois Jr. only played five snaps this season on defense and instead made his impact as a returner and in the bowl game, he showed some flashes at receiver with four catches for 27 yards. His dad coaches the position and he's not getting on the field any time soon as free safety with true freshman Jake Lott being an All-American.
   -
4. Francois, Doeren to return as play callers next season
   The last time USF brought back both offensive and defensive coordinators was 2018 and 2019. Since then, it's been a carousel as defensive coordinator after defensive coordinator has used the job to spring board into a head coaching job. As of today, Dave Doeren is expected to return as the team's defensive coordinator and the Bulls aren't expected to hire an offensive coordinator with Malcolm Francois returning as the team's play caller. Francois having both duties as OC and HC likely played a factor into the massive extension he received.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Sooners make interesting hire in former Iowa State HC Murphy
Cooper Byrd -- Dynasty Sports Staff Writer

Oklahoma is among the bluest of blue bloods when it comes to college football. After back-to-back disappointing seasons, Tim Deruyter was fired only to be replaced by someone with a lesser resume in Iowa State's Chase Murphy.

Iowa State won six games last season in Murphy one and only season as their head coach. It was an improvement from the previous season where Jay Nieman led them to a one-win season but nevertheless, Murphy's career record is 17-20 and he has just one win against a Top 25 program.

Notable Head Coaching Changes
Illinois :: Todd Graham replaces Matt Rhule (fired)
Iowa :: Brian George replaces Kirk Ferentz (retired)
Purdue :: Joey Jones replaces Kevin Sumlin (fired)
-----
Iowa State :: Paul Chryst replaces Chase Murphy (left)
Oklahoma :: Chase Murphy replaces Tim DeRuyter (fired)
Texas Tech :: Lincoln Riley replaces Sean Ellis (fired)
-----
Cal :: Derek Mason replaces Sonny ****s (fired)
Oregon State :: Nick Rolovich replaces Derek Langsford (fired)
-----
South Carolina :: Doug Nussmeier replaces Nick Mason (fired)
Vanderbilt :: Earvin Singletary replaces Tim Beckham (left)

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Bulls suffer yet another mass exodus as six juniors declare early
Cooper Byrd -- Dynasty Sports Staff Writer

It's become a yearly tradition of juniors entering the draft and this year was no different with six juniors declaring early for the draft, including receivers William Stone and Andrew Vincent. The other four were safety Edgar Thompson, cornerback Jason Garcia, defensive tackle Jeremy Daniels and linebacker Montrell Jennings.

Stone and Vincent were signed in the same class, giving the Bulls one of their first five-star pairings. Both receivers would churn out 1,000-yard season with Stone owning most of the Bulls receiving records.

DT Jeremy Daniels' decision to leave was compounded by true freshman Gary Griffin's decision to transfer to UAB. Griffin was a three-star prospect that the Bulls were high on and able to get into the rotation at times at defensive tackle but evidently not enough for his liking.

2023 Players Leaving » Career Stats
#2 Jason Garcia (CB, Junior): Declared Early » 128 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 7 interceptions, touchdown, 14 pass deflections.
#4 William Stone (WR, Junior): Declared Early » 233 receptions, 3196 yards, 28 touchdowns.
#7 Edgar Thompson (S, Junior): Declared Early » 264 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 6 interceptions.
#3 Andrew Vincent (WR, Junior): Declared Early » 161 receptions, 1975 yards, 16 touchdowns.
#99 Jeremy Daniels (DT, Junior): Declared Early » 59 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 20 sacks.
#52 Montrell Jennings (LB, Rs Junior): Declared Early » 105 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 3 interceptions.
#11 Stephen Hill (DE, Rs Senior): Pro Draft » 168 tackles, 57 tackles for loss, 24 sacks.
#78 Derek Charles (RT, Senior): Pro Draft » 39 pancakes, 26 sacks allowed.
#97 Gary Griffin (DT, Freshman): Transfer (Georgia State)
#80 Chad Hale (WR, Senior): Graduation » 14 receptions, 187 yards, 2 touchdowns.
#98 John Mansfield (DE, Rs Senior): Graduation » 17 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.
#26 Erik Bass (TE, Senior): Graduation » 115 receptions, 1314 yards, 6 touchdowns.
#56 Derrick Farris (DE, Rs Senior): Graduation » 19 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles.
#75 Frank Lucas (G, Rs Senior): Graduation » 29 pancakes, 8 sacks allowed.
#40 Terrance Holland (FB, Senior): Graduation » 43 receptions, 328 yards, 4 touchdowns.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Five-star TE Vincent Everett commits to Bulls as USF nets top five class
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider

Despite having a limited number of open spots, USF still managed to crush it on the recruiting trail and put the exclamation mark on a loaded 2024 class with the National Signing Day get of five-star tight end Vincent Everett.

USF has been in the running for Everett since the beginning of his recruitment and was able to fight off late pushes by both Auburn and Florida. Houston was involved in the recruitment as well.

Everett is the thirteenth member of a small class that still finished fourth in the country behind Ohio State, Minnesota and Texas. Only the Buckeyes and Nebraska managed to also sign three five-star recruits.

Former Bulls QB Eugene Shaw signed with Central Michigan and will play out his final year of eligibility there after spending last season with EMCC. WR Benjamin Bright, who also transferred from USF to EMCC, is enrolled at Oklahoma as a preferred walk on.

2024 USF Recruiting Class
WR Jason Barbour [WR #2]: 6'2", 212lbs | Fairview Shores, FL | 5-star | 4.36 40-yd dash, 300 Bench Press, 300 Squat
WR Darius Downs [WR #5]: 6'4", 215lbs | Miami, FL | 5-star | 4.44 40-yd dash, 240 Bench Press, 280 Squat
TE Vincent Everett [TE #2]: 6'1", 241lbs | Plantation, FL | 5-star | 4.62 40-yd dash, 240 Bench Press, 280 Squat
LB Danny Love [LB #2]: 6'4", 238lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star | 4.58 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press, 620 Squat
DT James Faulk [DT #6]: 6'4", 275lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star | 4.92 40-yd dash, 435 Bench Press, 570 Squat
HB Jason Finley [HB #14]: 6'1", 212lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star | 4.46 40-yd dash, 255 Bench Press, 310 Squat
DT William Levine [DT #9]: 6'4", 292lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star | 4.94 40-yd dash, 425 Bench Press, 630 Squat
WR Ryan Wagner [WR #32]: 6'3", 209lbs | Coral Spring, FL | 4-star | 4.32 40-yd dash, 285 Bench Press, 325 Squat
WR James Harper [WR #41]: 6'5", 231lbs | Beeville, TX | 4-star | 4.44 40-yd dash, 265 Bench Press, 205 Squat
DE Kyle Swain [DE #13]: 6'2", 253lbs | Prichard, AL | 4-star | 4.78 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press, 560 Squat
QB Jay Jackson [QB #21]: 5'11", 204lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star | 4.66 40-yd dash, 255 Bench Press, 350 Squat
T Marcus Clark [T #50]: 6'5", 288lbs | St. Joseph, MO | 3-star | 5.16 40-yd dash, 435 Bench Press, 560 Squat
G Robbie Wade [G #78]: 6'0", 309lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star | 4.98 40-yd dash, 425 Bench Press, 630 Squat

2024 USF Recruiting Board
S Kelvin Ware [S #1]: 6'1", 199lbs | Cerritos, CA | 5-star | Committed to USC
C Ed Cade [C #1]: 6'2", 290lbs | Stanford, CA | 5-star | Committed to Penn State
C M.J. Williams [C #2]: 6'0", 290lbs | Beaumont, TX | 4-star | Committed to Tulsa
T Parker Wright [T #4]: 6'7", 283lbs | Gainesville, FL | 4-star | Committed to NIU
TE Tony Hurst [TE #15]: 6'3", 249lbs | Moses Lake, WA | 4-star | Committed to Oregon

247Sports Top 25 Recruiting Class
1. Ohio State
2. Minnesota
3. Texas
4. USF
5. UCF
6. Clemson
7. Nebraska
8. Alabama
9. Michigan
10. Notre Dame
11. UCLA
12. Navy
13. Georgia
14. Michigan State
15. Virginia Tech
16. Missouri
17. Louisville
18. Indiana
19. Syracuse
20. Tennessee
21. Illinois
22. Texas A&M
23. Oklahoma
24. Oregon
25. Florida State

Top 247 Five-Star Commitments
#1 Jeff Young [WR #1]: 6'5", 199lbs | Glenvar Heights, FL | Georgia Tech
#2 Jason Barbour [WR #2]: 6'2", 212lbs | Fairview Shores, FL | University of South Florida
#3 Brad Whitworth [ATH #1]: 6'1", 215lbs | Jackson, MI | University of Michigan
#4 Kyle King [ATH #2]: 6'1", 214lbs | Cary, NC | Ohio State University
#5 Mario Bass [TE #1]: 6'2", 223lbs | State College, PA | University of Texas
#6 Chris Jones [HB #1]: 6'1", 202lbs | Buford, GA | Ohio State University
#7 Derek Bruner [WR #3]: 5'11", 178lbs | Warren, PA | Penn State
#8 Mike Douglas [ATH #3]: 6'0", 181lbs | North Bethesda, MD | University of Wisconsin
#9 Erik McDaniel [ATH #4]: 6'2", 199lbs | Oxford, OH | Ohio State University
#10 Steve Robinson [WR #4]: 6'1", 196lbs | Aberdeen, WA | University of Southern California
#11 Darius Downs [WR #5]: 6'4", 215lbs | Miami, FL | University of South Florida
#12 Mark Robinson [WR #6]: 6'2", 193lbs | Torrance, CA | University of Minnesota
#13 Matt Madsen [WR #7]: 6'1", 198lbs | Snellville, GA | University of Minnesota
#14 Thomas Mills [ATH #5]: 6'5", 200lbs | Gilroy, CA | Notre Dame
#15 Mike Morris [WR #8]: 6'0", 186lbs | Bloomington, MN | University of Nebraska
#16 Jason Dudley [WR #9]: 6'0", 180lbs | Lakeland North, WA | University of Wisconsin
#17 Rashad Tolbert [ATH #6]: 5'11", 210lbs | Sedalia, MO | University of Nebraska
#18 Vincent Everett [TE #2]: 6'1", 214lbs | Plantation, FL | University of South Florida
#19 Brian Chambers [WR #10]: 6'1", 210lbs | Amherst, OH | Notre Dame
#20 Mike Cook [HB #2]: 5'11", 194lbs | Ran Palos Verdes, CA | New Mexico State
#21 Nigel Hardy [WR #11]: 6'1", 199lbs | Charlotte, NC | University of Nebraska
#22 Travis Odom [HB #3]: 6'2", 285lbs | Altadena, CA | University of Syracuse
#23 Nick Foster [ATH #7]: 5'11", 216lbs | Shields, MI | University of Tennessee
#24 Scott Johnson [S #1]: 6'2", 201lbs | Rose Hill, VA | Florida State University
#25 Will Parker [TE #3]: 6'3", 237lbs | Chattahoochee, FL | University of Texas
#26 Ed Cade [C #1]: 6'2", 290lbs | Stanford, CA | Penn State
#27 Lance Scott [ATH #8]: 6'0", 193lbs | Ferriday, LA | University of Alabama
#28 Jim Rivero [ATH #9]: 6'1", 223lbs | North Decatur, GA | University of Georgia
#29 Earl Miller [G #1]: 6'5", 281lbs | Lowell, MI | University of Illinois
#30 Kelvin Ware [S #1]: 6'1", 199lbs | Cerritos, CA | University of Southern California

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Run of the Bulls ‣ USF Football News
Andrew Lake -- 247 Sports Staff Writer

‣ QB Jackson 'pushing' upperclassmen in early spring practices

2023 class signee Jay Jackson was one of the more unheralded signings of the class with his recruitment largely being a quiet one but he's made some noises since arriving on campus.

Jackson (78 ovr, 86 spd, 83 thp, 80 tha) was one of the standouts of the team's first scrimmage which was open to the public and fans were able to substantiate early reports that Jackson was pushing fellow quarterbacks James Pittman, Mike McFarland and Nick Williams. Jackson had two touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards in the the scrimmage despite playing just four series.

Pittman has been the unquestioned starter so far in the spring with McFarland a firm number two but it's good news for Bulls fan to know that both Williams last season and Jackson this year have had strong first impressions.

‣ Francois Jr. in the mix at receiver

Malcolm Francois Jr. conversion to receiver has been made official with the roster that was distributed to attending fans at the team's scrimmage showed Francois Jr. as a receiver.

The junior played safety his first two seasons at USF before playing receiver in the team's bowl game due to an injury to Joel Bass.

He'll have his work cut out for him to crack the rotation with Bass returning along with contributors Sam Peterson and Steve Townsend. Newcomers Jason Barbour and Darius Down, both five stars, along with four-star receivers Ryan Wagner and James Harper.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Storylines Aplenty Heading Into Bulls Fall Camp
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

The South Florida Bulls played one of the toughest non-conference schedules last fall and did more than just okay, finishing the season with yet another Big 12 championship and another BCS bowl appearance.

The Bulls open their season the same way they ended it last season and that's against top ranked Alabama. Now that we're six weeks away from the start of the season, the Bulls will enter fall camp with plenty of interesting storylines as the countdown to Alabama begins.

1. Can secondary survive offseason attrition?
   When you're really good, your best players only play for three seasons. This is becoming the case at USF and after enjoying five seasons of elite corner play from Marcus Hines and Jason Garcia, among other, USF is back to square one as they'll need to find a new shutdown corner. Ray Hill, Ronnie Gay and Sid Robinson played a ton last season but go from CB2 through 4 to now each having a shot at CB1. Ray Thompson, a day-one contributor, must also now go from the team's rover to their primary strong safety, leaving unproven Pierre Hodge and Chris Wade to step up a the team's rover.
   -
2. Bass looking to live up to recruiting ranking
   It's easy to forget that Joel Bass was once a five-star recruit. He's been playing third and sometimes even fourth and fifth fiddle as a receiving option since he got to Tampa. A team leader, Bass' impact has been more so off-the-field than off the field with 43 career receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns. He'll need to double those numbers this season alone if he wants to live up to his five-star rankings. He's a coaching star favorite and even with two more five stars coming in at receiver in Jason Barbour and Darius Downs, Bass is the clear top receiver.
   -
3. Will Pittman take the next step with full season under his belt?
   Malcolm Francois' announcement that James Pittman was going to be the starting quarterback took a lot of people by surprise last season. For the first time since Michael Harrell left, USF's QB1 is established and to some extent, proven. Pittman completed 77 percent of his passes last season and while his QB:INT ratio wasn't great, it was an improvement from 2022. Pittman has started over twenty games now and if he can stay healthy, he could be one of the better QBs in the Big 12 and potentially the nation.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

'Not complacent but flexible and understanding'; McFarland attacking current role with different mindset
Johnny Murray -- The Tampa Bay Times Sports Columnist

Chuck McFarland and his fifteen year old son were one of the many thousands that were in the stands to watch Alabama win a national championship in the Rose Bowl against an upstart AAC team that many felt didn't belong in the BCS National Championship Game.

The Bulls fought admirably in that game and came seven points from winning the national championship. When that same scrappy team became a legitimate national championship contender and offered the younger McFarland as a senior, it was an easy decision.

"As soon as they offered me," says USF redshirt junior QB Mike McFarland, "I knew I was going to end up there. I liked San Diego State, a lot, they were the first to offer me really but I wanted a chance to leave the state and USF offered me that while still having that family atmosphere."

McFarland had rocketed up recruiting rankings as a sophomore and it didn't take long after winning the famed Elite 11 quarterback competition that he became the number one ranked quarterback in the country. McFarland's aversion to wanting to stay in his home state of California led most of the top in-state schools -- USC, UCLA and Stanford -- to look elsewhere. Instead, it was Virginia, Illinois and Iowa that were trying to pry away the former San Diego State commit.

The plan of attack from the Bulls side was rather simple. They had signed the top two receivers in the country in Andrew Vincent and William Stone. The number three ranked center was also in their class along with a six-foot-six receiver and two offensive tackles.

It didn't help that when McFarland had visited Illinois and Virginia as a junior the year before, he was ill-prepared and had to buy a coat from the student gift shop. McFarland got off the tarmac and didn't have to change attire when he arrived in Tampa and that all but sealed the deal.

The honeymoon was over within six months of McFarland's official visit. He arrived on campus early the following spring to compete for the backup QB job only to end up fourth behind guys that were not a former number one quarterback. After a redshirt season, McFarland won the job in camp only to suffer an injury in his first start and missing two months.

He returned and never found his rhythm, finishing the season with nine interceptions to just three touchdowns. When it rains, it pours. McFarland lost the starting job before a single snap of fall camp to James Pittman despite posting similar numbers the year before. While McFarland won't go into details about the report of a potential transfer following that announcement, he does recount feeling lost.

"We all have dreams and things we want to do and envision ourselves doing," McFarland said, "I just didn't see myself not starting, ever, it wasn't something that I knew how to handle and how to accept, to be honest. I really had sort of another redshirt year last season even though I did get to play but from the mental standpoint, it was very much a reset. It's not about being complacent and accepting that you're a backup and you're not as good as the other guy and you suck and all that. I know I'm good, I know I'm the best quarterback on the team and in the country, that confidence is still there but you have to understand things. It's not complacent but flexible and understanding, those are the things you need to have as a backup quarterback."

Pittman is firmly entrenched as the team's starter for his final year of eligibility and by the time Pittman graduates, McFarland himself will only have one-year as a full-time starter to live up to his recruiting rankings. Increased pressure? Yes. Just the way the confident California gun slinger likes it? Yes.

"Whether I start 30 games or 10, it's all about production so I'm not worried about that. Being bad for 20 games and good for 10, it doesn't really matter. What gets you in the league is those ten good games so however I can put together good games and good tape and good film, that's what I'm focusing on, whenever that comes."

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Run of the Bulls ‣ USF Football News
Andrew Lake -- 247 Sports Staff Writer

‣ Former 4-star recruit Joel Dixon back into starting five at center

It's easy to forget that redshirt junior Joel Dixon was ranked higher coming out of high school than two-year starter Brad Jones. The former four-star recruit started as a redshirt freshman but saw his role reduced in 2023 when Jones moved from guard to center in order to accommodate some other shifts on the offensive line.

The Bulls have used a bevy of combinations throughout spring practices but in fall, there seems to be a starting five that has found foothold. Tanner Patton and Charles Joseph continue to rotate at left tackle while Bernard Livingston returns at left guard, the aforementioned Dixon and Jones at center and right guard respectively with returning starter Jimmie Hurd at right tackle.

Hurd played left tackle last season but the Bulls traditionally like their best 'people mover' at right tackle and Hurd certainly was that last season with 22 knockdowns to his name.

‣ DT Elliott welcoming bigger role following Daniels departure

Senior defensive tackle Daniel Elliott has been a model of consistently improving, barely playing as a freshman, contributing as a sophomore and being an all-conference level player in 2023 as a sub-package player.

With Jeremy Daniels now in the NFL, Elliott will look forward to improving his draft stock and doubling his sack total last season of six

"I want double digits sack," says Elliott, who was in the same recruiting class as Daniels, "I think I can get to twelve or fourteen if I really work hard at it. Those are the numbers I'm going for."

Elliott isn't the athlete Daniels was or the pass rusher but he'll have plenty of opportunities to rack up those numbers with redshirt junior Josh Brown as the only other defensive tackle on the roster with playing experience.

‣ Everett running with the starters at tight end

Five-star freshman tight end Vincent Everett was the latest addition to last year's recruiting class and he's already making headway to make the recruitment worthwhile.

Everett, who is only listed at six-foot-one, has been practicing with the first team offense according to social media clips that the team released from the first fall scrimmage. Everett was pictured receiving a pass from quarterback James Pittman.

Whether Everett is the starter or not remains to be seen but it's a good sign that he's at least practicing with the starters.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

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USF and Alabama extend series in 2028 with neutral site matchup
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

Alabama and USF might forever be tied, at least on the USF side. The Bulls impressive performance several years ago in the BCS National Championship game against the Tide -- albeit a loss -- helped legitimize their move into the Power 5 realm.

The Bulls once again went toe to toe with Alabama twice last season, beating them on the road last September before the boys from Tuscaloosa got their revenge to take the 2-1 series lead in the Malcolm Francois era.

USF will open their season with their third matchup against Alabama in just twelve months with USF's 29 game home winning streak on the line. The two schools also agreed to a neutral site game in 2028, two years removed from the final game of the previously scheduled home-and-home-and-home series that spanned from last season through 2026. The Bulls also announced a home-and-home series with Ohio State in 2026 and 2028, filling up their non-conference schedule for the 2026 season.

This season, USF has another tough non-conference schedule as they're on the road against #12 Louisville and #2 Notre Dame in the middle of the season. They host Boise State in addition to Alabama.

2024 USF Schedule
Aug. 31 vs. #1 Alabama
Sep. 7 at #12 Louisville
Sep. 14 at Oklahoma
Sep. 22 vs. Boise State
OPEN
Oct. 5 vs. West Virginia
Oct. 12 at #2 Notre Dame
Oct. 19 vs. Kansas
Oct. 26 vs. #18 Texas (Homecoming)
Nov. 2 at Baylor
Nov. 9 vs. TCU (Senior Night)
Nov. 14 at Texas Tech
Nov. 23 at #16 UCF