Ledger: Bulls Begin year 10

[Brad]

USF Bulls Begin Year 10 Today

By Patrick Zier

Ledger Correspondent

TAMPA -- After a tumultuous offseason that saw a quarterback slip from No. 1 in the spring to entirely off the depth chart, and from a new position in the summer to out of school in the fall, South Florida begins its 10th year of football today with the start of practice.

Most concerns center around the offense, where the Bulls need a replacement for running back Andre Hall, who was the team's offense last year, and now at quarterback as well, which has become a two-man race since Carlton Hill left school to enroll in junior college.

Returning two-year starter Pat Julmiste and rising redshirt freshman Matt Grothe, out of Lake Gibson, are battling for the job.

In addition, the interior line must be rebuilt.

And as the offense goes, so go the Bulls. Last year it didn't go very far despite the efforts of Hall, the leading rusher in the Big East and just signed by the Chicago Bears.

Hall's projected replacement is Moise Plancher, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound redshirt freshman. Behind him is Walt Smith, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior from Bartow.

Smith played on special teams and in the secondary last year, but was switched to running back this spring and has impressed.

South Florida Coach Jim Leavitt says he expects very little dropoff at running back despite the loss of Hall.

"I expect Plancher to play well," Leavitt said. "I think we'll get good production there."

But the key, as it was last year, will be at quarterback. Here, Leavitt must choose between Julmiste, who has never solidified his hold on the position because of his inconsistent play, and Grothe, who lacks experience but has impressed the offensive staff.

Julmiste, a polite, quiet leader at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, led a passing attack that ranked 107th out of 119 division one schools in 2005.

He is coming off a bad bowl game in which South Florida failed to score for the first time in the school's history.

"Pat knows he has to get better," Leavitt said, "but he's played well for us at times."

Then there's Grothe, a 6-foot, 200-pounder who may be prone to mistakes having never played a college game, but who many feel has a lot of upside once he gets experience.

Leavitt likes Grothe's physical skills and the schedule sets up perfectly for a young quarterback, with South Florida opening at home against McNeese State, a Division 1-AA school, and then hosting Florida International, which is a Division 1-A school in name only.

"Julmiste starts practice No. 1 because he's earned that," Leavitt said, "but we're going to give Grothe a million reps."

If one of the quarterbacks settles in and Plancher can run the ball, South Florida could be decent.

Defensively, the Bulls have one of the best teams in the nation. Last year, South Florida ranked 17th nationally in Division 1-A defensively, and seven starters return including linebackers Stephen Nicholas, 6-foot-3, 225pounds; Ben Moffitt, 6-foot-2, 240-pounds; and Pat St. Louis, 6foot-1, 230-pounds.

In addition safety Danny Verpaele, a freshman All-America in 2004 who sat out 2005 with a broken foot, is also back.

The linebackers are very good. One preseason publication ranks South Florida's linbacking corps as the ninth-best in the country.

So it's up to the offense, which will likely rise or fall depending on how well the quarterback plays, whoever he is.

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[KB]

No mention of Ponton?

[CyberBull]

They obviously overlooked Ricky Ponton.

[TyBull]

No mention of Ponton?

Please tell me that Ricky Ponton is OK and on the roster...... I thought he was a good replacement for Hall last year and looking for him to step up this year....

[E.T.]

No mention of Ponton?

Please tell me that Ricky Ponton is OK and on the roster...... I thought he was a good replacement for Hall last year and looking for him to step up this year....

Wondering the same thing ... and it seems he spoke with Leavitt  :-/

[TyBull]

[TyBull]

[TyBull]

Dang, can't even link Ponton's picture...

[turkeysoup]

[BullDoug]

It appears...

Ricky Ponton = USF third down back