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A blossoming legend n

How Marlon Mack went from a replacement to one of USF’s finest players.

Sophomore running back Marlon Mack poses for USF’s student section after scoring one of his four touchdowns against Western Carolina in last season’s opener. Mack, who was a last-minute injury replacement to start the game, went on to become the Bulls’ fourth 1,000-yard rusher in program history. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

By Jeff Odom S P O R T S

E D I T O R

On the eve of his collegiate debut, Marlon Mack remembers feeling content.

Then a true freshman, the heralded running back was only expecting to see a few carries here and there against Division I-AA Western Carolina last August. Maybe he could snag a few more toward the end of the fourth quarter if USF managed to blow it open.

“Our (former) running backs coach, (Telly) Lockette was telling me I was only going to get a few carries,” Mack said. “But I wouldn’t get as many as I think I would. Maybe one or two — maybe even five.”

But when game day rolled around, everything changed.

Shortly before the team was supposed to leave the locker room at Raymond James Stadium for warm ups, coach

Willie Taggart called Mack into his office to tell him he’d better prepare, too.

He was going to start because Darius Tice tweaked his knee.

“I mean, I was shocked,” Mack said. “I was just like, am I ready for it? It was all just in my mind.”

Elevating the pressure even more was the fact he had to think about it for 69 extra minutes because of weather delay.

But when time finally came to show what he was all about, Mack never looked back.

“It was an amazing eye-opener. I was going under the radar and nobody really knew about me until after that first game.”

***

Those who follow the team, however, knew the potential Mack had to blossom into a star.

He was a four-star recruit coming out of Sarasota’s Booker High. He racked up 1,527 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns his senior season, and had contributed as a defensive back with 110 tackles and four interceptions.

Mack’s offers stretched from

Much of what the world — beyond the confines of USF’s football program — knew about Mack remained a mystery last season. Hidden behind the veil of Taggart’s policy that bans freshmen from speaking to the media, Mack never put a voice to the player that grew into the nickname of “Mack Attack.”

Marlon Mack USF sophomore running back

coast to coast with Michigan, Louisville, UCLA and Nebraska trying to get a piece of the two-way standout. He even pledged to UCLA and flirted with Louisville for a short time before settling on USF less than a month before signing day.

But off the field, Mack considers himself a regular college student.

“I’m a nice guy,” Mack said with a laugh. “You could say I’m shy, because I don’t talk a lot. I usually just go out there and do my job. But I’m a cool guy. I’m nice to be around — and kind of funny once I get to know people.”

On the field, it might be easier to compare him to a Mack Truck. *** Trailing Western Carolina 14-3 late in the first half, the Bulls were desperate for an answer.

Those who had waited out the weather delay in the stadium grew restless, voicing their displeasure by showering the team with boos.

For USF, which had been embarrassed the year before against a Division I-AA opponent in a 53-21 loss to McNeese State, it was time to turn to Mack.

After a Marvin Kloss field goal brought the Bulls within eight points of the lead midway through the second quarter, Mack resuscitated USF’s flatfooted offense by busting away for a 62-yard touchdown run.

Then, after another field goal

by Kloss cut the deficit to one at halftime, Mack broke away for another long score, a 60-yard scamper on his fifth carry of the half to give the Bulls a lead they would never surrender.

In front of a raucous student section in the north end zone, Mack stopped and posed with

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his hands on his hips.

After two more touchdowns, Mack finished with 275 yards to equal Andre Hall’s single-game mark and set a new AAC record.

A legend had been born.

“That was a show,” Taggart said after the game. “I told our football team before the game that some people show up under the spotlight and some people run away. The spotlight came and he showed up and showed out.”

As hard as it might be to believe, Mack said he didn’t know just how good he was playing until he looked up at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.

“All I really was worried about was getting the W,” Mack said. “My teammates just kept telling me, ‘Keep getting touchdowns, so we can win.’”

So, that’s what Mack did. But his breakout performance didn’t stop with his debut against the Catamounts.

Three weeks later, on a rainy Friday night, Mack rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown against UConn. Then, at Tulsa on Oct. 18, he helped lead USF back from a 20-point shortfall at halftime to a 38-30 victory with 134 yards and two more touchdowns — including a 34-yarder.

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Mack dipped, juked and scurried his way into the USF record book by becoming only the fourth back in program history to compile 1,000 yards in a season with 1,041, and the first since dual-threat quarterback B.J. Daniels in 2009.

He was also named the AAC’s rookie of the year and earned a first-team spot on the all-conference list.

“It was an amazing eye-opener,” Mack said. “I was going under the radar and nobody really knew about me until after that first game. It was a shocker, but it was nice, though.” *** He’s the centerpiece of the team poster. He’s been featured in preview magazines, highlight shows and is a candidate for the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards, given to the best player in college football and the premiere running back, respectively.

Even Taggart has hyped up his sophomore, telling reporters in early August during AAC media days in Rhode Island that he believes Mack has a chance to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

But Mack doesn’t pay much attention to preseason predictions and what might happen. His only focus is Saturday’s opener against Florida A&M. “I just try to do what I can and what I’m capable of,” he said.

Since his breakout performance as a freshman last season, Mack has been honored as a candidate for the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards, given to the best player and premiere running back, respectively. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

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2015 Football Schedule Sat, Sept. 5

Florida A&M (Home)

Sat, Sept. 12

Florida State (Away)

Sat, Sept. 19

Maryland (Away)

Fri, Oct. 2

Memphis (Home)*

Sat, Oct. 10

Syracuse (Home)

Sat, Oct. 17

Connecticut (Away)*

Sat, Oct. 24

SMU (Home)*

Sat, Oct. 31

Navy (Away)*

Sat, Nov. 7

East Carolina (Away)*

Sat, Nov. 14

Temple (Home)*

Fri, Nov. 20

Cincinnati (Home)*

Thu, Nov. 26

Central Florida (Away)*

* Denotes conference games

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Two losing seasons, constant staff turnover, shrinking attendance, hot seat speculation — Taggart’s bus appears to be..

VEERING OFF ROAD When Willie Taggart took the podium for the first time to be introduced as USF’s third coach in program history Dec. 8, 2012, the Hall of Fame Jeff Odom R o o m CO M M E N TA R Y inside the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center burst into applause.

Bedecked in a black suit with a green tie and green USF cap, Taggart was hailed as the savior of the football program, which had just come off a 3-9 campaign — then the worst

in its 16-year existence. The Bradenton native and father of three had turned Western Kentucky from a Division I-A bottom-feeder in the Sun Belt Conference into a team contending for bowl victories.

With a five-year, $5.75 million contract, Taggart was expected to reignite USF, return it to the days of top 25 rankings and in the national-title conversation after three underachieving years under Skip Holtz.

“I always said I wouldn’t leave WKU unless I had a chance to go and win a national championship,” Taggart told the crowd.

“And I truly believe that can be done here.”

Quarterback carousel This has been the single-most glaring question mark for Taggart since he first stepped foot on campus. Since the 2013 opener against Division I-AA McNeese State — a 53-21 loss — five different quarterbacks have taken turns under center with none permanently establishing themselves as the long-term starter.

Matt Floyd lasted fewer than three quarters against McNeese before being benched the remainder of the season — as a team captain nevertheless — and eventually left for South Alabama. Bobby Eveld was utilized in relief of Floyd and played several games before his senior year was abruptly halted upon sustaining a high-ankle sprain against Louisville. Mike White

Thirty-two months after making that declaration, Taggart finds himself immersed in questions about his future.

The commendation that came with his hire has turned into whispers and doubts about whether or not he’s the right person to turn the program around following 2-10 and 4-8 seasons. The talk of national titles is gone, too. Instead, it’s taken a backseat to worries that USF might never reach another bowl game — something Taggart might have to achieve if he wants to reach a fourth season.

Here are the top talking points of Taggart’s tenure so far: looked like the answer Taggart needed in a nationally televised meeting with Houston, throwing for 311 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, before struggling down the stretch and eventually losing the starting job midway through last season and transferring to Western Kentucky during the offseason. Steven Bench has fluctuated in and out of the gig, and now — as a senior — sits behind starter sophomore Quinton Flowers, a dual-threat and former four-star prospect, who started one game last season.

The indecision at signal-caller has killed any mojo Taggart is trying to inject into his offense. The Bulls ranked 94th out of 128 teams in passing yards per game last season (196.8) and 115th overall.

If USF has any hope to succeed, Taggart must make his pick and stick with it.

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Shrinking attendance Probably the most famous line of Taggart’s introductory news conference came when he was asked about how he would put fans back in the seats of Raymond James Stadium.

“Now all we have to do is put everybody on the bus, put them in the right seat and let Coach T drive this bus,” he said.

It spawned a viral marketing campaign, including a video with some of Tampa Bay’s most notable faces riding on an animated bus — driven, of course,

by Taggart — through town before stopping at Ray Jay. So far, though, it seems Taggart’s bus has been broken down on Dale Mabry Highway as fan interest has dropped to a historic low.

In Taggart’s first season, a

Repeated staff turnover Three offensive coordinators in three seasons, a new defensive coordinator, a new defensive backs coach, a new running backs coach and a new tight ends coach and special team’s coordinator. You get the picture — that’s a lot of transition.

At the end of last season, Taggart dismissed offensive coordinator Paul Wulff after one season and defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan (now at UCF) and defensive backs coach Ron Cooper after two. Then, arguably the team’s best recruiter, running backs coach Telly Lockette, bolted for Oregon State. His replacement, Autry Denson, held the position for just five weeks before taking the same job at his alma mater, Notre Dame. Stu Holt,

Recruiting With top-ranked classes in the AAC the past two offseasons, this is a category that Taggart earns a solid A-plus in. Furthermore, his ability to recruit the Tampa Bay area has been arguably the brightest part of his time with USF. After Holtz

November game against SMU drew only 14,240 to the 67,000seat stadium, USF’s lowestattended conference game in program history. Last season, the Bulls averaged just 19,317 in seven home games, among the worst ever.

Taggart, however, isn’t dispirited. He is convinced fans will return if the team starts winning.

“I think you’ve got a bunch of guys ready to settle some scores this year,” Taggart said during the team’s media day. “That’s why you should go buy your tickets and want to be there, so you can say, ‘I was there when they turned it around.’ Don’t be that guy that wasn’t there.

You’re gonna be ticked off, you’re gonna be so mad. I want you to be there and be loud and be part of that turnaround.”

That might be easier said than done. who came to USF with Taggart from Western Kentucky, took an assistant position at Appalachian State.

Since arriving at USF, nine of Taggart’s key staff members have been fired or departed for other jobs. Following his inaugural season, offensive coordinator Walt Wells — who didn’t call the plays — and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan were fired after the Bulls’ feeble offense managed to score only 11 touchdowns.

Strength coach Hans Straub resigned in May 2014 after he wrote a disparaging remark on his personal Twitter account about former USF defensive end Aaron Lynch, who is now a standout linebacker with the 49ers.

Whether there’s writing on the wall or something internally, this amount of turnover doesn’t bode well for creating any form of consistency, or for Taggart. failed to make many strides in the area, Taggart has bolstered the program’s standing by convincing talented prospects like running back Marlon Mack (Sarasota Booker), defensive backs Nate Godwin (Freedom) and Devin Abraham (East Lake) and linebacker Nigel Harris (Hillsborough) to stay home.

The offense One of Taggart’s first duties as USF’s coach was installing his West Coast-style, power-running offense. It was the formula for success for Taggart when he played quarterback for legendary Western Kentucky coach Jack

Harbaugh and when he was an assistant for Jack’s son, Jim, at Stanford and head coach at WKU. But after two lackluster seasons, Taggart has scurried away from his power principle and is implementing an up-tempo, spreadstyle system that he hopes will suit his players’ abilities more.

The only problem is that Taggart has never run this style of offense, yet he’s going to continue calling the plays. How it all will play out remains to be seen. But if it’s anything like 2013, when most players spent the season just trying to learn Taggart’s system, there will be more than a share of growing

What the team is saying:

“We’ve always been playing for “I’m playing the 105 other coach, so just because they’re guys out there, and then saying he’s on the hot seat or Coach (Taggart) is whatever, we don’t feel like that’s with us. So, yeah, we’re a big problem, because we play playing for him — for him every game.” absolutely.”

Jamie Byrd

Auggie Sanchez

USF defensive back

USF middle linebacker

“I feel like we’ve provided Coach (Taggart) with the necessary support to have a successful season.

And that’s really where my expectations lie, a successful season that I believe we can have.”

Mark Harlan USF athletic director in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times

What the critics are saying:

“USF combined top-60 recruiting with a bottom-10 performance, and while the Bulls could improve quite a bit, the schedule should prevent the win total from improving.”

“The Bulls must make a big jump to reach the postseason. The offense may be picking up the pace, but Taggart is running out of time.”

Athlon Sports College Football preview magazine

“Taggart is under pressure to deliver a winning season, but he may need more time to hit six wins.”

Bill Connelly

Shannon Green

SB Nation college football writer

Orlando Sentinel reporter

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After struggles, Bulls tweak schemes

By Jacob Hoag A S S T .

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

When fans stepped through the gates of USF’s Morsani Football Complex for preseason practices in early August, the transformation of the program was in full swing.

After a 2014 campaign that saw little success on either side of the ball — with USF ranked 119th nationally in total offense and 69th in total defense — coach Willie Taggart scrapped the old power-run, West Coast style offense and 3-4 defensive schemes in favor of a bold new look.

Here’s a taste of what to expect this season: Offense What’s changed: While there will still be some facets of Taggart’s trademark power offense remaining, the Bulls will shift to a more up-tempo style they hope will utilize the team’s speed and versatility. Spreading the field out could allow players like senior receiver Rodney Adams and sophomore running back Marlon Mack to get out in

space and make defenders miss.

Depth and personnel were the main reasons Taggart gave for not going forward with the spread. It’s an offense that maximizes athleticism and requires a certain breed of players, something Taggart said he recently found in his last two recruiting classes, which were ranked No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference.

“We’re spreading it out, and that’s good for us and good for our personnel,” Taggart said during media day Aug. 6. “It’s good for the guys we recruited to play in it. When we came here, we didn’t have any of that. We had to recruit to it.”

Drawing inspiration from programs like Oregon, Baylor and Ohio State, a big part of Taggart’s offense is expected to be the pace. The team aims to run a play every 10-12 seconds, giving opposing defenses little time to make key adjustments during a drive or even catch their breath.

Audible: “It’s very fun. I enjoy it. I like to go fast-paced anyway, I wasn’t a really big fan of the slow pace, because it allows defenses to see what you’re

doing and it doesn’t really disguise much. When you’re going fast, the defense gets a little tired and it doesn’t allow them to sub out, which leads to blown coverages and gets some big gaps for runs and big bombs for touchdowns.” – Tight end Sean Price’s thoughts on the new offense.

Defense What’s changed: After struggling in Chuck Bresnahan’s 3-4 formation last season — mostly due to a lack of depth — the Bulls brought in former Mississippi linebackers coach Tom Allen to take over as defensive coordinator and incorporate the 4-2-5 scheme along with a new nickname, the “Bull Sharks.”

Much like the offense, Allen’s system is fast, incorporating an additional safety to assist in pass coverage and help halt spread offenses, something the Bulls failed to do under Bresnahan. Twice they were burned against the spread, allowing a program record-tying 590 total yards in a 34-17 loss at Cincinnati and 589 against N.C. State in a 49-17 defeat in Week 3.

It also meshes well with the team’s power, giving defensive backs like last year’s leading tackler Jamie Byrd, a Pasco High alumnus, an opportunity to cover receivers and tackle, too, without skipping a beat.

Allen also hopes the unit’s linebackers and front four will be benefited by the switch.

Junior linebacker Nigel Harris of Hillsborough High was one of the bright spots last season, leading the nation with six forced fumbles. Middle linebacker Auggie Sanchez made an almost seamless transition from fullback to become one of the group’s top leaders.

Defensive end Eric Lee believes the 4-2-5 system will give him an opportunity to rush the passer more often and create heavy pressure up front.

Audible: “We’re going to run to the ball, we’re going to rake the ball out, we’re going to strip them, we’re going to hit them, we’re going to intercept them. We’re going to come after them with any type of turnover we can.

That’s part of the plan for sure.” – Sanchez on creating turnovers.

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Bulls breakdown: Who to watch in 2015

By Jacob Hoag A S S T .

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

With new staff and scheme changes come new faces rising up to take starting jobs.

USF returns 13 starters from its 2014 roster, but many positions and players have changed. Here are 10 players to watch for this season: Quinton Flowers, quarterback: One of the biggest storylines coming into training camp was which quarterback would emerge as USF’s starter. Flowers rose to the occasion, edging out senior Steven Bench, and will enter his sophomore season as the starter. With the switch to a spread-style offense, Flowers has the necessary dualthreat skill set. Though he got little experience last season — attempting just 20 passes — his speed and throwing power could enable him to succeed.

Flowers threw for 6,402 yards and rushed for just over 2,000 with 32 touchdowns during his high school career at Miami Jackson.

Rodney

Adams, receiver: Adams transferred from Toledo prior to last season and contributed right away. Now a junior, Adams enters the season as Bulls’ top receiver.

Adams caught 23 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore including a 67-yard reception against Cincinnati.

Marlon Mack, running back: Quickly becoming the face of the program, Mack established himself as the focal point of the offense after rushing for a freshman-record 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns last season. The sophomore looks to become only the second back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher in program history. Mack

also broke records for touchdowns in a game (four) and is already fifth all-time at USF with four 100-yard games. Mack has said the new offense gives him more space to work with and will try to top his surprising freshman numbers this season.

Brynjar Gudmundsson, center: Gudmundsson was versatile on the offensive line last season, playing three different positions in his 12 starts.

Gudmundsson bounced around from right tackle (nine starts) before moving to right guard (two starts) before finishing the season at left guard. Now he will start his senior year at center after the departure of former Bull Austin Reiter. As injuries arise, Gudmundsson is a player that can be shifted around again to fill the holes.

Sean Price, tight end: A former five-star recruit, USF has seen little of Price’s high-school flash since arriving on campus. Price has caught only one touchdown in his career and topped his career high in yardage against Western Carolina with 68 yards. The senior enters his final year after starting only nine games last season and amassing only 207 yards on 14 catches. Price has teammates nipping at his heels in senior Marlon Pope as well as freshmen Elkanah Dillion and Mitchell Wilcox. Price will need to step up to retain his MackeyAward-watch-list status.

Deadrin Senat, tackle: Filling the void left by Todd Chandler, Senat is in familiar territory.

When Chandler missed the Bulls’ matchup with Wisconsin last season, Senat filled in admirably posting two tackles and helping to keep Heisman Trophy

Senior husky Jamie Byrd, a former Pasco High standout, was named the team’s defensive MVP after making a team-high 95 tackles last season. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU candidate Melvin Gordon in check for most of the first half.

Senat finished the year with 18 total tackles including six in the comeback win over Tulsa. At 6-foot-1 and 300 pounds, the sophomore defensive tackle is the anchor in USF’s new 4-2-5 scheme and will look to plug up the middle and assist in run defense.

Eric Lee, defensive end: After a solid 2014 campaign at defensive end where he posted a careerhigh 28 tackles (six for a loss), Lee returns as USF’s best pass rusher.

Lee recorded a tackle for loss in seven games last season. Lee has added 15 pounds this offseason and looks to be a force on the outside for USF. Jamie Byrd, husky: At safety last season, Byrd recorded a teamhigh 95 tackles and was named team Defensive MVP in just his first year at USF after transferring from Iowa Community College.

Byrd will play the newly-created husky position, which allows him to prowl closer to the line of scrimmage and be more included in the play. Byrd forced three

turnovers last season and with the nickname “Angry Bryd”, was dubbed USF’s hardest hitter.

Auggie Sanchez, linebacker: Sanchez has quietly become USF’s leader on defense.

Only a sophomore, Sanchez is the signal-caller and leader at middle linebacker and has the stats to backup why. Sanchez recorded 65 tackles (two for a loss) and returned a fumble 21 yards for a score against Maryland.

Originally a fullback, Sanchez has found his niche at linebacker.

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Scouting USF’s slate of opponents

By Jeff Odom S P O R T S

E D I T O R

FLORIDA A&M When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

2014 record: 3-9 (Division I-AA) Who to watch: QB Carson Royal, RB Gerald Hearns, LB Akil Blount, LB Luke Helms The skinny: The Rattlers have finished toward the bottom of the MEAC the last few seasons, but first-year coach Alex Wood hopes to help change that with a style based around intensity. After a dreadful ending to last year, in which FAMU lost four of its last five games, Wood has instituted some new scheme changes, including a switch to a 4-3 defense.

FLORIDA STATE When: Sept. 12, 11:30 a.m.

2014 record: 13-1 Who to watch: QB Everett

Golson, QB Sean Maguire, RB Dalvin Cook, WR Bobo Wilson, WR Kermit Whitfield, K Roberto Aguayo The skinny: USF will get another shot to play world-beaters and earn a marquee victory for the first time in years, but it will be anything but easy.

QB Jameis Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, has moved onto greener pastures in the NFL with the Buccaneers, but his former team — which has lost just one game in two years — remains a viable threat to win its second national title in three years. The Bulls better eat their Wheaties before this early, primetime matchup in Tallahassee.

MARYLAND When: Sept. 19, noon 2014 record: 7-6 Who to watch: QB Caleb Rowe, RB Brandon Ross, WR Levern

Jacobs, CB William Likely, CB Sean Davis The skinny: The Bulls forced six turnovers against the Terrapins last season at Raymond James Stadium — and lost by a touchdown. Now, coming off a somewhat surprisingly successful Big Ten debut after jumping from the ACC, Maryland looks to take its next step toward earning respect against the likes of Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin. USF, meanwhile, will attempt to bring the Terps back to earth.

MEMPHIS When: Oct. 2, 7 p.m.

2014 record: 10-3 (7-1 American Athletic Conference) Who to watch: QB Paxton Lynch, WR Mose Frazier, TE Alan Cross, DE/LB Jackson Dillon, K Jake Elliott The skinny: Coach Justin Fuente helped his Tigers reach

once-unimaginable heights last season by leading them to their first 10-win season since 1938 and a share of the AAC title with Cincinnati and Central Florida. Not a bad storyline for the Bulls’ conference opener.

SYRACUSE When: Oct. 10, TBA 2014 record: 3-9 Who to watch: QB Terrel Hunt, RB Erv Phillips, WR Steve Ishmael, DL Ron Thompson, LB Zaire Franklin The skinny: One of the Big East’s best rivalries finally returns, only with much less fanfare than before. Since USF’s 37-17 victory at Syracuse in 2011, both programs have found themselves stuck in reverse. Remarkably, the Bulls haven’t beaten a Division I-A opponent by double digits since. If the Bulls come up short, this could be USF coach

Willie Taggart’s make-or-break game.

CONNECTICUT When: Oct. 17, TBA 2014 record: 2-10 (1-7 AAC) Who to watch: QB Tim Boyle, QB Bryant Shirreffs, RB Ron Johnson, WR Noel Thomas, FS Andrew Adams, LB Graham Stewart The skinny: USF has beaten the Huskies in back-to-back campaigns, but this year’s matchup won’t be a cakewalk by any means. The Bulls’ two victories have come by a combined six points — thanks mostly to the right leg of nowgraduated kicker Marvin Kloss.

And though its record didn’t reflect it, UConn remained generally competitive in most of its games with the biggest prize being a 37-29 upset win over Central Florida in Storrs.

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Expect this one to be close again.

NAVY When: Oct. 31, noon 2014 record: 8-5 Who to watch: QB Keenan Reynolds, FB Chris Swain, WR Jamir Tillman, DL Bernard Sarra The skinny: Welcome to the AAC, Midshipmen. While the Naval Academy is joining its first conference for football after shedding its long-standing independent status, it is no stranger to AAC opponents.

Navy owns a 34-27-1 record against current conference members, and should compete right away for the league crown. This will be the first meeting between USF and the Midshipmen.

EAST CAROLINA When: Nov. 7, TBA 2014 record: 8-5 (5-3 AAC) Who to watch: WR Isaiah

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Jones, DE Johnathon White, LB Zeek Bigger, CB Josh Hawkins, S Domonique Lemon The skinny: This should have been USF’s sterling moment of 2014. Seemingly on its way to an upset win, the Bulls blew a 17-7 halftime lead and lost 2817. Though Carden, the AAC’s reigning player of the year, is gone, the Pirates still boast a more-than-capable offense, headed by Jones. The defense – 11th in the nation in rushing yards allowed last season – isn’t too shabby either.

TEMPLE When: Nov. 14, TBA 2014 record: 6-6 (4-4 AAC) Who to watch: QB P.J. Walker, WR Branden Shippen, OL Kyle Friend, LB Tyler Matakevich, DB Sean Chandler The skinny: Though this is the Owls’ third season in the AAC, it will be the first time they have played the Bulls since 2012. Things have changed for Temple since it handed USF a 37-28 defeat during Skip Holtz’s final year, before finishing 4-7. The Owls are much

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If it weren’t for a skid in which they lost five of seven down the stretch, the Owls would have been in conversation for the conference title.

CINCINNATI When: Nov. 20, 8 p.m.

2014 record: 9-4 (7-1 AAC) Who to watch: QB Gunner Kiel, RB Michael Boone, WR Shaq Washington, DE Silverberry Mouhon, CB Adrian Witty, S Zach Edwards The skinny: After a 26-20 win for their first AAC victory in 2013, the Bulls were humbled by the Bearcats in a loss that began their tumble from bowl eligibility last season. With eight returning starters on offense, Cincy is considered the favorite to take home the conference title again. If USF is still in bowl contention at this point in the season, this could turn into a must-win game.

CENTRAL FLORIDA When: Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m.

2014 record: 9-4 (7-1 AAC)

Who to watch: QB Justin Holman, RB William Stanback, WR Jordan Akins, DL Thomas Niles, DL Jamiyus Pittman, LB Chequan Burkett The skinny: The Bulls are far removed from the days of hanging 64 points on the Knights as they did in 2007 and now face the very real possibility of losing to their rival for the third straight season.

While UCF has been busy celebrating conference titles and

polishing its Fiesta Bowl rings from 2014, USF has been left to stew over its pair of somewhat close defeats (23-20 in 2013, 16-0 last season). This year’s meeting will be televised by ESPN under the lights on Thanksgiving, and it looks to be the most important one of the year for Bulls, who are 0-10 all-time in Thursday night games on ESPN.

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WR Rodney Adams A.J. Legree TE Sean Price Elkanah Dillon RT Mak Djulbegovic Clavion Nelson RG Bryniar Gudmundsson Dominique Threatt C Cameron Ruff Michael Galati LG Jeremi Hall Thor Jozwiak LT Kofi Amichia Benjamin Knox QB Quinton Flowers Steven Bench WR Ryeshene Bronson Stanley Clerveaux

Jr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Gr. Jr. So. RFr. So. Sr. Jr. RFr. So. Sr. So. RFr.

Eric Lee Mike Love James Hamilton DT Kevin Bronson Deadrin Senat DT Bruce Hector Zach Bullock DE Josh Black Auggie Sanchez MLB Danny Thomas Tashon Whitehurst WLB Nigel Harris Deatrick Nichols CB Lamar Robbins HUSKY Jamie Byrd Jalen Spencer Tajee Fullwood FS Devin Abraham Nate Godwin SS Johnny Ward CB Mazzi Wilkins DE

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

USF Football 2015 Depth Chart Sr. So. Sr. Fr. So. So. Gr. So. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. RFr.

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USF will debut new uniforms vs. FAMU

By Jacob Hoag A S S T .

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

When USF takes the field Saturday against Florida A&M, it will do so sporting a new look.

According to team officials, the new uniforms feature a lighter and more flexible fit designed by Under Armour.

The team’s jerseys will feature a unique bull-horn pattern on both the home and away sleeves and complimentary striping on the pants.

Names also return to the uniforms for the first time since 2013. They were removed last season by coach Willie Taggart to keep focus on the team instead of individual players.

Also back for 2015 will be the neon yellow and green “So Flo” combination. USF wore it only once last season in a 16-0 loss to UCF in its season finale.

USF’s new uniforms for the 2015 season feature a unique bull-horn pattern on the sleeves, plus stripes on the team’s pants for the first time in program history. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY USF ATHLETICS

Official USF Class Ring Be a Part of the Tradition Purchase your official ring during Ring Week!

September 14-16, 2015 10am-3pm / USF Bookstore www.USFalumni.org/classring

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