Stampeding Through The USF Football Roster:

[Bulls1181]

http://www.voodoofive.com/2012/5/29/3049342/stampeding-through-the-usf-football-roster-95-dt-todd-chandler

Stampeding Through The USF Football Roster: #95 DT Todd Chandler

Today's player on our countdown has another opportunity to finally break through and fulfill some of the expectations he brought with him upon signing with USF. (Side note: we were able to confirm that this player is healthy.)

#95 DT Todd Chandler

Redshirt Sophomore, 6'0", 308 lbs.

Stats In 2011: None. Chandler was ruled academically ineligible in late August and never suited up for USF last season.

Current Spot On Depth Chart: Chandler is currently listed second on the post-spring depth chart at defensive tackle, behind

Elkino Watson.

How Did He Come To USF? Todd signed with USF directly out of powerhouse Miami Northwestern High School in 2010, just a couple of weeks after Skip Holtz became head coach. Chandler was originally a Miami commit, but

changed his mind before signing day and chose the Bulls over Louisville in one of Holtz's first signing-day surprises.

Recruiting Rankings:

According to Scout.com, Chandler was rated as a three-star recruit, placing 37th among all defensive tackles in their Class of 2010 ratings. Rivals gave Chandler four stars, naming him the #20 defensive tackle prospect nationwide and the #41 overall prospect in Florida.

Projected Playing Time In 2012: Chandler has been a disappointment so far, considering his high school pedigree. It's year three for him and he has yet to play a down in a college game. This year, though, he should have his chance to break through and see some action, especially if

Cory Grissom's ankle injury lingers. And let's hope he makes the most of this opportunity, because after redshirting and missing a year for academics, who knows if he would get another chance to prove himself at USF?

[bulls phanatic]

I am expecting to see some good things from him. He is definitely talented, just hope he has what it takes to do well

[GaUSFBull]

I hope he's gotten his act together grade-wise and has been working hard on his game.

[Bulls1181]

One of my favorite features to get ready for the Football season. Only 95 more days!

The Chandler and Elkino Miami connection gives us the quickness that we have never had at that position.

[Rizman]

What a power house we could have up front. Hope things work out.

[Bulls1181]

http://www.voodoofive.com/2012/5/31/3054239/stampeding-through-the-usf-football-roster-93-dt-demi-thompson

#93 DT Demi Thompson

#93 DT Demi Thompson

Redshirt Junior, 6'1", 281 lbs.

Stats in 2011: Thompson missed the entire season with a back injury, although it appeared at various times during the year that he might be ready to return to action. His 2011 highlight was Skip Holtz

after the first scrimmage in Vero Beach. (I wonder if Skip was more of a "St. Elmo's Fire" guy or an "About Last Night..." guy?)

Current Spot on Depth Chart: Thompson is not listed on the two-deep spring depth chart at defensive tackle.

How did he come to USF: From jolly olde England, of all places. He was born in the U.K., where his Nigerian father was a professional soccer player. He signed with USF out of Lake Mary High School in 2009.

Recruiting Rankings:

ESPN had him 31st at his position. Rivals gave him three stars. Scout gave him two, but noted that he got a lot of offers. MaxPreps ranked him 183rd in Florida. He may be underrated, since he took up football late and played hurt in high school.

Projected Playing Time In 2012: Having only played two games in three years, Thompson is at a disadvantage compared to the other players at his position, even the younger ones like Elkino Watson. He has some ground to make up, but he'll have a chance to get into the playing rotation and should also be helpful for the scout team.

[Bulls1181]

88 days till football!

Stampeding Through The USF Football Roster: #88 TE Andreas Shields

Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE - PresswireMore photos »

Running. Out. Of. Stock. Photos. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Today's entry is someone who should be able to contribute this season on offense... if he's back to 100%.

#88 TE Andreas Shields

Redshirt Senior, 6'4", 248 lbs.

Stats In 2011: Andreas played in all 12 games in 2012, starting six of them. Shields caught 11 balls for 144 yards and caught one touchdown against Cincinnati.

Current Spot On Depth Chart: Andreas was not listed on the post-spring depth chart at either tight end position because of injury.

How did he come to USF: Shields comes to USF via nearby Wharton High School, where he chose the hometown Bulls over offers from FAU and FIU.

Recruiting Rankings: Both Rivals and Scout listed Andreas as a 2-star recruit, with Scout calling Shields the 63rd best TE prospect in the Class of 2007.

Projected Playing Time In 2012: It really depends on how Andreas recovers from a "pancreas deformity" that kept him out of Spring Practice this year. If Shields is 100% ready to go, he should be able to compete with Mike McFarland and Evan Landi for one of the starting tight end spots. If not, we might see him in a limited role in his final year here in Tampa.

[charsibb]

LOL @ the photo caption!

[Bulls1181]

82 to go!

http://www.voodoofive.com/2012/6/11/3073653/stampeding-through-the-usf-football-roster-82-wr-chris-dunkley

Stampeding Through The USF Football Roster: #82 WR Chris Dunkley

by GarySJ on Jun 11, 2012 10:00 AM EDT in USF Bulls Football

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Al Messerschmidt - Getty Images

6 months ago: TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 1: Coach Skip Holtz of the South Florida Bulls directs play against the West Virginia Mountaineers December 1, 2011 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Today we meet an impact transfer at wide receiver, and we see how impact transfers at wide receiver have fared at USF over the years.

#82 WR Chris Dunkley

Redshirt Sophomore, 6'0" 177 lbs.

Stats in 2011: Dunkley spent a year sitting out after transferring from the University of Florida. In 2010, he redshirted as a member of the Gators.

Current Spot on Depth Chart: Third-string wide receiver, behind

Andre Davis and Sterling Griffin.

How did he come to USF:

Transferred from the University of Florida after his redshirt freshman season. Went to Pahokee High School, a prodigious producer of football talent. Out of high school he took visits to Alabama, Georgia, and West Virginia, and was recruited by many schools. As a transfer, he was sought by Cincinnati, Marshall, and West Virginia again.

Recruiting Rankings: Dunkley is one of the most touted players ever to join the Bulls. Scout rated him 5 stars, and #8 among all wide receivers nationally. Rivals rated him the #9 receiving prospect in the nation, the #12 prospect in all of Florida, and #77 nationally.USF doesn't get that level of talent right out of high school; it's still big news when an occasional four-star signs with USF, like Ryne Giddins or Elkino Watson or Andre Davis.

Projected Playing Time for 2012: Rather than once again say "USF has a lot of good receivers and it remains to be seen who will get the most playing time", I thought it would be more interesting to examine USF's history of receivers who transferred from other four-year schools.

Over the years, USF has picked up quite a few receivers from big schools, or at least schools that were bigger than USF at the time. How did they fare? After the jump, a compilation of them all, ranked in descending order of receiving yards and overall awesomeness.

PLAYER FROM USF CAREER USF CAREER STATS RECRUITING RATINGS NOTES Hugh Smith Miami (Ohio) 1999-2002 131 rec

1521 yds

10 tds Remember, this was 1998, so mid-tier Florida recruits had to go out of state to play I-A football. An all-time USF great, this blog named Smith <a href="http://www.voodoofive.com/2010/7/9/1560358/15-for-15-the-12th-greatest-player">the 12th best USF football player of all time. Was a Prop 48 signing out of high school, but earned an extra year of eligibility by graduating in 4 years, and made it count: his 2002 was one of the best individual seasons ever at USF. Clif Dell Florida State 1997-98 54 rec

1003 yds

6 TDs Predate Internet recruiting resources. But if Florida State signed him in 1994-95, he must have been at least a 3-4 star talent. One of USF's first stars. Also had a strong career in the Arena Football League. Scott McCready Louisiana Tech 1997, 1999-2000 65 rec

984 yds

8 td He only moved to the United States from England at age 15, so recruiting analysts probably called him "raw." See also Hugh Smith comment. Played only 3 games in 1997 due to injury, and was out of school in 1998, so this stat line was mostly done in two seasons. Being British, he got to play in NFL Europe, and bounced around NFL practice rosters for a few years. Got a Super Bowl ring while on the 2001 Patriots, despite never playing an NFL game. Elgin Hicks Florida 2001-2003 53 rec

760 yds

7 TDs Again, pretty far back, but the school and era suggest a 3-4 star talent out of high school. Superprep ranked him as a Top 10 wideout nationally. Was in the WR rotation for the successful 2001-02 seasons as a I-A independent, and had a great 2003 in C-USA. Signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts, who already had Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, and Brandon Stokley on the roster. Amp Hill LSU 2006 19 rec

233 yds

2 TDs 4 stars and a Top 100 recruit nationally, per Rivals. Had a knee injury at LSU; LSU fans say it derailed his career. Had a decent 2006 for USF, except for his role in a failed two-point conversion that would've taken 11-win Rutgers to overtime. Next spring, he got in Jim Leavitt's doghouse by doing a Terrell Owens impression in practice. Leavitt later kicked him off the team. Courtney Denson Auburn 2005-07 12 rec

150 yds

0 TDs;

also played QB A 4-star recruit as "athlete" and the #25 prospect in Florida. Also visited Nebraska, Virginia Tech, USF and Rutgers. Denson won the starting QB job in 2005, then lost it before halftime of the opener at Penn State. Moved to WR, where he saw little action, and is mostly known for his part in the infamous Voodoo 5 play at UConn in 2005. Darren Haliburton Rutgers 2005 none Scout rated him 2 stars. Signed with Rutgers out of high school, but transferred to USF after only two weeks there. Had a lot of off-field problems, and that's putting it mildly. Was on and off the team from 2003-05. Never had a catch at USF, and I'm not sure he ever got into a game. Became a star in a third-rate indoor league. According to online resources, Haliburton continues to get in trouble with the law.

So you have to go back to at least 2003 to find any success stories among wide receiver transfers. And some of them, like Smith and McCready, are guys USF would now sign directly out of high school. Which doesn't spell doom for Chris Dunkley, but should serve as a reminder that having once been a five-star recruit does not guarantee success at USF.