August is here and football is in the air. Camps have begun and USF has been landing recruits right and left.
Looking Back
USF has landed 13 verbal commitments from recruits in the last week, bringing their total to at least 26. One of those commitments came from Plant dual-threat quarterback, Jordan McCloud. USF hasn’t recruited well at Plant, so this could be the start of something good for the Bulls and one of the elite high school programs in the area. Spectrum Sports sat down with McCloud to figure out why he chose USF, instead of the “power” conference schools he had offers from.
Booker receiver, Talik Keaton, has made USF his choice.
Daytona Beach Mainland High offensive tackle, Adonis Boone has committed to USF. The 6-5, 275 lineman had offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Rutgers, and Missouri.
Three Jacksonville recruits have accepted their offers from USF. Lee defensive backs, Eugene Bowman IV and Vincent Davis have given their verbal commitment, as has Ribault receiver, Devon Matthews.
Former USF basketball guard, Mike Bibby, has transferred to Appalachian State. He will sit out next season and have three years of eligibility. Bibby, who had a strong season as a freshman, left USF after the firing of Orlando Antigua.
Looking Forward
2017 marks the tenth year since the Bulls had their breakout season, rising to #2 in the rankings before a three game losing streak that put them out of the top 25. Now, after three different coaches and years of rebuilding, the Bulls are poised to have another big season. Nearly every credible media outlet has USF listed as the favorite to win the American Athletic title. As was the case last year, though, there will be others who have a say about that. CBS Sports, who have been high on the Bulls when few others were, warns of the dark horses.
USF defensive tackle, Deadrin Senat, is preaching defense.
Sports on Earth writer, Matt Brown, has released his season guide of football games to watch. The guide lists what he thinks will be the best game of the week. Two of those weeks, when USF plays Houston and Temple, he lists as sleepers.
Larry Brown Sports lists USF as one of six teams on the rise.
The Tampa Bay Times’ Joey Knight writes that questions still remain about USF football.