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EARLY
BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006 |
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SOUTH
FLORIDA BULLS |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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QB
Matt Grothe |
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LB
Ben Moffitt |
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* 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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.
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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
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