what ru fans are saying about bulls

[smazza]

the BE '08 Part 2

cubuffsdoug

75 ANTHONY DAVIS

766 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 3:25 PM

Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

USF ‘08

Remember, this is just my thought and take on each team.

Uconn breakdown on deck in a few days

Offense:  Everyone knows their success over the last 2 years was been built around a sound defense and Grothe.  Grothe will continue to be the focal point of USF offense until they exploit the skills of RB Mike Ford.  They need to stop with the merry-go-round backfield.  Ben Williams should move from the starting position to the backup spot behind Ford.  Ford has the skills to be on the same level of LeSean McCoy (Pitt), but it might be the style of the offense that limits Ford from having crazy rushing numbers.  Grothe has made the receivers better than what they really are.  The lost of Jackson (USF best receiver) will hurt, but it remains to seen if the rest of the rank and file can pick up the slack.  There is an abundance of talent in the WR group with Tararus Johnson & Marcus Edwards, but no real playmakers.  None of the returning receivers’ stats (Johnson 34-407 yds & 4 TDs-team best) jump off the page and put fear in the heart of opposing defenses, so you defend them as they come.  The line will be without Walker, Capogna and Carnes.  This may be a spot on offense where USF become unglued at some point during the season against a tough opponent.  Yes, USF does have experience guys to step in, but the unit was ranked 67th in giving up sacks.  That doesn’t say much about this year’s starters who couldn’t beat out the starters from last year.  I think the lack of recruiting quality linemen is starting to catch up with USF.  Grothe will continue to carry the load for this team, but just how much and how soon will the guys around him will step up to ease the pressure?  If the OC is smart he will lean on Ford heavily as the line develops for pass protection.  Once Ford is established the WRs should flourish (consistent, but nothing flashy) as they have with Grothe running the ball in the past.  Also, it will ease the beating Grothe takes every time he runs the ball.  Overall the offense has to take it to another level because of the losses on the other side of the ball.  One other note: this may be the last shot at the BE title for a few years because they will be starting 7 seniors on offense for the ’08 season.  Btw, I for the life of me can’t figure out how a team with so much athletic ability and talent can have an offense that is only a step or two above ’07 uconn?  If not for the defense ability to create turnovers (18th national), opportunities for the offense to score disappears.  They were near the top in having a short field (50+) to work with.  Don’t expect the same with so many missing key components on defense.

Defense:  This unit has been the calling card for USF the last few seasons, but no more until proven otherwise.  They return 7 starters, but a pending academic situation may reduce the number to 6.  They will be without the services of the best CB tandem (Jenkins & Williams) in the BE if not the country.  They have 2 veteran backups (Jerome Murphy-Jr. /Tyller Roberts-Sr.) schedule to start.  I’m sure the talent and athleticism is there, but experience (timing as a starter) is lacking.  Could USF be forced to play more zone as the new CBs break in?  That is unthinkable, but a fact of life for the Bulls.  Opponents might exploit the secondary, but why when the D-line took even a harder hit.  They lose 4 of the top 8 DLs and if another guy (Buie) doesn’t graduate by the start of camp he’s done too.  That would make 5 of the top 8 d-linemen gone.  The lack of depth over the course of a season will hurt them.  Opponents will have choices against a depleted defense, should they run or pass to success.  Outside of Selvie pass rushing skill (& TFLs) the DL became a focal point of getting pushed around on the running plays and no push on passing plays.  It led to the exposure of Moffitt as being only a pursuit tackler in which he is a hellva one at that.  He just can’t handle big linemen or strong FBs coming straight on.  Still he was the heart and soul of the defense and will be hard to replace.  McKenzie (transfer from Iowa St. ) turned out to be a very good pick up.  I thought he was the most consistent backer and best player in the LB corp.  He now has the added pressure of being the stud of a depleted defense. There is talk of moving him to middle, but that might be a mistake.  His game (like Moffitt) is about speed and pursuit angle.  He will lose that in the middle as he has to take more head up blocks.  There are too many question marks on defense for this team to dominate like years past.  The only thing helping USF is the fact they have athletes and that sometimes can hide lack of experience to a degree.  If this unit is to return to being solid, they may have to go the way of JUCO as just too many key (playmakers) starters are gone and not enough experience to step in right away.  It does appear USF is going the JUCO route just to give the team a shot at the BE title. 

Special teams:  USF had a double duty guy (kicker/punter) in Alvarado.  He was up and down in the kicking duties as he missed several important FGs though out the year.  He did come up big at the end against Auburn , but other than that he was serviceable at both jobs.  The area of return is no different than the enigma called USF offense.  So much talent so few explosive plays in the return game.  WRs Johnson and Edwards return as the PR and KR specialist.  Both were ranked near the bottom half of the BE in both category.  I’m not sure how much they can improve in that area without a major overhaul.

The overall question about USF is can the offense by more explosive to carry a developing defense that might depend on JUCOs in the early stages of the season.  There is no middle ground for USF with the way the team is put together.  Either USF will be king of the BE because of Grothe & Co. on offense or basement dwellers because of the on defense.  I think all the problems of kids not qualifying for USF in the last 2 and 3 seasons may have come how to roost. 

He is really good at staying alive, and trying to kill him and failing... just pisses him off.

Reply | Quote

ruprincess

Queen of Admins!!

3250 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 5:40 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doug, thank you for another awesome post!  I'm looking foward to your thoughts on Uconn!  Princess

Reply | Quote

Hdeljerz

27 RAY RICE

1897 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 6:56 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

nice post. I missed part one I think.

Reply | Quote

westcoastqb

58 JEREMY BRANCH

634 posts this site

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 7:06 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow. Nice analysis.You should be a Scout/Athlon/ Street and Smith writer.

Reply | Quote | Edit | Delete

TomAtkins

Administrator

3537 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 7:43 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I could have saved you some time

1-7 in no particular order - everyone but Cuse

8 - Cuse

Seriously - you can do all the analysis you want - but in the end who would have seen this finish last janurayr

1. WVU

1. UConn

3. Cincinnati

3. South Florida

5. Louisville

5. Rutgers

5. Pittsburgh

8. Syracuse

And this year is even crazier.  Last year WVU looked like the front runner going into the season - and they proved to be the winner.  WVU loses ALOT - as much as Louisville last year.  UCOnn brings back alot, but the last 4 games showed that they probably werent really worthy of being #1 in the conference.  Pitt looks like they could turn the corner at any time.  USF, Cincy, RU return alot and lose some very important pieces.  Louisville could slip some more, but Cantwell isnt terrible, and you would think the second year under K would be better.

Only Cuse looks to really have no chance for a BCS bid.

Reply | Quote

ruprincess

Queen of Admins!!

3250 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 8:00 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hdeljerz wrote: nice post. I missed part one I think.

          Here is part 1. by cubuffsdoug. 

This is based on what knowledge I have of each team as of now.  First up is RU. Next up in a few days will be USF.

RU:  the strength of the team will return to the defensive side of the ball and that’s not to say the offense isn’t anything.  They return 8 starters, but the experience gained by the backups was huge this year.  The defensive strength will be in the LBs and DL.  RU will be bigger on the line as the DTs are now more in line with average size interior guys.  This should help with the run defense as now RU has the hogs in the middle to slow things down.  The collective group may not be as fast (still fast enough for the schemes) as Foster and Meekins, but are just as athletic and bigger.  This may put a little more pressure on the DEs to pressure the QB more, but with Westerman & Co. that shouldn’t be a problem.  I think the LB play will be on par if not better then the ’06 LBs.  RU hasn’t had a collection of athletic players at LB any time during their 138 years of football.  Not only are the LBs big, but fast across the board when compared to other BE schools.  Now they are experienced (still young) and they will help the DTs established the run stopping nature of the ’08 defense.  RU finally has sideline to sideline MLBs big enough and strong enough to deal with O-line.  This will allow for some wild schemes and matchups.  The secondary does return 3 starters, but the lack of experience depth may still be a problem.  Outside of Lefegend and Lee, there is little experience depth especially at DB.  Bings and Hutchins should easy that concern just a little at CB.  The more experience they become, don’t be surprise to see them pass others on the depth chart.  RU defense finished 20th overall, but look for them to really support such a lofty ranking next year as long as the lack of CBs depth doesn’t rear its ugly head.  RU has enough experience at all other positions to over come except at CB.

The offense should still be better than average as it becomes less predictable with Rice gone.  Don’t be fooled for a minute to think without Rice and several O-line gone this will be run it down your throat type of offense.  RU fans will find out if the OC is as creative without Rice.  Brooks/Robinson/Young can be more than effective in running the ball as each bring a different style to the back field.  For as much as everyone talks about McCaleb (still welcome to come) as the back RU needs, well they have him already.  Robinson is a bigger version with game experience and I liked what I saw from him this year.  Robinson should be about 10 lbs (max.) heavier while maintaining his breakaway speed.  Brooks comes with high praise and my kids (Smalls, Brock, & Smart) rave about him and I trust their judgment.  Brooks while being a big back is lite on the feet with moves.  I see him running people over and the next time give them a move to get up field.  Young was on his way to being RU homerun threat.  Now all will have to wait and see how he reacts to the knee injury.  The O-line will surprise people because of the talent in the wings and the coaching may be the best in the BE.  As much as RU is losing 3 starters, they are really bringing back 3 in Blaze, Davis and Halsam.  The key now is to find two guards and that’s easier to do than tackles.  The same the situation existed in ’05 when RU needed to fill 3 positions on the O-line and did with Stapleton, Fladell and Stephenson.  That line did well for themselves and again 2 of them had to be replaced for the ’07 season.  The replacement for Stephenson and Stapleton were Blaze and Davis/Halsam and they only went on to block for RU’s only 2000 yard rusher in history.  The quality of O-line now entering RU are better and further along then Fladell or a Stephenson.  Guys like Ruch, Muldrow, and little Stapleton are better athletes and more prepared.  The thing that helps them is they weren’t rushed to fill in, so they were allowed to learn the position and develop physically for the college level.    I do have one concern and that’s the lack of depth at WR outside of Britt, Underwood and Brown.  Campbell has had enough time to prove himself.  Taylor is hurt too often to be a factor and the other young kids have to make the best of limited time moving forward.

Special teams are what they are for RU… eventful and hopefully not harmful.  San San (sp) should give RU solid sound kicking, but maybe without the distance of Ito for now.  He did come from the same kicking coach with high praise just as Ito, so that should say something.  The JUCO punter has had time to adjust and all that is asked of him is to be better than Ito in the punting dept.  No one expects him to be Radigan (sp), but he needs to be consistent and win the field position battle.  I do get the feeling the kick return game will be dangerous each and every time as RU does have options in the return guys like Robinson, Underwood, Young (if healthy) and maybe even Bing.  The main concern is the kick coverage and a punt returner with hands.  RU can’t afford to give ground on kickoffs and give everyone ulcers every time the punt return guy drops the ball.  It cost RU in the Maryland game and that can’t happen any more.  The jury is still out on some of the special team units until we as RU fans see improvement on the field.  RU took a step back last year as the year before RU was solid across the board for the most part.   

Last edited Yesterday 8:02 PM by ruprincess

Reply | Quote

Hdeljerz

27 RAY RICE

1897 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 8:12 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks P.

Reply | Quote

LawJam

75 ANTHONY DAVIS

717 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 8:47 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

princess.............any thoughts on whether Schiano gives up the defense and hires a defensive coordinator ?

Will he also bring in an offensive guy or go with the same people?

Reply | Quote

feardabull

USF Matt Grothe

31 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Yesterday 11:33 PM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alright, buddy!  Good job.  I'm just here to mop up.

Amarri Jackson was nowhere near our best WR.  Yes, he was heading into the season, but RS Freshman Carlton Mitchell, who lead the team in receiving yards and TDs, wound up being the go-to guy.  Our Receiving corps was plagued with drops... hopefully we clean that up.  Amarri is the only WR we lose and he is not considered a lost starter.  Our starters will be Carlton Mitchell, Jesse Hester Jr., and Taurus Johnson.  We are hoping to land 4-star Tommy Streeter and 4-star speedster Tay Odoms.  As far as our O-Line.... Capogna got hurt against Elon and never really played much afterwards, Jared Carnes (LOL.... nevermind him) never started.  Walter Walker is a BIG loss... we will probably have to put in a RS Freshman in to replace him (Thomas Edenfield).  However, when he got hurt, Guard Ryan Schmidt moved over to Tackle and if he stays there....  We Will return all 11 starters from last season.  But the official number will be 10.  We WILL rely on experience to help boost our offense.  That... AND some consistency from Grothe. 

On defense... you hit the nail right on the head.  I was very impressed with ur breakdown.  Those JUCO boys will be 4-star DE David Bedford and 4-star LB Kion Wilson.  Bedord is a Selvie clone and Kion is a solid linebacker.  Another JUCO player is 3-star Craig Marshall, who DID commit to us in '06.  Our CB situation is either gonna be hit or miss... Murphy should be OK, but Roberts I'm not so sure.  We do return Carlton Williams and Nate Allen at safety.  Our interior-line is gonna be very young and shallow.  Sophomore Terrell McClain and Junior Aaron Harris will probably be the starters and we have 3-star Cory Grissom comin in.  Once again.... you hit the nail on the head.

Special Teams.....  yeah, pretty much right.  Hopefully, if we land 4-star WR Tay Odoms, he could return kicks and punts.

Last edited Yesterday 11:43 PM by feardabull

Reply | Quote

westcoastqb

58 JEREMY BRANCH

634 posts this site

Nominate | Report

Posted: Today 7:07 AM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

feardabull wrote: Alright, buddy!  Good job.  I'm just here to mop up.

Amarri Jackson was nowhere near our best WR.  Yes, he was heading into the season, but RS Freshman Carlton Mitchell, who lead the team in receiving yards and TDs, wound up being the go-to guy.  Our Receiving corps was plagued with drops... hopefully we clean that up.  Amarri is the only WR we lose and he is not considered a lost starter.  Our starters will be Carlton Mitchell, Jesse Hester Jr., and Taurus Johnson.  We are hoping to land 4-star Tommy Streeter and 4-star speedster Tay Odoms.  As far as our O-Line.... Capogna got hurt against Elon and never really played much afterwards, Jared Carnes (LOL.... nevermind him) never started.  Walter Walker is a BIG loss... we will probably have to put in a RS Freshman in to replace him (Thomas Edenfield).  However, when he got hurt, Guard Ryan Schmidt moved over to Tackle and if he stays there....  We Will return all 11 starters from last season.  But the official number will be 10.  We WILL rely on experience to help boost our offense.  That... AND some consistency from Grothe. 

On defense... you hit the nail right on the head.  I was very impressed with ur breakdown.  Those JUCO boys will be 4-star DE David Bedford and 4-star LB Kion Wilson.  Bedord is a Selvie clone and Kion is a solid linebacker.  Another JUCO player is 3-star Craig Marshall, who DID commit to us in '06.  Our CB situation is either gonna be hit or miss... Murphy should be OK, but Roberts I'm not so sure.  We do return Carlton Williams and Nate Allen at safety.  Our interior-line is gonna be very young and shallow.  Sophomore Terrell McClain and Junior Aaron Harris will probably be the starters and we have 3-star Cory Grissom comin in.  Once again.... you hit the nail on the head.

Special Teams.....  yeah, pretty much right.  Hopefully, if we land 4-star WR Tay Odoms, he could return kicks and punts.

Bull- Think Walter Walker will be drafted? Dude is Huge.Head like a Steer and a massive body to match.Sorry we screwed up his knee....Good you won't have to see Ray at Ray James next year(At least in a RU uni!)You guys never got a handle on him....Did Leavitt go back on his meds after our game?...Last thought: Your helmets are fugly. Have a nice day!

Reply | Quote | Edit | Delete

ruprincess

Queen of Admins!!

3250 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Today 7:14 AM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

feardabull wrote: Alright, buddy!  Good job.  I'm just here to mop up.

Amarri Jackson was nowhere near our best WR.  Yes, he was heading into the season, but RS Freshman Carlton Mitchell, who lead the team in receiving yards and TDs, wound up being the go-to guy.  Our Receiving corps was plagued with drops... hopefully we clean that up.  Amarri is the only WR we lose and he is not considered a lost starter.  Our starters will be Carlton Mitchell, Jesse Hester Jr., and Taurus Johnson.  We are hoping to land 4-star Tommy Streeter and 4-star speedster Tay Odoms.  As far as our O-Line.... Capogna got hurt against Elon and never really played much afterwards, Jared Carnes (LOL.... nevermind him) never started.  Walter Walker is a BIG loss... we will probably have to put in a RS Freshman in to replace him (Thomas Edenfield).  However, when he got hurt, Guard Ryan Schmidt moved over to Tackle and if he stays there....  We Will return all 11 starters from last season.  But the official number will be 10.  We WILL rely on experience to help boost our offense.  That... AND some consistency from Grothe. 

On defense... you hit the nail right on the head.  I was very impressed with ur breakdown.  Those JUCO boys will be 4-star DE David Bedford and 4-star LB Kion Wilson.  Bedord is a Selvie clone and Kion is a solid linebacker.  Another JUCO player is 3-star Craig Marshall, who DID commit to us in '06.  Our CB situation is either gonna be hit or miss... Murphy should be OK, but Roberts I'm not so sure.  We do return Carlton Williams and Nate Allen at safety.  Our interior-line is gonna be very young and shallow.  Sophomore Terrell McClain and Junior Aaron Harris will probably be the starters and we have 3-star Cory Grissom comin in.  Once again.... you hit the nail on the head.

Special Teams.....  yeah, pretty much right.  Hopefully, if we land 4-star WR Tay Odoms, he could return kicks and punts.

          Hi Bull!  Thank you for your input! 

          It's good to see you again....thanks for visiting! 

          Cheers!!  Princess

Reply | Quote

feardabull

USF Matt Grothe

31 posts this site

Ignore this User

Send Private Message

Nominate | Report

Posted: Today 8:57 AM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

westcoastqb wrote:

Bull- Think Walter Walker will be drafted? Dude is Huge.Head like a Steer and a massive body to match.Sorry we screwed up his knee....Good you won't have to see Ray at Ray James next year(At least in a RU uni!)You guys never got a handle on him....Did Leavitt go back on his meds after our game?...Last thought: Your helmets are fugly. Have a nice day!

I think Walter COULD get drafted... but he probably won't.  His injury really hurt his draft status. 

YES!!!!  It is VERY good to hear Ray Rice is gone!  That kid ran a train on us every year. 

Haha... yeah, Leavitt settled down after that Cincy loss.  He realized Syracuse was next on the schedule and it was all gravy again.

What's wrong with our helmets, dude????

Reply | Quote

westcoastqb

58 JEREMY BRANCH

634 posts this site

Nominate | Report

Posted: Today 9:25 AM

Re: Here's my take on the BE '08 Part 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's wrong with our helmets, dude????

Ah...Horns are too big, and background color is like puppy diarrhea. Other then that,they look great.

Reply | Quote | Edit | Delete

[Jihme]

no real playmakers at wr?  what about mitchell?  or even hester jr?

our offense is going to be so much better next year.

[smazza]

most ru fans are nuts

i just happen to know about 10 guys that went to ru

[smazza]

RECRUITING

Recruiters flock to South Florida

In the past three seasons, Rutgers has won 26 games thanks to the 44 players it has recruited from South Florida.

Posted on Thu, Jan. 24, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email

BY JEFF SHAIN

jshain@MiamiHerald.com

JOSHUA PREZANT / FOR THE MIAMI HERALD

Former Cardinal Gibbons quarterback Ryan Hart, shown in 2001, has helped Rutgers improve since signing with the Scarlet Knights.

Audio | Krop linebacker Etienne Sabino

CROSSING BORDERS

Schools that have taken the most South Florida recruits out of the state from 2000 to 2007 (total of eight recruiting classes):

Rutgers 44 players

Of note: DT Eric Foster, QB Ryan Hart

North Carolina State 31

Of note: LB Stephen Tulloch, WR Tramain Hall

Western Michigan 29

Of note: FS Louis Delmas, CB E.J. Biggers

Connecticut 26

Of note: CB Darius Butler, DE Cody Brown

Auburn 25

Of note: WR Devin Aromashodu, DE Stanley McClover

Pittsburgh 22

Of note: LB H.B. Blades, LB Clint Session

-- JEFF SHAIN

First in a 14-part series

Like any new coach, Rutgers' Greg Schiano quickly set about to establish his recruiting base upon taking over the downtrodden program in 2001.

And so came about the ''State of Rutgers'' -- defined as the school's New Jersey home and bordering states. Plus one fertile far-flung outpost.

South Florida.

''Those South Florida kids are really what got our program going,'' said Schiano, whose reward has come by way of 26 wins and three bowl trips in the past three seasons.

In a region that attracts recruiters from far and wide to cherry-pick football talent, Rutgers stands as the decade's biggest importer of South Florida goods. And perhaps its biggest beneficiary.

No fewer than 44 players from South Florida have signed national letters of intent with Rutgers since 2000, according to The Miami Herald's survey of recent recruiting classes.

North Carolina State was second with 31 South Florida imports, with Western Michigan (29) a surprising third. Connecticut, Auburn and Pittsburgh also have taken at least 20 South Floridians.

A LOT OF TALENT

''It just shows the unbelievable amount of kids that can play Division I,'' said Larry Blustein, a recruiting analyst who has chronicled Florida prospects for more than two decades.

All told, 310 South Florida players began the 2007 season on rosters of the 112 Division I-FBS programs outside the state.

And come national signing day on Feb. 6, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties alone might supply out-of-state schools with as many as 100 signees.

''It's a numbers game. Florida, Florida State and Miami can't take them all,'' said Bobby Burton, Rivals.com general manager.

Even when you factor in FIU, FAU, USF and UCF, there's still plenty of talent for other schools.

''For us it's always been a great area,'' said Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit, who picked up nine South Florida players last year.

Tapping the South Florida pipeline to improve fortunes is nothing new. Lorenzo White (Dillard) and Sedrick Irvin (Southridge) kept Michigan State's running game humming in the 1990s. Troy Davis (Southridge) put Iowa State briefly in the spotlight. Frank Sanders and James Bostic ignited a Dillard-to-Auburn link that continues more than a decade later.

But perhaps no place has rolled out a broader welcome mat for South Florida kids than Rutgers under Schiano, previously UM's defensive coordinator for Butch Davis.

In 2000, the Knights' final recruiting class under Terry Shea had no South Florida presence. When Schiano took the reins, six South Floridians dotted his initial roster. Ten more followed a year later.

''The neat thing about those kids is they're willing to try something if they think it's a good opportunity,'' said Schiano, who brought Mario Cristobal -- now FIU's coach -- with him from UM to lay the recruiting foundation.

Such trailblazers as wideouts Tres Moses (Delray Beach Atlantic) and Alfred Peterson (Carol City) were followed by quarterback Ryan Hart (Cardinal Gibbons). Schiano acknowledged that before coming to UM, he had little interaction with South Florida.

''But in the two years I was with the Hurricanes,'' he added, ``I just fell in love with the passion these kids displayed.''

It's a chemistry others have noticed as well.

''You see the way guys kind of gravitate toward the Miami kids a little bit,'' said North Miami Beach coach Jeff Bertani, who watched Max Jean-Gilles become an All-SEC guard at Georgia and now has five Chargers at Western Michigan. ``Kids hang out with them and start to develop that kind of attitude, that confidence.''

N.C. State had that air in seven years under Chuck Amato, who mined South Florida for FSU and continued to tap those connections as the Wolfpack's head coach.

Stephen Tulloch (Killian) was an All-ACC linebacker, and receiver Tramain Hall provided a key target for Philip Rivers.

SUPPLY LINE CUT

When Amato was fired after the 2006 season, though, it cut the South Florida supply line. The Wolfpack signed no one from the region last year under Tom O'Brien, and has just one commitment this year.

Though Western Michigan might come as a surprise to the casual observer, the Broncos aren't the only Mid-American Conference team making hay from the area.

Central Michigan had 12 South Floridians help win a MAC title this past season -- and with former NMB and Booker T. assistant Paul Volero mining the area, could add eight more this year.

Akron boasts 11 South Florida players. In all, the region supplied 74 players to MAC schools last season. ''That's not surprising,'' Burton said. ``Those schools go south for speed -- whether it's an offensive skill position or defensive players in general.''

Cubit has recruited the area for 25 years, including stops at UF and UCF. His defensive coordinator is Bill Miller, who preceded Schiano in the same job at UM. ''Kids are more independent now,'' he said. ``They're looking for playing time, looking for somebody they can trust.''

And with the seemingly endless parade of games on cable TV, Cubit said, any stigma of playing in a lower conference has been diminished.

''With ESPN, we're on TV a lot. Nobody looks at it like that anymore,'' he said. ``I think kids down here are a little bit more open, and take a serious look at what we're about.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/spo...ory/391433.html

[nobull.Bulls]

my favorite part is when they said Amarri Jackson was our best reciever...

[crambone]

Amarri was our best receiver....when he was a Sophomore...

[TyBull]

who cares what a bunch of Losers in Jersey are saying about USF.

Can't wait for the Rutgers Beatdown that we will put on them in Tampa this year.

If there is one Big East team that I can't stand it is rUTGiRLS......

[smazza]

who cares what a bunch of Losers in Jersey are saying about USF.

Can't wait for the Rutgers Beatdown that we will put on them in Tampa this year.

If there is one Big East team that I can't stand it is rUTGiRLS......

unfortunately i think coaches and players feel same way you do and that is why ru has beat us last two years

we need to respect AND PREPARE for ru or they will beat usf again