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Zebold: USF'S DEEP GROUP OF BACKS LOOKING DYNAMIC


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USF'S DEEP GROUP OF BACKS LOOKING DYNAMIC

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, AUG. 7, 2017 – Excellence in the ground game propelled the USF offense to new milestones last season with 3,709 rushing yards and 47 rushing touchdowns, two of nearly 40 new school records set by the Bulls in 2016.

No. 21-ranked USF has bigger goals in mind this year and its deep talent pool of running backs is determined to do whatever it takes to help bring conference glory to Bulls Nation.

"The people that played a part in last year, for the rest of their lives, they're going to get to say they were a part of what happened. Now it's our time to go out and win a conference championship," running backs coach Shaun King said. "… Every yard we gain is going to be a yard that's on this year's resume. We have to make sure that at the end of it, this is a special season, just like last year was."

17506Fortunately for King and the Bulls, they have several key pieces of last season's rushing attack returning to action. With Marlon Mack gone to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, the time is now for senior D'Ernest Johnson to shine in the spotlight as USF's featured back.

"I was ready last year and I'm more ready this year," Johnson said.

Johnson (Immokalee, Fla.) has already filled his football resume with 1,000 career rushing yards, 62 receptions and nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards in his first three seasons in Green and Gold. Perhaps USF's most versatile player, Johnson also has gained national respect as a member of the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list.

"I thought the world of him coming in and he just kind of solidifies everything you hear about him when you get to coach him in person," King said.

Through 10 fall practices, Johnson is looking every bit like a national award contender with his smooth moves and soft hands he used to snag a touchdown catch Monday morning. What's impressed King the most, however, is Johnson's blue-collar approach to each practice.

"He's just a consistently even-keeled, work every day, grind kind of guy," King said. "For a guy that's talented and that accomplished, that's rare."

17505Intensity doesn't take a dip either when Johnson gets a break.

After getting a medical redshirt for 2016, senior Darius Tice (Miami) is back to barreling through defenders and looks even quicker since recovering from a broken ankle he suffered early last season. Two games before the setback, Tice showed he can handle the spotlight with a career-high 120 rushing yards in his first start against Northern Illinois.

"He's very focused and understands how fortunate he is," King said. "You can see it, there's a different bounce in his step."

Bulls Have Much More Behind Johnson, Tice
Rapid-fire reps in USF's accelerated up-tempo attack...

 

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This is great to hear. The better the run game the better Q will do his thing. Thinking there could be a number of playmakers off the bench this year. 

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