2016footballissuefinal by USF Oracle

Table of Contents

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USF Football 20th Anniversary........................................................................................Page 4 A Brotherhood Reunited...................................................................................................Page 5 Can USF Live Up to the Hype?........................................................................................Page 6 New DC brings Continuity to Defense..............................................................................Page 11 The Past Grooming the Future..........................................................................................Page 16 Three-Headed Rushing Attack......................................................................................... Page 18 The Oracle Staff Picks..................................................................................................... Page 19 2016 Schedule..................................................................................................................Page 19 Depth Chart......................................................................................................................Page 23

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Brothers reunited

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Adams and Valdez-Scantling reconnect for one last season

By Vinnie Portell S p o r t s

E d i t o r

t was a scorching hot August afternoon at the Frank Mosani Football Practice Complex and Rodney Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were working on running routes, trying to out-do one another with one eye-popping grab after another. On the sideline, they can be found hooting and hollering for each other, never shy to give one another praise. There’s no competition between these close friends who consider themselves the coleading receivers on the 2016 Bulls. “With both of them, I’m confident in their unselfishness in this offense,” receivers coach T.J. Weist said. “I think it’s a great relationship that they have because they stick together, they’re good friends, they work hard together and they compliment each other. They’re not worried about who’s doing what, there’s really no jealousy between the two. “Every time you get in an offense you always want to be the number one guy or the top receiver, whatever it is. But I think those guys respect each other enough and respect this offense enough to not let it become an issue.” The duo is working hard in preparation for a season that holds arguably the most potential and expectations in recent memory. Following USF’s first bowl appearance in the past five years, the addition of three-star recruit ValdesScantling from N.C. State gives an already-potent offense even more weapons than before. But even with expectations looming, Adams and ValdesScantling have made their goals lofty. “We plan on being the best receiving corps in the nation,” Valdes-Scantling said. “That’s our expectations, we won’t settle for anything less than that. We have great playmakers all around, it’s not just one guy like it is at other schools. Even the backups are good enough to be (No. 1s) anywhere. “So I feel like with our quarterback and our running backs and

our offensive line, we can be the best offense in the nation. That’s where we set our goals.” In adding the 6-foot-5, 207pound junior receiver to the offense, USF not only gains an experienced playmaker, but a fast receiver who will take defenses’ attention away from other playmakers such as Adams. “His speed, he’s got real good speed,” Adams said. “And his hands, he’s got gigantic hands so he can just snatch that thing out of the air like it’s nothing. “Defenses can’t just key in on one player now, they have to worry about the whole offense. They can’t just shut down one side of the field because if they shut down this side, then we have the left side. So, it’s going to be hard for defenses to pick their poison.” Fortunately for this wide receiver duo, leading an explosive offense together is nothing new. Four years ago and forty minutes down the road from USF, Adams and Valdes-Scantling were making their names known as high school star wide outs for Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg. As stars of both the football and track teams, little separated the two star Spartans receivers. When football was finished and it was time for track season, the two led the school team to a state championship. They even wound up dating best friends, finding themselves together more and more often away from the field. “We were pretty close back then, we scored a lot of points in high school and it was tough to contain us, so we were close in that way too,” Valdes-Scantling said. “We carried it over to track and won a state championship there and so we stayed friends.” In their last season together at Lakewood, they began to catch the eye of several Power 5 schools. Adams finished his senior season gaining over 1,200 all-purpose yards while earning First Team AllCounty honors and Second Team All-State. Valdes-Scantling had an equally

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Senior Rodney Adams amassed 1,200 yards in his senior season at Lakewood High School in St. Pete. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/USF ATHLETICS

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Can USF live up to the hype?

“I think nobody’s expectations are as high as ours. I mean you get people talking about us wanting to do all this stuff. It’s not just you guys that want us to do all this, we want it for ourselves, we want to do it for USF. We’re setting these expectations just like everyone else is.” -Junior linebacker Auggie Sanchez. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU By Jacob Hoag E D I T O R

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very year that coach Willie Taggart has been at the helm of USF, the team has faced doubt. Maybe it was the team not picking up his playbook quick enough in Year 1, or the staff turnover through Year 2, or maybe just the lack of any real success. In his first offseason, fans were filled with hope that he’d turn things around from the start. He didn’t. The next season, same hype, same results. But then came last season — a season that saw the same

man some had already written off, holding the exit door open with a smile, suddenly awaken the Bulls, who rattled off seven wins in their final nine games. That remarkable charge that Taggart shot through the USF community has once again filled the loyal fans in green and gold with peaked expectations of what is to come in 2016. “That’s what we came here for, to build those expectations like coach T’s always said,” senior receiver Rodney Adams said at USF’s fall media day. “We’re going to try to play up to those expectations and exceed those expectations so that we can continue to build our legacy and build the program up. “We embrace them, but we

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don’t focus on them because we’re trying to exceed those expectations.”

year, remind them of what all of them people were saying about us last year. They picked us

Our goal is a conference championship. If we don’t achieve that goal then we kind of failed. Auggie Sanchez, junior linebacker

But with fans, media and most of the country now backing the Bulls as college football’s sleeping giant, can USF answer the call? “Just remind them of last

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fifth in the conference, coach T wasn’t going to be here and all those things they said, we did the total opposite. We warned them what was going to happen this year: everyone’s going

to praise you with pats on the back.” Despite players deflecting the notion of this season carrying any extra weight, it is the intangible factor that will be nipping at their heals. For five years, USF has yearned for national relevance with little reward. Now that they have all the makings for what could be the program’s finest hour, the pressure is at an alltime high. But this time, USF needs to thrive. “I was here when we were 2-10, I was here when we were 4-8,” senior safety Nate Godwin said. “I was here when we were losing, so just the fact that we’re

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winning, it doesn’t change our mentality. “We’re still going to grind. Just because people are patting our backs, we do appreciate it, but we’re still going to go hard. We want more, we’re not satisfied with where we’re at now.” On offense, USF returns a wealth of weapons in Quinton Flowers, Marlon Mack and Adams — to name a few. But Taggart also gets to brandish some new toys as well. The much-awaited debut of speedy N.C. State transfer Marquez Valdez-Scantling is moments away and with the 6-foot-5 matchup nightmare in Elkanah “Kano” Dillion getting a second crack at a breakout season, opposing defenses will be forced to cover every inch of the field. Defensively, longtime assistant Raymond Woodie is finally in his rightful place as the

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mind behind USF’s “Bull Shark” defense. Running essentially the same scheme that former coordinator Tom Allen saw success with last season, Woodie looks to do much of the same. But it all comes down to how the Bulls handle the pressure. It will be the crowning achievement they tout hoisting the conference trophy in December, or the excuse they point to if they’re watching the game at home. “I think nobody’s expectations are as high as ours,” junior linebacker Auggie Sanchez said. “I mean you get people talking about us wanting to do all this stuff. It’s not just you guys that want us to do all this, we want it for ourselves, we want to do it for USF. We’re setting these expectations just like everyone else is. Our goal is a conference championship, if we don’t achieve that goal then we kind of failed.” It’s now or never for USF. Want to be mentioned among the toptier programs in the country? Prove you belong.

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impressive final season with the Spartans, racking up 800 yards and 14 touchdowns. With each passing week, both receivers went to work against the opposition and the offers began to flow in. Adams earned 10 offers from schools including Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Florida and Florida State. Valdes-Scantling fielded offers from 16 schools including the likes of Louisville, Kentucky, Arkansas and Houston. Both were also offered by USF, but passed on the chance to play close to home. Despite their friendship and success the two had playing together, they parted ways after graduating from Lakewood, mostly because they wanted a shot to play immediately. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Adams joined the University of Toledo and Valdes-Scantling signed his letter of intent with N.C. State. Unfortunately despite their talent, living away from home didn’t end up working out for either of them. In one year with Toledo, Adams caught two passes for 15 yards.

In his two seasons at N.C. State, Valdes-Scantling caught 22 receptions each season, with 281 yards his freshman year and 257 and a touchdown his sophomore season. Adams returned home first in 2014, coming to play for USF after qualifying for a hardship waiver following the passing of his moth-

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junior receiver to come back home to play together once more. “He asked why I transferred and I told him it was a great decision and I was close to home,” Adams said. “Everybody from high school can come back and watch us play. Everything worked out well and the future is bright.” But while Adams’ pitch to his

We plan on being the best receiving corps in the nation. That’s our expectations, we won’t settle for anything less than that. Marquez Valdez-Scantling, junior receiver

er. He played in 10 games that first season as a Bull, starting three. He finished the season behind only former USF receiver Andre Davis with 23 receptions for 323 yards and two touchdowns. Even though Valdes-Scantling and Adams had drifted apart more than they would have liked when they went their separate ways, it was easy for Adams to recruit the

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former teammate wound up being successful, it was the recruiting of his current coach that ultimately sealed the deal. “Coming out of high school, coach Taggart recruited me pretty late,” Valdes-Scantling said. “He came in around December and signing day was in February, so I had pretty much already made my decision, but even after I decided

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to go to N.C. State, coach Taggart kept in touch with my family and it’s a big home atmosphere here and I think that’s what drew me back. “It’s so close to home and even when I’m away from my family, this team feels like my family. I didn’t have that at my last school. That’s the most important thing is feeling like a family and that’s when you feel like you can play good football, when you’re close to your teammates and coaches and I think that had a big impact on me coming back here.” Once the junior receiver officially made up his mind, Adams’ thoughts immediately turned toward the 2016 season. “My first thought was: ‘it’s about to go down’,” Adams said. “It’s about to go down for real. Once I heard he was actually coming here, I just knew there’s nobody that’s going to be able to stop this receiver group. “It’s showing in practice, he might make a good play and then I’ll come back and make another good play and it’s working out really good.” Even though Valdes-Scantling was coming home, that doesn’t always mean the transition will be easy.

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But with Adams already well established as a Bull, the rest of the team welcomed the N.C. State transfer with open arms. “Transferring is always tough, that’s just a tough thing to do,” Valdes-Scantling said. “You’re going into a brand new environment as the new guy on the block, no one really knows you, no one really likes you, they’re all looking at you. So having someone there who I went to high school with and had a really close relationship with helped ease that transition. “Guys took a liking to me right away because I knew him and we was a good player on the team and so being close friends with him made it easier for guys to accept me into their family then maybe a normal transfer would.” With the Lakewood dynamic duo back together once more for one final season at USF, sometimes even they can’t believe how they wound up where they are now. “I never saw this coming, not at all,” Adams said. “After we parted ways in high school, I thought it was over. I never would have though of us being on the same team in college. It just happened how it happened and now we’re here.”

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New DC brings continuity to defense

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As new defensive coordinator, Raymond Woodie looks to guys like junior linebacker Auggie Sanchez (pictured) for leadership. ORACLE PHOTO/JACKIE BENITEZ

By Chuck Muller S T A F F

W R I T E R

Change can be a good thing. But sometimes that adjustment can take time. With the departure of former defensive coordinator Tom Allen to the University of Indiana over the offseason, questions were raised from fans and critics alike as to how the Bulls’ aggressive-minded “Bull Shark” defense would respond under a third defensive coordinator in the last four seasons. If you ask the Bulls what’s new on defense this year, there’s not much to be said. “Nothing too crazy has changed, we run the same scheme, run the same blitzes,” junior Auggie Sanchez said. “It’s the same defense pretty much, just the guy in charge has changed, and hopefully it will make for an even better defense.” Newly promoted defensive coordinator Raymond Woodie, who takes over the position after coaching linebackers and special teams last season for the Bulls, credits the defensive leaders that have taken control during the offseason.

The touted leadership has helped set the tone and allows the rest of the defensive unit to continue to grow and build around the same 4-2-5 scheme put in place last year. “We started a leadership group of about twelve defensive guys over the summer,” Woodie said. “We just sat down and talked about some things we needed to do as a defense. But, mainly, to make sure those student-athletes know that I’m going to listen to them and not just make decisions without them, and I think that’s been a really big contributor to what we are doing right now.” One of those student-athletes Woodie is relying to lead their defense is Sanchez. The touted linebacker credits a slow start in camp and then having that group meeting as a turning point for everyone on this defense, coaches and players alike, to get on the same page. “We just couldn’t finish, we just weren’t trusting each other,” Sanchez said. “The trust factor wasn’t there at the beginning. But throughout spring and throughout camp, you’ve seen what it has grown to now.

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“You see it throughout practice, seeing a bunch of guys running to the ball and having fun and loving each other and that’s crucial to be successful.” After being Sanchez’ position coach last season, Woodie’s familiarity with his ability to lead is the key to making his transition to coordinator a smooth one. “When anybody comes in new, there’s going to be a learning curve,” Woodie said. “Preaching different lingos and keeping the scheme all together, it’s good to have a person like Auggie. “Personally, coaching linebackers and getting to see how he is as a student and as a player, he definitely makes things a lot easier. He understands the front, the back end, and now it’s just the other 10 playing along with him.” Sanchez, who leads all returning players with 97 tackles last season, believes that very little has changed from last year’s defense. Along with Sanchez, the Bulls return eight starters. Although losing a player like starting safety and team captain Jamie Byrd to graduation stings, but those like sophomore Khalid McGee believe

that taking lessons taught last year will help build on the momentum. “Playing behind Jamie Byrd last year, I got to learn the game more,” McGee said. “He really taught me more. Just being behind him and watching the plays stuck with me and made my game go to another level.” An aggressive Bulls’ defense came on strong toward the end of 2015, forcing 11 turnovers in the team’s final five games and were ranked 13th in the country by the end of the season in tackles for a loss, with 97 as a team. While Woodie hasn’t strayed far from the defensive game plan that was orchestrated last season by the departing Allen, but coach Willie Taggart said Woodie has a slightly different approach to the job. “You would probably see Coach Allen running down the sideline, you’re not going to see Coach Woodie running down the sideline,” Taggart said. “They’re just different people, they think differently. He’s not going to call it the same as Coach Allen, and we’re not expecting him to do that. We are expecting Coach Woodie to put our players to be in the best position they can be to make football plays.” Woodie has also adopted a new

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defensive honor that started in this year’s training camp: awarding players that exemplify the energy and expectations of playing on this unit a gray practice jersey. “Wearing the Bull Shark jersey, it’s special,” Woodie said. “But you have to deserve to have that jersey. Just because you are a starter doesn’t meant it can’t be taken away. If you aren’t fulfilling your obligations or meeting your assignments, we take that jersey away. You have to come to compete every day.” The gray jersey, resembling the color of an actual bull shark, can be earned much like helmet stickers are earned for outstanding play on the field. More experienced Bulls like juniors Sanchez, Deatrick Nichols, Deadrin Senat and Devin Abraham have already earned the new jersey. The Bulls’ defensive future is represented as well in sophomore standouts Kevin Bronson, Ronnie Hoggins, and Khalid McGee, who have also earned the honor during this year’s training camp. “Pride and hard work” is what sophomore safety Khalid McGee associated with him earning his bull shark jersey while in training camp. McGee is one of several underclassmen that look to make an

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After spending the past two seasons as a special teams and linebackers coach, new defensive coordinator Raymond Woodie doesn’t look to change much. PHOTO/GOUSFBULLS.COM immediate impact on an already secondary. experienced squad, leading an Keeping continuity and stickexciting sophomore class. ing to a scheme that had apparDefensive ends Kevin Bronson ent sparks of brilliance in 2015, and Tampa native Vincent Jackson returning veteran leadership, and (Jesuit HS) look to support the Bulls’ the development of underclassmen pass rush, while corner backs back look to have Woodie and his “Bull Nate Ferguson and Ronnie Hoggins Sharks” thirsty for blood in the look to bolster an already explosive water.

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The past grooming the future Former NFL QB-turnedcoach helps USF’s Flowers reach his full potential USF football coach Willie Taggart began the Bulls’ 2016 offseason just like any other — hitting the recruiting trail to stock up on the best talent in the country. However, one of Taggart’s first targets wasn’t a five-star athlete or the next homegrown star. The fourth-year Bulls coach was in search of someone to mentor record-setting quarterback Quinton Flowers. Shaun King, who was a Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and NFL quarterback with the Buccaneers and Cardinals, was working as an analyst with NBC Yahoo Sports at the time, but Taggart came calling with an offer that he couldn’t refuse. “(Flowers) was coach T’s biggest selling point,” King said. “I was making good money working for NBC Yahoo. I was working about 50 days a year and this is a little more intensive. A big part of why I came was Quinton. To help him reach his goals and to help Asiantii (Woulard) get back on course and Brett happened to be a player who surprised me too. So, I’m excited and I’m glad I made the choice, I really am.” Initially, Flowers was upset coach David Reaves would no longer be working with him as his quarterbacks coach, but the junior perked up when he heard who had been brought in as a replacement. “I was excited to meet my new coach, someone who played in the league, someone who’s been where I’m trying to go,” Flowers said. “There was a point when coach Reaves told me he wasn’t going to be my coach anymore and I was down for a while because I didn’t know who was going to coach us, but once I heard coach King was hired, I got real excited. “There’s a lot he’s done in the league that he’s showed me.” A quarterback for Tulane University from 1995-98, King was one of few dual-threat quarterbacks in his time, playing with

a style similar to that of Flowers. “Quinton’s a better athlete than I was,” King said. “I was a better thrower at the time, I just think I had more training so I was a little further advanced. But back then, I had to be because we didn’t have the zone-read. You either ran an option or a pro-system and we didn’t run an option, so it wasn’t like it is now. “But he was a better athlete than I am, definitely. He still can’t beat me throwing, we have throwing drills every day and he still can’t beat me. We throw in the bucket, all kinds of different things. When I come out here with him, I compete with him.” When King began working with Flowers, he told the junior quarterback they would be focusing on his passing game as his rushing attack didn’t need much work — evidenced by Flowers’ 991 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 191 attempts in 2015. With an offseason of hard work behind them, they both agreed that Flowers’ throwing is leagues beyond where it was this time last year. “I’ve learned to put touch on the ball,” Flowers said. “A lot of the balls I always threw were hard balls. It doesn’t have to be hard all the time, you have to throw it to where they’re at, what you see. “He always tells me, ‘Throw what you see, not where they gon’ be.’ So that tells you in the game, anything can happen. They may not be where you expect them to be so throw what you see.” Flowers said he’s already seeing his hard work in the passing game pay off in practices and scrimmages and his improvement is giving the starting quarterback more confidence than ever before. After passing for 2,290 yards and 22 touchdowns to lead USF’s offense in 2015, Flowers and King predict an even better season is in line for 2016. “I’ve gained a lot of confidence in my passing,” Flowers said. “Just listening to coach King, he’s not

GOUSFBULLS.COM

ORACLE PHOTOJACKIE BENITEZ

ORACLEP PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

After attending a coaching internship with the Pittsburg Steelers, USF quarterbacks coach and former NFL stud Shaun King (upper-left) feels he has the tools to bring junior Quinton Flowers (upper-right) to the next level. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE going to tell me anything wrong. ing staff and was intrigued with success, sometimes they feel like That’s a coach who wouldn’t send what he saw. But it was Flowers’ they know everything, sometimes you out there to do anything he demeanor as a player that’s they’re kind of attached to the situwouldn’t do. helped make the adjustment so ation before. You never know what “He treats us like NFL quarter- easy for the Bulls’ new quarter- you’re walking in to, but I have to backs. Every practice we get a stat backs coach. say he was extremely humble and sheet that measures tons of things “My first impression of him he said, ‘Coach, coach me,’ so that like completions, ball location and was that he’s a humble kid who made me really excited. all that.” wants to be coached,” King said. “This is a kid who understands King watched Flowers play “You never know when you he hasn’t figured it all out and he before joining the USF coach- inherit a kid who’s had some n See FUTURE on PAGE 21

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A three-headed rushing attack

Juniors D’Ernest Johnson (left) and Marlon Mack (right), along with senior Darius Tice (middle), give the USF offense a destructive and multi-faceted rushing attack that it hopes will give opposing defenses problems in 2016. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

Senior Darius Tice is the vocal leader of USF’s deep running back trio

By Sam Mire C O R R E S P O N D E N T

Everyone on the USF football team knows when Darius Tice is on the field. That is, unless they brought a pair of earplugs to practice. For backfield mates Marlon Mack and D’Ernest Johnson, this style suits them just fine. “It’s a unique situation because they all are good players, they all get along good, so they all feed off of each other, but I would say vocally, it’s Tice [leading],” running backs coach Donte Pimpleton said. The trio of versatile running backs that has managed the bulk of carries in USF’s spread offensive scheme under coach Willie Taggart each brings something unique in terms of their individual styles of play. For a program picked by AAC media to finish first in the East Division, this depth is crucial to fulfilling the promise they displayed in finishing last season on a 7-2 tear.

Depth is the biggest factor Tice points to as the difference between being picked to finish fifth in the division last year, as opposed to first in 2016. For Tice, the next-man-up mentality he sees among the running backs has become reflective across the entire team. “That’s how it is with us, you put one back in and then the next one and you don’t know the difference,” Tice said. “That’s just how it is on the defensive line, cornerbacks, receivers. When somebody comes out, you have the same skill level to still get it done.” For Mack, it was a firmer understanding of the offense that propelled the team to their first bowl appearance since 2010. “I’d say as far as knowledge in the offense, last year we were kind of new in it. Everybody’s been coming together, clicking, reading things a bit easier,” Mack said. “I’d say that’s one of the biggest things that’s changed coming into this year.”

However, it’s not only the quality of the backs that makes them such a cohesive and interchangeable unit as far as football is concerned. The versatility of their skill sets makes them a dangerous trio, especially in games when the unit is fully healthy. For USF’s up-tempo offense, this versatility is not merely a luxury, it’s a necessity. “It’s a lot [of help], because when I get tired I know that when they come in they’re going to do the same thing as me, so I don’t ever have a problem coming out of the game,” Mack said. “Whenever I go down, I know them boys got my back.” To Mack’s credit, his humility is belied by the stats, which show he is clearly the lead back of the three. While both Johnson and Tice are valuable weapons in their own right, it’s Mack that’s received the most national attention, and for good reason. “I’ll say something every

now and then, but I don’t like to talk too much,” Mack said. “I pretty much do it on the field. By “it”, Mack is referring to his style of play, one that Pimpleton has yet to encounter in his 15+ years of coaching. Mack’s impressive play resulted in 1,418 yards rushing last year, to the eye-popping tune of 6.6 yards per carry. This average was fifth best in Division I for running backs with 200 or more carries, better than that of 2015-16 Doak Walker finalist and 2016 Heisman front-runner, LSU running back Leonard Fournette. According to the man who watches him perform day-in and day-out, Mack is one-of-akind. “Marlon, he’s one that’s hard to come by. He can do some stuff that’ll make you say ‘wow’. He has the long speed, he can stop on a dime and make people miss. I haven’t seen one like him, personally,” Pimpleton says. However, being on the

national watch lists for the Doak Walker (best running back), Walter Camp (best college player), and Maxwell (best overall player) awards for the upcoming season has not changed Mack’s quiet, confident demeanor. “He’s very coachable, if you tell him something it’s ‘yes, sir’, ‘no sir’, no problems,” Pimpleton said. “Like I said, he’s as humble as can be.” Being ever-humble was something instilled in Marlon by his father, who worked two jobs and taught him that if he wanted anything in life, it was up to him to “go get it”. Playing as the individual star on a high-school team that struggled to put up yards without him, not to mention win games, was a frustrating and humbling experience. “In high school it was kind of…kind of just me. I had one guy, a receiver, but I had to put the team on my back,” Mack said.

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ED STA IC FF TI O N S

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2016 schedule

Sept. 3 Vinnie Portell SP O RT S

ED I TO R

Jacob Hoag ED ITOR

I N

CH I EF

Chuck Muller STAF F

WR I TER

Week 1 vs. Towson Overall record Most points scored

49-10

41-14

45-3

11-3

12-2

AAC champion

USF

National champion

Clemson

Michigan

Offensive MVP

Quinton Flowers

Marlon Mack

Defensive MVP

Deatrick Nichols

Auggie Sanchez

Khalid McGee

Breakout player

Khalid McGee

Kano Dillion

Nate Ferguson

vs. Towson

7 p.m.

Sept. 10 vs. Northern Illinois 7 p.m. Sept. 17 @ Syracuse

Sept. 24 vs. Florida State Oct. 1 Oct. 8

3:30 p.m. TBD

@ Cincinnati

TBD

vs. East Carolina

TBD

Oct. 15 vs. UConn

TBD

Oct. 28 vs. Navy

7 p.m.

Nov. 19 @ SMU

TBD

Oct. 21 @ Temple

7 p.m.

Nov. 12 @ Memphis

TBD

Nov. 26 vs. UCF

TBD

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has been to three and won two. “So if you put yourself in that Continued from PAGE 16 environment, you’ll pick up stuff. I just got to soak up how Mike runs wants to figure it out so that’s a the team, how they run the quargood place to be in for a kid his terbacks, how Ben interacts with age.” the position guys. I’m going to take Aside from their time on the what I saw there and put it to work field, the duo’s here.” bond of mentor and With what pupil has grown King has seen strong through their from Flowers conversations duron the field so ing Flowers’ regufar, the coach lar visits to King’s said the sky is office and their the limit going time studying the forward in game. his collegiate Shaun King, USF quarterbacks coach Flowers said he career. feels as though he “I’d be disapcan go to King for pointed if he’s anything, whether not AAC Player it’s football or any of the numerous an internship program through of the Year,” King said. “Next year, the NFL and Pittsburgh Steelers in nuances of living the day-to-day which King was able to spend time I’d be disappointed if he’s not life of a student-athlete. seriously in consideration for the For King, he’s grown close with the team to learn the in’s-and- Heisman or at least get invited. I out’s of coaching. enough with his starting quarter“I think I’m a hell of a good think the kid has the opportunity back to trust him with just about coach now,” King said. “I haven’t to be that good. anything. “He’s taken to the coaching, done anything on the field yet, but “Our relationship is phenomhe’s throwing the ball much better, I’ve been around it. The more that enal, I would let him babysit my he’s understanding why where’s kids, and my kids are 6, 3, and you can put yourself in that envi- he’s throwing it where he’s throwronment, the better. You know, 1,” King said. “He comes to me ing it. We have to play well around for advice, we have a great rela- they’re seven-time world cham- him, but those are my expectapions. Mike Tomlin’s been to two tionship. He understands I’m the tions for him.” coach and he’s the player, but Super Bowls and won one, Big Ben

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there isn’t that divide that there can be sometimes. I’m proud of him man, I really am. He’s a good kid who does well in class, he doesn’t get in any trouble and all the guys really like him.” Switching from analyst to coach was a transition made easier by

I’d be disappointed if he’s not AAC Player of the Year. Next year, I’d be disappointed if he’s not seriously in consideration for the Heisman or at least get invited.

”

Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers rushed for 991 rushing yards with 12 rushing touchdowns last season, but is looking to expand his throwing mechanics heading into 2016.. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

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No longer does Mack have to carry the entire offense on his back, and he credits Johnson and Tice for being the more than capable backups that he never had in high school. While Mack is truly a do-itall back capable of running, receiving, and blocking at a First Team All-Conference level, Tice and Johnson bring their own flavors to the offense as well. “Tice, he’s a power guy. He’s going to make you pay for trying to tackle him,” Pimpleton said. “He’s gotten a whole lot better on his reads and what he’s looking at, which has made him a whole lot better. He’s just a pounder.” Johnson brings to the offensive backfield- along with his prowess as a returner- the element of surprise. Last season he passed for two touchdowns, caught four, and ran for one. There are few backs who must be accounted for not only as runners, but also receivers and even a potential threat to throw the ball. This versatility has landed him on the watch list for the 2016-17 Paul Hornung Award, earned by the most versatile and impactful contributor in Division I. Last year, Stanford star running back and Heisman runner-up Christian McCaffrey received the prestigious award. Though he has thrived in his role as return man, it was initially a means to the end of getting as much playing time as possible. “Every freshman wants to get a chance to play, so I guess my playing time [as a freshman] really came in the return game,” Johnson said. “My mindset [returning] is that this is my chance, I’ve got to make something happen.” But passing, catching, returning, and rushing are not the extent of Johnson’s abilities, according to his coach. “He can kick,” Pimpleton said. “D’Ernest can do everything: return punts, kicks. He’s the most versatile guy I’ve ever seen.” His versatility is not limited to football. “I’m an all-around loving, caring guy,” Johnson said. “I also have all types of skills. I cut peoples’ hair, do edges for

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some of the teammates when they ask for it. I can do all kinds of backflips out here, I’m a gymnastic kind of guy.” However, it’s Tice who is without a doubt the vocal leader of his unit. He is unafraid to speak his mind, whether it is just to the running back unit, the offense, or the entire team. “Tice, he’s a vocal guy, he’s always upbeat and talking… he’s the team comedian actually,” Pimpleton said. Being upbeat is much more easily said than done when you are a senior like Tice. Even though he may not lead the Bulls in carries in 2016, his contributions as a leader are not limited to his direct impact on the game. “I like to get people smiling, because when you see people smiling they want to put more effort out, so after a while everybody is laughing it becomes contagious, and then everybody starts to play,” Tice said. Tice’s buoyant, endearing personality serves as the glue for their tight bond as not only football players, but studentathletes. The backs consider themselves to be each other’s best friends at school, but also note that they frequently hang with the entire team, which considers itself a second family. “We hang all the time,” Tice said. Mack quickly chimed in to echo his sentiments, “all the time.” The backs also note that they frequently get their hair cut together and stay in contact even over breaks, calling up the other two guys to talk about football, life in general, or just to throw shade on the others out of good fun. “Because we hang around each other so much as running backs, we have a good time… it’s a brother thing,” Tice said. Tice’s leadership and firm belief that winning trumps all has also served as a tangible example for the younger backs. According to Pimpleton, the unit as a whole has yet to cost him a wink of sleep. “I have zero problems with them. I don’t have to worry about what they’re doing when they leave, if they’re going to get into trouble. They get along great and off the field they hang together, which is a great thing,” Pimpleton says.

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WR TE RT RG C LG LT QB HB WR

Rodney Adams Ryeshene Bronson Elkanah Dillon Mitchell Wilcox Billy Atterbury Dominique Threatt Jeremi Hall Michael Galati Brooks Larkin Cameron Ruff Michael Smith Kofi Amichia Marcus Norman Quinton Flowers Brett Kean Marlon Mack D’Ernest Johnson Marquez Valdez-Scantling Chris Barr

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

Kirk Livingstone Juwan Brown Kevin Bronson DT Daniel Awoleke Bruce Hector DT Deadrin Senat Vincent Jackson BULL LaDarrius Jackson (DE) Auggie Sanchez MLB Cecil Cherry Nigel Harris WLB Nico Sawtelle Deatrick Nichols CB Jalen Spencer STRIKER Khalid McGee Nate Godwin Tajee Fullwood FS Devin Abraham Jaymon Thomas SS Ronnie Hoggins CB Mazzi Wilkins DE

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

USF Football 2016 Tentative Depth Chart

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

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