EARLY BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006
SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
OFFENSE - 8
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Pat Julmiste-QB, Ean Randolph-WR, S.J. Green-WR, Will Bleakley-TE, Thed Watson-OT
DEFENSE: Stephen Nicholas-SLB, Pat St. Louis-WLB, Jerremy Burnett-SS
Quarterback/Defensive Back

Matt Grothe showed too much competence as a freshman not to deliver again. This secondary leads a modestly strong defense that held West Virginia to 19 points and finished second in the conference.

Receiver/Linebacker

Senior MLB Ben Moffitt finds little experience to help on the outsides. The Bulls lose two of their biggest targets, but there is depth here that will flourish with Grothe’s accuracy.

QB Matt Grothe
 
LB Ben Moffitt
 

* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
SOUTH FLORIDA 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Matt Grothe-So ..
RB Benjamin Williams-Jr Ricky Ponton-Jr / Moise Plancher-So (inj.)
WR Marcus Edwards-Jr Amp Hill-Jr
WR Taurus Johnson-Jr ..
WR Amarri Jackson-Sr ..
TE Cedric Hill-Jr ..
OT Marc Diles-Jr Jared Carnes-Sr
OG Matt Huners-Jr Jake Griffin-Jr
C Nick Capogna-Sr ..
OG Ryan Schmidt-Jr ..
OT Walter Walker-Sr ..
K Mike Benzer-So Delbert Alvarado-So
DEFENSE
DE Josh Julmiste-Jr Jarriett Buie-Sr
DT Woody George-Sr Richard Clebert-Sr
NT Allen Cray-Sr Aaron Harris-So
DE George Selvie-So Chris Robinson-So
SLB .. ..
MLB Ben Moffitt-Sr ..
WLB .. ..
CB Trae Williams-Sr Jerome Murphy-So
CB Mike Jenkins-Sr Tyller Roberts-Jr
SS Louis Gachette-Jr ..
FS Carlton Williams-Jr Danny Verpaele-Jr
P Justin Teachey-Jr Delbert Alvarado-So
QUICK ANALYSIS

Shhhh…don’t tell anyone, but South Florida has built a program under the tutelage of Jim Leavitt that finished 8-4, better than in-state siblings FSU and Miami. The Bulls have quietly honed a formidable squad that can truly challenge for the Big East crown. In beating WVU in Morgantown and losing to Rutgers 22-20, USF proved that they are a sleeper many again won’t see coming in ’07. What pulled The Bulls from obscurity to respectability was QB Matt Grothe, a fleet-footed hurler who makes solid decisions on the fly and shows maturity many QBs don’t have even as seniors. Grothe led the ’06 squad in rushing, for he ran almost as much as he threw. RB Ben Williams seems almost like a distraction, but will likely see more carries as Leavitt makes their game plan revolve around protecting Grothe in the pocket more for the upcoming campaign. Offensive production will only increase with the entire OL returning. Departures at WR will be offset by steady reserves finally getting primary roles. This offense kicks into a much higher gear next year – bet on it. Still, it was arguably the defense that also allowed USF to become more competitive. Only Louisville broke the 30-point mark on them, and they held seven of their ’06 foes to under 20. The Bulls have a stellar group of DBs – senior Williams (seven INTs) and Jenkins (12 PBUs) constitute one of the best pair of CBs in the land. They will have to be good with the losses of all-around LBs Pat St. Louis and Stephen Nicolas. Ben Moffitt is good in the middle, but he can’t do alone what the corps could do by disrupting backfields, and therefore affecting opposing QBs in their passing. How well these two are replaced will go a far way toward defining the Bull’s defensive efforts. The DL also remains intact (with reserves who have starting experience), and that means they can improve on their status as the 41st-ranked run stopping unit. This will be important if USF is to topple the ground attacks of the conference’s best. The kicking game has to improve (errant 40-yard FGA is what was missing against Rutgers) if USF is to take the next step(s). The Bulls may be a darkhorse to finish in the top 25, but don’t be surprised to see them break into the polls sometime during the season. And don’t be alarmed if they again finish in the Sunshine State top three, a modest goal for this fledging team that has only been around since 2000.

 

SOUTH FLORIDA
2007 SCHEDULE

9-1 Elon
9-8 UCF
9-15 @ Auburn
9-22 North Carolina
9-29 @ Florida Atlantic
TBA @ Rutgers
TBA @ Connecticut
TBA Cincinnati
TBA @ Pittsburgh
TBA @ Syracuse
TBA Louisville
TBA West Virginia