USF Bulls Look For A Bowl Win And Recruitment For Christmas
The Birmingham Bowl
With the hire of Charlie Strong it seems a bowl win and good recruitment are what’s left on the South Florida Bulls’ wish list.
With a record-breaking year the Bulls are hungry for that 11th win and a second win in Birmingham. For many players it will be their last game as a USF Bull, which makes it an even bigger want for the team.
“We’re excited to go play another game together, especially with our seniors,” said wide receiver Tyre McCants. “We’re just excited to go get number 11.”
The Bulls accomplished a program record 10 wins and seven conference wins this year as well as receiving their first Top 25 ranking since 2011.
This will be their eighth bowl appearance in program history and it’s a matchup the Bulls are happy to see. Going up against the SEC’s South Carolina, the Bulls have another chance to make a statement this year.
Earlier in the season USF had the chance to show the nation what the Gulf Coast Offense and the Bull Shark defense was all about against Florida State. But losing by 20 points was not the outcome they had hoped for.
Then about mid-season the Bulls’ suffered another heartbreak with a lose to Temple on national television.
It wasn’t until Navy came to town that USF began blowing up news feeds again with a 52-45 victory over the then ranked Midshipmen.
Now the Bulls are buzzing with the chance to beat an SEC opponent, which would be only their second win against an SEC team. They are 1-5 all-time against SEC teams with their lone win coming against Auburn in an overtime win.
Recruitment
This offseason has sure been full of action for the state of Florida and the Bulls have been watching it closely. With the departure of Willie Taggart and the hire of Charlie Strong recruitment doesn’t seem to be a big issue for USF.
That was until Lane Kiffin and Butch Davis were thrown into the mix. Now Florida is one of the toughest recruiting states with big names like Jimbo Fisher, whose contract just got extended by FSU, Mark Richt and more coaching in the state.
Recruiting is key for USF to remain on the upward swing that the program has been experiencing. Taggart had a handful of great recruiting classes and there is no doubt that Strong will continue that trait for the Bulls. But with a record year, it is always sad to see some of those key players graduate and move onto the next step in their lives.
Despite being a relatively young team the Bulls will have to operate without Rodney Adams, Nate Godwin and Nigel Harris next year. But an event bigger dilemma the Bulls might run into is operating without running back Marlon Mack.
Should Mack declare for the NFL Draft the Bulls will lose a star wide receiver in Adams and star running back in Mack. Fortunately the Bulls have tons of young talent coming in to fill those spots, but recruiting will still be a key for the next few years for Strong.
With a bowl win recruiting sure will be a lot easier for USF who will have an 11-win season to entice a lot of high school players into coming to the Bay.
