Forum: Talk Bulls

In case you happen to be driving around the state this Saturday night when USF hosts Stony Brook, or you just prefer turning off the TV volume and listening to the game on the radio, here is the lineup for the 2010 USF football radio affiliates, released by USF on Tuesday:

USF Football Radio Team
Jim Lighthall - Pre-game, post-game host
Jim Louk - Play-by-play
Mike Pepper - Sideline reporter
Justin Pawlowski - Pre-game, post-game co-host
Ed Pendino - Engineer
Mark Robinson - Color analyst

USF Radio Affiliates
970 WFLA -Tampa Bay (Flagship)
1300 WQBN - Tampa Bay (Spanish)
640 WMEN - Royal Palm Beach
660 WORL - Orlando
770 WWCN - North Fort Myers
1220 WSRQ - Sarasota
1320 WBOB - Jacksonville
1380 WELE - Daytona Beach
1450 WSTU - Stuart
1460 WZEP - Defuniak Springs
1590 WPSL - Port St. Lucie
93.3 WGWD - Tallahassee
99.9 WXJB - Brooksville
Sirius Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio

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First-year USF coach Skip Holtz and his staff are four days from kickoff.

They are also busy hauling in new commitments in the 2011 recruiting class.

The latest players to commit to the Bulls are Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy LB Antoine Pozniak, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder with above-average athleticism, and Wellington OL Brynjar Gudmunsson, who registers at 6-3, 265 pounds.

The addition of Pozniak and Gudmunsson gives the Bulls 13 verbal commitments in next year’s class, a fast start for Holtz and Co. in building their first class at USF from start to finish.

Pozniak said he plans to enroll in January once his season at Oak Ridge is completed.

“When I get there I will play wherever I am needed,’’ he told USFBullsEye.com. “I haven’t really had any problem putting on size. I will leave it up to the coaches to decide.”

Pozniak told the website that he selected USF over schools such as Oregon, Syracuse and San Diego State.

Meanwhile, Gudmunsson told Scout.com that he chose USF over UCF, Marshall and Florida International.

“I wanted to make an early decision and South Florida has really been where my mind has been at,” Gudmunsson told USFNation.com. “I can’t think of another school that I would rather be at. I’ve wanted to tell them that they were my choice for some time.”

Gudmunsson is the fourth offensive line to commit.

Pozniak and Gudmunsson join Pahokee LB Rontavious Atkins, Sebring LB Zach Bullock, Cape Coral LB/DE Edsel Caprice, Stone Mountain (Ga.) RB Willie Davis, Milton QB Matt Floyd, Land O’ Lakes QB Stephen Weatherford, Tallahassee Lincoln DB Chris Garye Jr., Lake Region OL Thor Jozwiak, Punta Gorda Charlotte WR Alex Mut, Orlando Boone OL Max Lang, and Bay Minette (Ala.) OL David Simon as verbal pledges for 2011.

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By Phil Neary
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA— Freshman quarterback Bobby Eveld and freshman receiver Steven Bravo-Brown were two names USF coach Skip Holtz probably wouldn’t have predicted to contribute this season prior to fall camp.

But with the season about to start, Holtz said Tuesday that the walk-ons have earned significant roles.

Eveld, a former Jesuit standout, will back up redshirt sophomore B.J. Daniels, while Bravo-Brown is on the cusp of the two-deep at receiver.

“Both will play,’’ Holtz said. “They will both definitely play. If given an opportunity, I’d love to give (Eveld) some game experience because it’s going to be a long year and I don’t want to wait for something to happen to B.J. to get him ready.

“They will be two of those guys who we will be talking about that will going from walk-on to scholarship player one day.”

Bravo-Brown has been competing with sophomore T.J. Knowles for the second-team X-receiver spot, turning heads with his athletic ability and football IQ.

“He’s doing all the right things,” receivers coach Phil McGeoghan said.  “Young guys usually get flustered when they start to go live and do different things when people are flying around. I’ve seen him make a great adjustment to the college game from being a true freshman walk-on. He’s got great work ethic, great skill set.’’

Is T-Rex on the Bubble?

Holtz has said at different times since camp started that former Hillsborough High star Terrence Mitchell is ahead of the freshman curve.

However, during his media luncheon on Tuesday, Holtz said Mitchell is in a group of true freshmen that the coaching staff is still evaluating as potential redshirts. Holtz said OL Quinterrius Eatmon, WR Deonte Welch and QB Jamius Gunsby join Mitchell in that group.

“I don’t want to play them early and then all of a sudden have it to where, ‘Well, I’m not 100 percent sure they’re ready,’ and then pull a them back off and see a guy waste a year because he played 20 plays,” Holtz said.

Other than Bravo-Brown and Eveld, RB Marcus Shaw and DB Mark Joyce are the other freshmen likely to play this year according to Holtz.

Stopping Stony Brook’s Running Game

After watching film and studying Stony Brook, Holtz said the main thing the Bulls will have to defend in Saturday’s season opener is the Seawolves’ rushing attack.

Stony Brook averaged 164 yards per game rushing in 2009, and returns junior Edwin Gowens, who averaged 6.1 yards per carry.

“(The offensive line) comes off the ball; they hit you in the mouth and run the ball.  That’s what they do,” Holtz said.

Bull Bits

Senior C Sampson Genus, senior CB Mistral Raymond, and senior LB Jacquian Williams are the three named captains for Saturday … Holtz said he is looking to put one more player on scholarship before the season starts, and mentioned Eveld, Bravo-Brown and senior kicker Eric Schwartz as possible candidates … Holtz said Tuesday it isn’t settled, but he’s leaning towards Schwartz handling field-goal duties and sophomore Maikon Bonani handling kickoffs … The Bulls will practice today and take Thursday and Friday off before Saturday’s opener.

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TAMPA – A running back stole the show the last time the University of South Florida football team played a game.

But on Tuesday, four days before USF’s season opener against Stony Brook, first-year coach Skip Holtz remained uncertain who will start at halfback: Mo Plancher, Bradley Battles, Demetris Murray or Marcus Shaw?

“If the game was tomorrow, I would start Battles,’’ Holtz said.

In reality, the battle to start Saturday is between Battles and Plancher, who started all 13 games last season. Murray had a strong spring and had moved ahead of Battles entering fall camp, but Battles shined in a pair of recent scrimmages to jump ahead of Murray and Plancher.

A sixth-year senior, Plancher has been limited by a shoulder injury during the second half of fall camp and just returned to contact drills in Friday’s scrimmage. Meanwhile, Shaw is a true freshman who Holtz says will likely play Saturday, but the coaching staff knows Shaw isn’t ready for a starting job only a few months out of De Soto High in Arcadia.

“The running back situation is by committee right now,’’ Holtz said.

The way the Bulls ended last season, their backfield seemed in good hands for 2010.

In USF’s win over Northern Illinois in the International Bowl in January, junior Mike Ford carried the Bulls to victory with a career-high 207 yards, earning MVP honors. However, only a few weeks later, Ford was dismissed from the program for off-the-field issues.

The Bulls avoided a total disaster when Plancher was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA in the spring after another upperclassman expected to compete for a starting job, Jamar Taylor, left the program. The loss of Ford, Taylor and often-injured Aston Samuels – he left the program over the summer – left Plancher as the projected starter. Plancher rushed for 581 yards a year ago.

“As a sixth-year player, I think he’s got the all-around game savvy that he can handle all situations: run, pass, catching,’’ offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said. “We’re going to need all three of those guys to be there.’’

Still, at 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, Plancher’s carries must be monitored to keep him fresh. Battles (5-8, 201) and Murray (5-10, 206) are a little bigger and faster, but Battles is a redshirt freshman and Murray only a sophomore who saw limited action last season.

Plancher says the competition in camp has been good for everyone considering the circumstances.

“I see a lot of hard work and determination,’’ Plancher said. “These guys are hungry. Every day they come out and fighting. I see them getting better. They are night and day from last year. They are running more physical and they are blocking better.’’

The lack of a feature back raises questions about the plan to reduce quarterback B.J. Daniels’ role in the running game. Daniels led the team in rushing last season with 772 yards, but Holtz and Fitch don’t want a repeat peformance.

“I can understand why B.J. has been our leading rusher,’’ Holtz said. “He is a hard son of a gun to tackle. He can make an awful lot of things happen, and he can really make this offense move with what he can do with his feet.

“We need some others to help him out, though.’’

Fitch agrees, knowing how much Daniels already has on his plate running a new offense in the passing game.

“We hope as this thing unfolds as the season goes, [B.J.] will be a small portion of our running game,’’ Fitch said.
At this point, the best-case scenario for Stony Brook and beyond is for Plancher’s shoulder to hold up well and while Murray, Battles and Shaw get some carries and much-needed experience.

“It’s real important to me,’’ Plancher said of having a strong final season. “Football is a big part of my life, and I wanted to come back and help the team. It’s a big opportunity. I’m just going to take it and run with it. It doesn’t matter if I get five carries, 10 or 20, it really doesn’t matter.’’

While Holtz would prefer a featured back like he had at East Carolina in reigning NFL MVP Chris Johnson, he isn’t all broken up that Plancher had to sit much of fall camp.

“It’s gotten Murray and Battles and the guys behind him an awful lot of work,’’ Holtz said. “[Mo] should be fine. We’re just being protective with him to try and develop depth.’’

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USF football coach Skip Holtz is ready for kickoff.

By the time Saturday night rolls around at Raymond James Stadium, Holtz hopes his team is ready, too.

Stony Brook comes to town to face the Bulls in Holtz’s first game as USF’s coach.

USF’s practice Sunday night was canceled due to rain, but the team met for more than an hour to study film and start planning for Stony Brook.

To watch Holtz talk about the start of game week, check out the video:

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TAMPA— The Bulls canceled practice Sunday night because of the rain, but that didn’t stop USF from a preparing for Saturday’s season opener against Stony Brook.

After players lifted weights and got some running in, the coaches opted to remain inside and work on correcting mistakes from Friday’s scrimmage and studying film of Stony Brook.

“We’re into game week,’’ first-year coach Skip Holtz said. “This is the week you polish the edges. I know it’s exciting for the players, a little different bounce in everybody’s step. I’m really excited to get started. It’s been eight months waiting.’‘

Holtz said the Bulls accomplished probably as much inside Sunday as they would have on the field in a one-hour practice in shorts, which will be the normal Sunday night routine during the season.

“We’re done with all the talking and practicing,’’ QB B.J. Daniels said Sunday. “We’re just trying to get ready for game week.’‘

GIMME SHELTER: You hear it coming out of Tallahassee and Gainesville nearly every time rain or lightning cancels practice: We need an indoor practice facility.

Asked if he would like to see one at USF, Holtz said: “Would we use it? Yes. I would love to see it, but right now we’ve got a bigger fish to fry.’‘

USF is building a new football practice facility that includes three new fields, including one with artificial turf.

BULL BITS: Holtz said WRs A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin and OL Mark Popek remain the only players expected to miss Saturday’s game due to injuries ... The Bulls voted for team captains on Sunday night; Holtz said once the votes are counted, he’ll announce the team captains on Tuesday at his weekly media luncheon.

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If you’re looking for something to do on Saturday night—and to do it cheaply—then you’ve come to the right place.

As a reward to our readers, viewers and online users, The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and WFLA-News Channel 8 are offering a $5 ticket special to USF’s season opener on Saturday night against Stony Brook at Raymond James Stadium.

The tickets are regularly priced $25.

Here are the three ways to redeem the $5 tickets:

—Log on to TBO.com and enter keyword BULLS FAN in the search box
—Bring the ad that ran in Saturday’s Tampa Tribune on Page 8 of the Sports section to the Sun Dome ticket office
—On game day, bring the same ad to the Raymond James Stadium ticket office

There you go. Pretty simple—and cheap entertainment on a Saturday night.

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The USF men’s soccer team has high expectations this season.

The Bulls showed why on Saturday night, upsetting No. 1-ranked Akron, 2-1, in their final preseason match.

USF’s Bernardo Anor scored two goals and goalkeeper Jeff Attinella was stellar in front of the goal, recording 10 saves.

The Bulls, ranked 13th entering the regular season, scored the game-winner on Anor’s goal in the 75th minute.

Yep, it’s only the preseason, but you’ve got to think tonight’s win over the top-ranked Zips is a huge confidence builder for the Bulls. Akron lost to Virginia in the NCAA title match last season.

USF returns to the field on Wednesday in the regular-season opener against Florida Gulf Coast at 7:30 p.m.

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It was Friday Night Lights for the USF football team.

The Bulls held their third and final scrimmage of fall camp on Friday night.

USF coach Skip Holtz and quarterback B.J. Daniels both sounded optimistic about the offense’s performance after the unit struggled in each of the first two scrimmages.

The Bulls officially open the Holtz Era in seven days at Raymond James Stadium, hosting Stony Brook in the season opener.

Check out the video to hear Holtz talk about the Bulls’ performance Friday night:

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VERO BEACH - Not long after unpacking at Dodgertown earlier this month, first-year University of South Florida football coach Skip Holtz noticed a young boy and his father.

Holtz had brought his team, still reeling from a tumultuous split with former Bulls coach Jim Leavitt, to Vero Beach to get away from potential distractions. During a 12-day camp, he wanted to bond with his players and for the players to get to know each other better. What no one could have envisioned before the Bulls loaded up for the three-hour drive across the state was that
8-year-old Cody Urbanczyk would become a building block.

In Holtz’s world, coaching is more about relationships than third-down calls. He seeks a human touch in an era when many coaches have become more isolated, and Cody played a key role in the Bulls’ bonding process.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

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The USF men’s soccer team has a not-so-ho-hum preseason match tonight: The Bulls host Akron, the preseason No. 1 team in the nation.

Akron lost to Virginia in the NCAA title game last season.

The USF-Akron match is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. at the USF Soccer Stadium.

Speaking of soccer stadiums, USF released the renderings for its new soccer stadium, set to open in 2011.

To check out the renderings, click here and click here.

I’m impressed. Looks like it will be a great place to go hang out and watch a game.

The stadium is set to be built east of the USF Athletic Center on campus and will hold approximately 2,000. The stadium is designed like a bowl with plenty of berm seating and expansion potential for NCAA events.

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TAMPA— In a perfect world, University of South Florida offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler is not sure how a lot of things would work.

Would he be taller? Would the sun shine longer each day? Would the sky be blue?

But he does know how it would be for an offensive lineman: “A freshman would never play,” Shankweiler said.

If Shankweiler had his way, every offensive lineman until the end of time would sign a scholarship, join the team in practices and just watch and learn for his first year on campus.

Of course, it doesn’t always work out that way, which is why true freshman Quinterrius Eatmon is a Jake Sims injury away from moving up the depth chart and into the starting lineup at right tackle.

Don’t get Shankweiler wrong. He is very high on Eatmon, a 6-foot-6, 340-pound behemoth from Prichard, Ala.

“He has an unusual ability to learn things football-wise more quickly than most freshmen,” Shankweiler said. “He has all the skills to be a good college football player.”

Eatmon entered fall camp expected to redshirt along with a pair of other true freshmen on the offensive line, Tony Kibler and Jake Kaufmann. However, when Sims missed time in camp with a concussion, Eatmon began to get more reps behind sophomore Mark Popek. And when Popek went down with a sprained right knee that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least two more weeks, Eatmon kept pushing his way up the depth chart.

Without a deep line intact, Shankweiler might have to use young players before he would like. The Bulls’ most experienced offensive lineman, senior guard Zach Hermann, left the program during spring practice because of concerns about a lingering neck injury. Hermann had started 26 games the past three seasons.

“We’re going to have to probably cross-train some guys to fit the pieces together,’’ Shankweiler said. “If we’ve only got three tackles, somebody has to flip-flop. We’re installing, teaching, making sure we’re trying to create depth.’‘

Sims is a perfect example of how the lack of depth plays into rotating players when needed. Last season, Sims started nine games at three positions along the line.

“I’ve been moving around since I got here,’’ Sims said. “I played right guard as a sophomore, back to tackle, and last year I played every position: guard, tackle and center in two games. We just learn the offense that way.’‘

The Bulls’ starting line has senior Jamar Bass at left tackle, junior Jeremiah Warren at left guard, senior Sampson Genus at center, junior Chaz Hine at right guard and Sims at right tackle.

While the unit lacks depth, Sims is confident the Bulls have the talent and versatility to get the job done.

“We have quite a few guys who can bounce around,” he said. “Our tackles can play either side. Sampson, if we could line him up at tackle, he could do it.”

Shankweiler, who got his first job coaching the offensive line 30 years ago at The Citadel, will make do with what he has. That’s not exactly how he would draw it up in a perfect world, but he has yet to find a perfect offensive line in all these years in coaching.

“There are some guys, especially in the second unit, (that I’m pushing) to practice like a starter, to play like a starter, quit thinking like you’re a second-teamer,” Shankweiler said. “Obviously, you would like to have two right tackles and two left tackles. Losing Popek for a few weeks kind of puts a crimp in that plan.’’

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TAMPA— The mood after USF’s final scrimmage of fall camp Friday night could be best described as cautiously optimistic. First-year coach Skip Holtz loved the energy and passion, but you could tell he’s glad the Bulls have another week of practice before hosting Stony Brook a week from today.

“I just wanted them to get what game day was all about,” Holtz said. “A lot of good things went on. We are not game ready at this point.”

The biggest goal in Friday’s scrimmage was to avoid injuries, and the Bulls accomplished that, according to Holtz. QB B.J. Daniels said the offense is moving in the right direction after struggling in the first two scrimmages.

“We were just doing things out there that we would in a game,” Daniels said. “I think we have definitely improved over these last two weeks. I think our team is ready.”

Holtz said the Bulls ran about 45 live plays. While he would have liked to ran more, the staff decided to limit the number of live plays to reduce the risk of injury heading into game week.

Plancher returns

Sixth-year senior RB Mo Plancher, who has been limited with a shoulder injury since the Bulls returned from Vero Beach, saw some live action Friday. Plancher, the team’s leading returning rusher, is battling Bradley Battles and Demetris Murray at tailback.

“I felt like it was important that he gets in there and gets some work,” Holtz said. “I don’t want the first time he gets hit to be from two weeks off with a shoulder injury.”

Saving Bogan

Senior WR Dontavia Bogan is the team’s most proven kickoff returner, and he is closing in on several school records. He is also USF’s most-experienced receiver. With the Bulls lacking depth at receiver, he may not be returning kickoffs.

“I met with him the other day and talked about it,” Holtz said. “I know he really wants to do it. I just told him, right now where we are from a depth standpoint, it just scares me. It’s not about the records, it’s about the team.”

Kayvon Webster, Lindsey Lamar and Terrence Mitchell are getting most of the work on returns.

Bull bits

Despite not being listed as a starter on the depth chart, CB Quenton Washington played a lot in Friday’s scrimmage behind Webster and Mistral Raymond. “I look at Q Washington as a starter,’’ Holtz said. “I feel like we’ve got three starting corners.’’ … After breaking Friday’s scrimmage, the team broke out in song, singing the school’s fight song. The tradition will continue during the season. “We are going to sing it after every win,’’ Holtz said.

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TAMPA— The first thing University of South Florida center Sampson Genus noticed was the hands.

B.J. Daniels’ voice was a little shaky, his eyes as big as Frisbees, but those hands wouldn’t stop shaking when he took over for an injured Matt Grothe late in the second quarter of the third game last season.

“He was kind of antsy,’’ said Genus, the senior leader of the offensive line. “I was like, ‘B.J., we gotcha. It’s alright. Just calm down.’‘’

Daniels, 20, remembers the moment well. On one play, he watched Grothe take off for a 9-yard gain; on the next, he was suddenly USF’s new starting quarterback.

“I definitely was shaking a little bit,’’ Daniels said. “My first couple of throws, I probably threw the ball about a million miles per hour from all the excitement. I finally settled down.’‘

Six plays later, Daniels hit Dontavia Bogan for a 50-yard touchdown pass. A week later, Daniels led the Bulls to a historic victory at Florida State in front of a large group of family and friends in his hometown. And now, nearly a year later, Daniels is considered a veteran, the second-most experienced quarterback in the Big East with 10 career starts.

Ever since Grothe went down with that season-ending knee injury against Charleston Southern, Daniels has been on a treadmill that hasn’t stopped. He immediately proved his mettle by leading the Bulls to perhaps the most memorable victory in school history at FSU.

The storylines flowed that day like an uncorked bottle of champagne. But once reality set in, Daniels and the Bulls suffered five losses in their final eight games.

As Daniels prepares to enter his first full season as USF’s starting quarterback, he has taken all the experiences of the last year and used them to prepare for what he hopes is a successful start to the Skip Holtz Era.

“Last year was a confidence builder,’’ Daniels said. “I learned about myself as a player and as a person. It was tough trying to fill in for Matt. I didn’t want to be a drop-off. Matt’s done a lot for our program and I wanted to be consistent and carry the torch.’‘

Leading the way

Following his introductory news conference in January, Holtz immediately left the podium and headed for Daniels, who watched from the crowd that sunny afternoon.

Holtz made sure to let Daniels know that he needed him to make Holtz’s first season in Tampa a success. In the eight months since, Holtz has gained respect and confidence for the way Daniels has taken ownership of his role as team leader and spokesman.

“The best word I can use to describe him is professional, from the way he carries himself, from the way he handles himself, the way he dresses, he’s articulate … he’s got all those intangible things,’’ Holtz said. “I think he’s got the respect of this team.’‘

Recruited to USF by former coach Jim Leavitt with the promise that he could play both basketball and football, Daniels officially gave up basketball last season to focus on football. After taking over for Grothe, Daniels led the Bulls in rushing (772 yards) and became the first player in Big East history to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 in USF’s win over Louisville.

While those outside the program had questions about Daniels’ ability to stabilize the situation following Grothe’s injury, those who saw him at practice every day had a different view. Teammate Isaac Virgin, who was recruited as a quarterback but has since moved to receiver, quickly realized Daniels’ potential after arriving on campus.

“As a backup, I always thought he was a great leader,’’ Virgin said. “For somebody to come in as a redshirt freshman and do what he did, you have to have great composure and be a natural-born leader.’‘

Genus says Daniels continues to evolve as a player and person every day. The two often grab dinner together and just talk about football, school, movies, whatever. He sees a much calmer and mature Daniels.

While Daniels may not seem like the vocal take-charge leader we’re used to seeing from quarterbacks, Genus says don’t be fooled. The Bulls have a different view of him.

“He doesn’t put himself as the team leader, but we all look up to him,’’ Genus said. “He’s the quarterback. We expect him to make the right decisions.’‘

Big-play identity

As for the player everyone sees on the field, there is no disputing Daniels is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Prior to hosting the Bulls late last season, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano stressed all week to his players that they had to stop Daniels, telling them Daniels reminded him of Michael Vick.

The Scarlet Knights had more success than any other team in a 31-0 victory, limiting Daniels to 140 yards of total offense in the Bulls’ only shutout loss in school history.

“He is a different type of quarterback that you have to worry about,’’ Rutgers senior safety Joe Lefeged said. “The thing with him, the play is never over. A play can last 10, 12, 15 seconds. You have to hustle to the football.

“He is a big play waiting to happen.’‘

USF defensive coordinator Mark Snyder learned that lesson during a recent scrimmage when Daniels was made live for full contact for the first time since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.

“We had the X-factor in that we lined up B.J.,” Snyder said. “What I saw I have not seen since I stood on the sideline and coached against Antwaan Randle El. It was pretty impressive to see.”

The task for offensive coordinator Todd Fitch is to find the proper balance between Daniels as a runner and as a passer. With a pair of freshmen behind Daniels on the depth chart, USF’s coaching staff is taking extra precautions to keep him healthy.

The offense features more pro-style sets and less designed runs for Daniels, and Holtz has stressed since spring that he doesn’t want Daniels to lead the team in rushing again.

“There will be runs designed in the scheme for him,” Fitch said, adding that he wants most of Daniels’ rushing yards to come from reading zone defenses and taking the option to run when it’s there.

“B.J. is very athletic,’’ Holtz said. “You look at the film from a year ago, and he made a lot of plays with his talent and athleticism. I’d like to see him make a lot of plays with his mind.’‘

Daniels has embraced the new offense, pointing out that in the spring game he threw 31 times and ran just twice. He also can laugh — without those nervous shakes — when thinking back to taking over for Grothe in an emergency situation.

“I’ve come a long way, I’ll say that,’’ Daniels said. “I was definitely learning as I went.’’

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By PHIL NEARY
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA – After Thursday’s practice in shorts, USF coach Skip Holtz pointed out that last year the Bulls were at the bottom of the Big East in several special teams’ categories.

Holtz said special teams remain an area of concern, and one that he will be watching closely in Friday’s scrimmage, the third and final scrimmage of fall camp.

“It’s just like offense and defense,’’ Holtz said. “You’ve got to spend time on it. That’s definitely an area where we have an opportunity to turn and improve on. We’re going to need to if we’re going to be a good football team.’’

There will also be an emphasis on getting the first- and second-teamers prepared to play a game, and eliminating some of the mental mistakes that often pop up in the season opener.

“First game you always have those 10-man penalties where I’m on the field, you call punt, and I run off and I didn’t hear you call punt,’’ Holtz said. “I’m just trying to get them in the flow of the game and how special teams work in the offense and defense aspects of it. When we get a stop on defense, I have to stay at them on punt returns, those types of things.’’

DEFENSIVE DEPTH: The lack of star power on defense is a popular storyline entering the season, but it’s not one that has USF’s coaching staff concerned.

“I like the guys that we have,’’ Holtz said. “I don’t think we’re there. All of a sudden our defense is being tested a little bit more than they were early and I’m not sure we didn’t have a little bit of a false sense of security about how good we were on defense.’’

The Bulls sent five defensive starters to the NFL after last season, including the 15th overall pick in DE Jason Pierre-Paul, and lost a few reserves to graduation.

“Bobby Bowden used to say, ‘I’ve got three tailbacks,’ (and) it just means (he) doesn’t have one great one,’’ Holtz said. “We don’t have the Pierre-Paul. We don’t have that guy who can play 80 snaps for us and be a first-round draft pick so to speak. We may have to do it by committee.’’

BEVY OF RETURNERS: The competition to return kicks remains competitive entering the final stretch of fall camp.

Senior Faron Hornes, sophomore Lindsey Lamar, redshirt freshman Jonny Sitton and freshman Terrence Mitchell have all worked returning punts.

Mitchell, senior Dontavia Bogan, Lamar, and sophomore Kayvon Webster are candidates to return kickoffs. Holtz said Mitchell, recruited as a cornerback, could be a good option at one or both because of the depth at cornerback.

“It’s not because he isn’t doing well (at cornerback), it’s because you have (senior) Mistral Raymond, Kayvon Webster, and (Quenton) Washington. You’ve got some guys who are playing pretty well (at cornerback) right now,’’ Holtz said.

BULL BITS: Freshman QB Jamius Gunsby practiced Thursday after missing all week due to a groin injury suffered in Saturday’s scrimmage … Lamar tweaked his shoulder during Thursday’s practice, according to Holtz, but isn’t expected to miss extended time.

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