Preview of USF from Bearstatlink

[Apis Bull]

Preview of USF from Bearstatlink

CINCINNATI VS. SOUTH FLORIDA PREGAME {FOOTBALL}

Last year was their first ever match-up with USF winning 24-17 in double OT. The defenses dominated and it was 10-10 at the end of regulation. UC scored 1st with a short TD pass to Mike Daniels after dominating the time of possession running the ball. The Bulls were scoreless in the 1st half. USF switched to Pat Julmiste who led the Bulls down the field running and passing a 36-yard TD pass to make it 7-7. Gino got on track passing and produced a Chet Ervin 36-yard field goal to make it 10-7. The Bulls got a Santiago Gramatica 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 10-10 with 3 minutes to go. Chet Ervins game-winning 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Both teams scored quickly in the first OT, the second OT started with USF's DeJuan Green breaking tackles and running the ball into the endzone on their first play, USF 24 UC 17. The final play was a pass from Gino to Richard Hall that bounced off his shoulder pads into the air and it was intercepted.

The University of South Florida's (USF) record of 4-4 came from wins over Tennessee Tech(21-7), TCU(45-44 OT), UAB(45-20), and East Carolina(41-17). Their losses were to South Carolina(34-3), Southern Miss(27-20), Army(42-35), and Louisville(41-9). USF had to reschedule their 1st game with Pittsburgh to 12/4 because of a hurricane. They came back from two TD's down vs. UAB to win in dramatic fashion and have their own 2-game win streak.

The Bulls have mucho team speed as do most of the Florida football teams. USF is also going to the Big East with UC. USF is a very young team with 20+ freshman contributing significantly. Their recruits are mostly from Florida (only 4 non-Floridians) and their class for next year was listed at Top-5 in the nation by various magazines. USF started their football program from scratch in 1997, transitioned to Div-I play in 2000, and started their first season of participation in C-USA football last year. Despite the Bulls being the newest Div-I football team in the nation (UC is the 5th oldest), they have been very successful(35-17).

The USF offense uses the spread offense often sending out 4 wide receivers and rarely using a huddle. Their whole offensive line returned this season and it is one of their best they have ever had so they run the ball a lot. USF is #27 in the NCAA averaging 187.5 ypg, UC is #30 at 186.7. Because they have been so successful running the ball the passing has dropped off, USF is #105 in the NCAA averaging 160 ypg. The Cats will do everything possible to stop the run and hold down the points. USF has scored 45 and 41 points in their last 2 games.

Soph QB Pat Julmiste now leads their offense. Last week he was large going 12/16 for 233 yards, 12 rushes for 69 yards, and 2 TD's. Julmiste has 7 rushing TD's and has thrown for 1,106 yds, 6 TD's, and six INT's. Pat passed for 322 yards vs. TCU. USF hasn't been that successful passing this year but Julmiste has looked sharp a couple times. He is agile enough to pass on the run with a very quick release. His passes look like Pedro Martinez fastballs.

Ronnie Banks is the senior QB that lost his starting job to sophomore Julmiste. He is a big QB with a strong arm and runs better since losing 28 lbs but still isn' as mobile as Julmiste.

USF is led in rushing by a Hall just like UC. It is junior college All-American Andre Hall that leads the team in rushing. He had 27 rushes for 161 yards last week vs. ECU. That was his 4th 100+ yard rushing game of the season that tied a USF record. Andre totaled 275 yards rushing vs. UAB, 200 yards vs. Army, and 119 yards vs. TCU. Mr. Hall has 16 kick returns for 332 yards, 20.8 ypr. He is 3rd in the country in all-purpose rushing averaging 178.9 ypg and is #11 in rushing averaging 122.9 ypg. Andre is a human pinball, he seems to bounce of tackles.

Clenton Crossley is their change up runner that averages 43.5 ypg rushing.

USF has a plethora of fast receivers but most are inexperienced. Their leading receiver is S.J. Green that has 16 receptions for 200 yards. He averages 12.5 ypc. Freshman Johnny Peyton is their leading receiver averaging 44.5 ypg, 25.4 ypc, and has 2 TD's. JP had 124 yards receiving vs. UAB.

USF defense is a 4-3 defense similar to the Bob Stoops defense at Oklahoma because coach Leavitt learned/co-created it with Mr. Stoops at Kansas St. Their defensive front is very aggressive and their team speed makes running wide very tough. Coach Leavitt has always been a defense first coach. USF was ranked 17th in the nation in defense and were among the top 25 in scoring defense last season. Coach Leavitt always wanted his players to Leave It all on the field, sorry. This year their defense is not up to their usual standards

USF Senior Lee Roy Selmon Jr. (#93) is a 6th year senior who is one of their top defenders. Lee Roy was a Blue Ribbon Magazine Preseason all C-USA pick and was selected to the all C-USA third team last season. This year he was a all-conference preseason selection. Selmon has 21 tackles, 3 TFL’s, and a sack. His father is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and is President of the USF Foundation Partnership for Athletics at USF.

Steven Nicholas was a Freshman All-America from The Sporting News and C-USA All-Freshman team selection last year with 46 tackles (2nd most by frosh in the nation). He has 4.5 speed and hits hard using his 6-3, 225 lb. body.

Santiago Gramatica is the senior kicker who was a two-time semi-finalist for the Groza Award. He is 2nd on the team in scoring with 44 points.

I think USF will play us very tough. They have played much better recently just like the Cats and are trying to get the school its first ever bowl bid. They are a very young team and make a lot of mistakes, they had 18 penalties vs. TCU. They seem to rely on zone defense in passing situations so look for Gino to pick them apart. Bad weather could be an equalizer, UC 28 USF 13.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

2 Andre Hall, Jr. RB Has 155 rushes for 983 yds rushing with 10 TD's, he is averaging 6.3 ypr.

3 Pat Julmiste, So. QB Is 74/158 passing for 1106 yards, 6 TD's, and 6 INT's; he has 76 rushes for 154 yards and 2 TD's.

14 Ron Banks, Sr. QB Is 21/40 for 174 yds, 0 TD's, and 3 INT's.

28 Clenton Crossley, Jr. RB - Has 83 rushes for 348 yds rushing with 2 TD's, averages 4.2 ypr.

8 Johnny Peyton, Fr. WR Has 14 catches for 356 yards, 2 TD's, and averages 44.5 ypg.

83 S.J. Green, So. WR Has 16 catches for 200 yards and 1 TD.

12 Javan Cannon, Sr. DB who has 76 tackles, 45 solo, 2 TFL's, and a forced fumble.

7 Santiago Gramatica, Jr. K - 7/11 on FG's, 23/24 on PAT's.

[TripleB]

"Javan Cannon" ........... Nice.

[Velcro]

"their class for next year was listed at Top-5 in the nation by various magazines."

our class next year is top 5 in the nation?  is this a soccer ranking or football?

[NAM37]

"their class for next year was listed at Top-5 in the nation by various magazines."

our class next year is top 5 in the nation?  is this a soccer ranking or football?

That screamed at me also.

What are they talking about??

NAM37

[Zonald]

Isn't it a little eary to determine NEXT years class ranking?