The University of South Florida football team took advantage of the first-ever early signing day for football recruits on Wednesday. USF signed a total of 17 recruits, all but three of which were 3-star composite rated by 247 Sports. Of those three receiving 2 stars, one is a junior college punter.
247 Sports ranks the class 54th, nationally, while Rivals ranks them 48th. Both sites have a mix of signed and verbally committed recruits and rank USF 2nd highest in the American Athletic Conference, with Cincinnati in the top spot. The information below is shared courtesy of www.247sports.com.
Defensive end, Stacy Kirby, was an FSU commit before Willie Taggart replaced Jimbo Fisher. After decommitting from Florida State, the Orlando native was expected to join the hometown UCF Knights. Sebastian Sainterling, offensive guard out of Hollywood’s Chaminade-Madonna Prep, chose USF over Auburn, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, and Kentucky.
Rashawn Yates had offers from 27 schools to play defensive end. They included Georgia Tech, Louisville, Oregon, Memphis, and Pitt. Jajuan Cherry is being recruited as an athlete, but projects as a safety at USF. Cherry has several offers to pick from, but Georgia Tech is the only other scholarship from a major program.
Defensive end, Trey Laing, had dozens of offers to choose from, but chose USF over Rutgers, Washington State, Cincinnati, and Iowa State. There’s not a lot of information about running back, Brian Norris. Norris gets 3 stars from 247 Sports, but it doesn’t look like has been offered by any other school. They also rank him 84th at his position. Rivals also lists him at 3 stars, with no other offers.
Like Norris, Homestead tight end, Chris Carter, has no other listed offers with 247 Sports. Rivals shows offers from the likes Georgia Southern, Tulane, and Marshall. Ocatvious Battle is one of two quarterbacks who have already signed in this class. 247 Sports ranks him the 37th best dual threat quarterback in the country, while Rivals lists him as an unranked pro-style quarterback. At 6’4”, he has unusual height for a USF quarterback.
Devin Leacock is a 6-3 , 270 pound defensive tackle out of Port Charlotte. Despite good size for his position, his best other offers are Marshall and Southern Mississippi. Jordan McCloud is the other quarterback signed with the Bulls. At 6-0, 175, he better fits the dual threat mode of successful USF quarterbacks. McCloud played high school football at Plant, which might be an opening for the Bulls, who haven’t always had recruiting success at the football powerhouse.
Dwayne Boyles, a 6-3 225 pound recruit from Miami Central, is one of four total defensive ends in this group. He’s one of the rare recruits with offers from both USF and UCF, who surprisingly do not often go head to head for the same recruits. Aside from UCF and USF, Boyles’ best offers were from Kentucky, Tulane, and FIU. Cincinnati, Tulane, and Purdue top the many offers for West Florida Tech’s Keyon Helton. Helton is a 6-1, 190 safety, whom 247 Sports ranks as the 134th at his position, nationally.
Terrence Horne had offers from Oregon, Cincinnati, Arizona State, and many others. He was projected to go to Oregon State before signing with the Bulls. UCF had also offered him, but there’s no indication they were really in the mix. Horne is 5-9 and 165, listed as a wide receiver for USF. USF beat out Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Memphis for defensive end, Armon Williams. Williams is one of the four defensive ends who signed with USF, this week.
Antonio Grier is the first of the two star rated recruits, as rated by 247 Sports. Looking at his other offers, the 6-1, 220 pound linebacker had an easy choice with USF. Eastern Michigan, Marshall, and UAB are probably the best options on that offer list. Johnny Ford probably gets the two star rating because of his small stature. At 5-8, 165, Ford projects to be a running back at USF.
Last, but certainly not least is punter, Trent Schneider. Schneider is an Australian native who comes to USF via Santa Barbara City College, where he averaged more than 38 yards per punt.