Safeties settle in - Times

[E.T.]

USF: Safeties settle in

TAMPA - Safeties coach Troy Douglas said sophomore Danny Verpaele and senior Jeremy Burnett are the current starters at free safety and strong safety, respectively, but both jobs remain up for grabs.

"No one has really separated themselves yet, but each one of them is working hard," said Douglas, who is in his first year with the team. "We'll see what happens when we play McNeese State (on Sept. 2)."

Verpaele missed last season with a broken foot, and Burnett, a Jefferson graduate, had only four tackles last year. They're competing with sophomore Carlton Williams, who led USF's defensive backs with 66 tackles last year, and sophomore Louis Gachette, last year's nickel defensive back.

Douglas said Verpaele's experience and knowledge of the defense give him an edge to return to the starting lineup.

"(Verpaele) looks very good" off of the injury, Douglas said. "He's very smart. He makes most of his checks and works hard. He probably knows the defense better than I do."

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http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/10/Sports/Hillsborough_grad_pro.shtml

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer,

and MIKE CAMUNAS, Times correspondent

[Minotaur]

"(Verpaele) looks very good" off of the injury, Douglas said. "He's very smart. He makes most of his checks and works hard. He probably knows the defense better than I do."

I hope he has leared how to tackle in the last year. I believe his freshman year he proved himself to be the weak link in that less than USF quality defense. He was gone last year and the quality returned. He was too young and too small to be out there, I hope he has grown up.

[BULLfreak]

That is what happens when you play TRUE freshmen

[dabull80]

He was tough to watch his freshman year.  He always seemed to end up at the ball only to be carried another 5 yards by the guy with the ball.  The upside was he was always in the play.  Downside was he didn't have the size.  My guess is he will be ready this year.  He will only get better each year.

[BULLfreak]

He was 5-11  185  his freshmen year and now is  5-11 200 this year that should help

[exbull]

Many people dont know this but Danny was going to redshirt after the south carolina game.  He knew he was not ready and to small.  However Johnny Jones got hurt and had to use his redshirt year.  That forced Danny to play when he WAS NOT ready.  I am thinking you will see a different player.  Also remember he played QB in High School, so not playing defense since his soph year in high school and then starting at Safety at a D1A as a TRUE Fresh is a huge transition.  Not many players will play well.  Now his 3rd year in the system, I think he will do just fine.

[BULLfreak]

I thought that was going to be the case when he was a freshmen

[exbull]

As a former Bull coach always said

"Son, what did you just say?  You thought, You thought?  Do you know where thought comes from??  Exactly, NOT KNOWING!!!"

As a true freshmen dont expect to much from any of them.  I bet you can not name 5 true freshman how have made a huge impact at USF.  Think about all the recuits we have had.  

Carlton Hill- no significant inpact

A few reciever- none with huge impact

JR Reed- not until a Soph

Kawika-RS Fresh

Snake-Soph

the first couple of years maybe so a little more, but then again we were 1AA.  So to think a True Freshman will come in make a huge inpact you are sadly mistaken.  If you look at what he did compare that to the other True Freshman and see how it ranks.  I dont think he played well either, but he managed to get on the field and start which is a lot more then all the others can say.  

[BULLfreak]

no one here was expecting a lot from him his freshmen year