Ask Jamie: Big Win Boosts USF Recruiting

[Mama_Bull]

USF fighting for Florida talent

Just how big was that win for South Florida over Florida State? What will this do for Bulls recruiting, specifically in the Tampa Bay area?

-- Nick from Clearwater, Fla.

Jaimie Newberg

USF has had some big wins in its short tenure as a college football program. The Bulls have beaten West Virginia a few times, and they went on the road and upset Auburn a few years ago. They even climbed up to No. 2 in the nation during the 2007 season. But no win was bigger than their 17-7 victory over Florida State two weeks ago.

This billboard now appears in Tampa on I-275 north as USF continues to raise its profile with recruits in the Sunshine State.

Until this season, people typically referred to the football powers from the state of Florida as the Big 3. But this win over the Seminoles will go a long way to change that perception. Just how big was that win? This week, the Bulls put up a new billboard in Tampa on I-275 north near the I-4 interchange to Orlando. This billboard has the words "Big 3" with the 3 crossed out and replaced by a "4". The USF logo is on there, along with the logos from Florida, FSU and Miami, and the billboard reads "Welcome to the Club Bulls fans!"

Bulls coach Jim Leavitt has worked hard in recruiting. Just this past recruiting season USF beat Florida, USC, North Carolina and others on defensive end Ryne Giddins. They also beat Miami on safety Kayvon Webster and linebacker Sam Barrington. The Bulls also won a huge battle for speedy running back Lindsey Lamar.

This one-the-field victory over Florida State could help out Bulls recruiting immensely, especially with prospects in the Tampa Bay area. South Florida would love to land a few from its backyard in cornerback Terrence Mitchell and athlete Christian Green. Mitchell, who is Lamar's cousin, visited Georgia this past weekend. He currently favors FSU and USF. He is very close with Lamar, and they would love to play college football together. Green, who has strong ties to the Seminoles because of his cousin, E.G. Green, also has very strong ties to USF. His father played basketball there and is now working for the school. But the Bulls trail Florida State for his signature. It is believed that the Gators and Bulldogs are in the thick of it as well.

Brion Carnes is the top quarterback prospect in the Tampa area. Carnes, from Bradenton Manatee High School, is committed to USF. The Bulls would love to land his teammate, wide receiver Ace Sanders. Sanders would fit in their spread offense perfectly. USF is battling Tennessee, South Carolina, Purdue, West Virginia and others for Sanders.

Other big names from the Sunshine State that USF are hot after are quarterback Jeffrey Godfrey, wide receiver Willis Wright, defensive tackle Richard Ash, athlete Jeremy Deering, running back Marcus Shaw and others.

The Bulls are 5-0 and ranked in the top 25. They have a huge game looming later this month when they play host to Cincinnati. They also play West Virginia and Miami in Tampa.

Leavitt has a chance to take this program to the next level. The mission is to obviously win the Big East and get into the BCS. The Bulls also have a chance to upset the Hurricanes. Can you imagine what a win against Miami would do for this program?

Jamie Newberg is a recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. Click here to send him a question or comment for his mailbag.

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