USF Finally Has A Lot To Sell

[Papa_Bull]

USF Finally Has A Lot To Sell

By BRETT McMURPHY bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: Jan 30, 2005

TAMPA - South Florida's trailers have long been removed from campus. For nearly a year, the Bulls' football offices have been housed within the school's sparkling $15 million state-of-the-art athletic facility.

USF's affiliation with Conference USA is over. The Bulls begin play in the Big East this fall.

All of the changes - and upgrades - to USF's program have made a big difference in recruiting. However, it hasn't necessarily made it any easier.

``You get more attention,'' USF coach Jim Leavitt said, ``but you still have to reel them in.''

The Bulls' biggest catch this year - and possibly their most- touted recruit in school history - is Monticello Jefferson County quarterback Carlton Hill. Rated among the nation's top quarterbacks by Scout.com, Hill verbally committed to USF in August and the Bulls held off a late charge by Miami.

Hill is among 21 recruits, including two players already enrolled in school, expected to sign with USF on Wednesday.

Since the Bulls are headed for a Bowl Championship Series conference, they are pursuing more high-profile recruits. And also facing tougher competition.

``We still have to beat ACC and SEC teams [for recruits] and that isn't easy,'' Leavitt said. ``Those conferences can play for national championships too. We'll probably do better against Conference USA schools.''

Besides securing Hill's commitment, the Bulls have won recruiting battles against other BCS conference schools, including Miami Norland's Gary Watts (North Carolina), Cape Coral's Taurus Johnson (Auburn), Lake Gibson's Matt Grothe (South Carolina), Blountstown's Ishmael Grant (Auburn), Orlando Edgewater's Tyller Roberts (North Carolina State), Belle Glades Central's Jessie Hester (Illinois), Wellington Palm Beach Central's Shane McElwain (Michigan State), Flagler Palm Coast's Chris Robinson (Cincinnati), Northwest (Miss.) Community College's Rick Watson (Ole Miss) and Wesley Chapel's Danny Tolley (South Carolina).

``We have more to sell now,'' Leavitt said. ``All we had in the past was trailers. It's still going to take time.

``But there's a difference now, there really is. We're really starting to get the attention of more guys than before.''

Leavitt, 55-33 in eight seasons at USF, has faced new challenges seemingly every year. From starting the Bulls' program from scratch to making the move from Division I- AA to I-A independent to Conference USA and now the Big East.

``Everything is a challenge,'' Leavitt said. ``This is the hardest challenge we're in - to take this program to the top of the Big East will be a great, great challenge. All of the challenges here have been tough. There are just different variables.

``All we've done is lay the foundation. It's on rock. All the players before have given us a solid foundation. But you have to be realistic. It takes time.''

South Florida Commitments

Player -Pos. -Ht./Wt. -High School

R.J. Anderson -CB -5- 11/165 -Armwood

Mike Benzer -K -5-8/185 -Longwood Lyman

x-Jarriett Buie -DE -6- 3/225 -Armwood

Gene Coleman -LB -6- 0/245 -Pearl City (Miss.) CC

Chris DeArmas -OL -6- 4/275 -Miami Southwest

Ishmael Grant -WR -6- 2/175 -Blountstown

Matt Grothe -QB -6- 1/190 -Lake Gibson

Jessie Hester -WR -6- 0/163 -Belle Glades Central

Carlton Hill -QB -6- 2/202 -Monticello Jefferson Co.

y-Cedric Hill -TE -6- 3/210 -Valdosta (Ga.)

Amarri Jackson -WR -6- 4/195 -HCC/Sarasota Riverview

Taurus Johnson -WR -6- 0/185 -Cape Coral

Shane McElwain -TE -6- 5/250 -Wellington PB Central

Jerome Murphy -FS -6- 1/185 -Elizabeth (N.J.)

Moise Plancher -RB -5- 9/175 -Naples Barron Collier

Tyller Roberts -DB -6- 0/190 -Orlando Edgewater

Chris Robinson -SS -6- 4/230 -Flagler Palm Coast

George Selvie -DL -6- 4/230 -Pensacola Pine Forest

Danny Tolley -OL -6- 5/301 -Wesley Chapel

Rick Watson -OT -6- 5/280 -NW (Miss.) Community Col.

Gary Watts -DE -6-3/210 -Miami Norland

x-signed with USF last year, but was ineligible

y-transfer from Miami, enrolled in January

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGBA08BIK4E.html

[smazza]

and i thought for sure we would do better in recruiting this year tthan last

[Velcro]

what was our final rivals ranking last year?

[Papa_Bull]

Our ranking last year was #43, because we had two four star JUCOS.

We'll do about the same this year.

I don't know why anybody would expect us to do better this year when we looked TERRIBLE.

[Velcro]

imagine if we actually put something competitive ont he field last year...

[Papa_Bull]

imagine if we actually put something competitive ont he field last year...

EXACTLY!

We are hanging tough with Pitt, West Virginia and Louisville in recruiting DESPITE our terrible season.

ONE good season and we will blow by all of them in recruiting.

[Velcro]

and all 3 of those teams had bowl seasons, pitt bcs bowl, Lville had a spectacular season and could have easily been playing in a BCS bowl... and WVU was right there in the big east race too.

Very scary.  Give us a bcs bowl and we could make top 20 in recruiting.

[Jake_Ryan]

The most telling part of Leavitt's comment was "But you have to be realistic. It takes time.''  

Chances are that next year's record won't be much better than this year's 4-7.  A bunch of fans will call for CJL's head again.  But in a couple more years, this team will contend for the Big East title.  I hope the Administration has enough fortitude to see it through.

[NAM37]

Chances are that next year's record won't be much better than this year's 4-7.

Hmm... I'm not sure I agree with that.

I'm not one of those "We'll win the NBE!! WOOHOO!" guys, but I don't see why 4-7 would be expected.

NAM37

[Velcro]

I'm one of the "woo hoo" guys  8)