Grading Jawanza Poland

What grade does Poland get?

Time to grade the highlight reel that is Jawanza Poland. Poland, the JUCO transfer from Hutchinson Community College made an immediate impact on the Bulls and became a fan favorite from day one (who doesn't love his name, JAWANZA!). Poland made plenty of highlights, but what grade does he get for his work this season? [keep reading]

Looking at the 1st Depth Chart

AJ Love is not listed on the 1st Spring depth chart, but don't worry, he will be on the field this fall.

The first depth chart of the Spring has been released and it has a lot of people talking. There are a few surprises on the chart and some questions. What fans need to remember is that this is the first depth chart and there will be plenty more to come around before the season even begins. But for now, this is the first time we get to take a look at some of the starting pieces for the team that will look to improve in year two of the Holtz era.[keep reading]

On offense, AJ Love is not on the depth chart, but will be added in the Fall. Holtz is working him into game shape. Griffin is on the depth chart, followed up Welch who could have a big year. Landi is followed up Terrence Mitchell, not a surprise. Joel Miller is listed in the slot, but when Lamar returns (shoulder) he will take over here. Sanchez is now at FB after spending last year at LB and special teams. The O-line appears solid. Quinterrius Eatmon is listed at right tackle and could win the job. Daniels is the starter and Eveld behind him, Gunsby leaving means Floyd will get some playing time on Saturday. Murray is ahead of Scott and Aycock due to his experience (Shaw had successful thumb surgery and will be out 4 weeks).

On defense, there aren't too many surprises. The D-line looks solid, I expect Chandler to get a lot more playing time and Elkino Watson (2011 signee) to make an impact when he arrives. Cliett could be a nice surprise at linebacker this year as well. The secondary is loaded, but there are depth issues at corner. Seeing Tabuteau listed at 2nd team makes me worry (Dixon needs to heal up quickly and where is Spencer Boyd).

Special teams is the same, except Chris Vernon is listed in front of Justin Brockhaus-Kann. Both will battle through the summer and fall to see who will win this job.

1st Depth Chart Released

The Spring is on Saturday and yesterday, Coach Holtz released his first official depth chart of the Spring. This is nothing official, AJ Love is not even on the list and the incoming freshman, like Andre Davis, aren't on it either. The list does give us an idea of what the starting team will look like and who we can expect to be battling for starting position (Adam Adkins with the depth chart)

OFFENSE

SE: Sterling Griffin, Deonte Welch

LT: Mark Popek, Darren Powe

LG: Jeremiah Warren, John McGhin

C: Kevin McCaskill, Austin Reiter

RG: Chaz Hine, Danous Estenor

RT: Quinterrius Eatmon, Damien Edwards

TE: Andreas Shields, Isaac Virgin

FL: Evan Landi, Terrence Mitchell or Derrick Hopkins

QB: BJ Daniels, Bobby Eveld

RB: Demetris Murray, Darrell Scott

FB: Armando Sanchez, Chase Griffiths

Slot: Joel Miller, Victor Marc or Faron Hornes

DEFENSE

LE: Ryne Giddins, Claude Davis

NT: Cory Grissom, Luke Sager or Todd Chandler

DT: Keith McCaskill, Demi Thompson or Anthony Hill

RE: Patrick Hampton, Julius Forte

SAM: Sam Barrington, Reshard Cliett or Mike Jeune

MIKE: Michael Lanaris, Sam Barrington

WILL: DeDe Lattimore, Curtis Weatherspoon

LC: Kayvon Webster, Ernie Tabuteau

SS: Jon Lejiste, JaQuez Jenkins

FS: Jerrell Young, Mark Joyce

RC: Quenton Washington, George Baker

SPECIALISTS

P: Chris Veron, Justin Brockhaus-Kann

PK: Maikon Bonani, Marvin Kloss

LS: Mike Walsh, Corey Schomp

Gunsby Leaving the Team

Quarterback Jamius Gunsby is leaving the football program this Spring (Picture: usfnation.com)

From Greg Auman and Adam Adkins - Freshman quarterback Jamius Gunsby is leaving the team this Spring to focus on academics (from Adam Adkins).

Gunsby, the 6'4" 235-pound signal-caller is leaving the team for the Spring to focus on academics. Reportedly (from Greg Auman) Gunsby personally asked Coach Holtz to leave the team so he could put all of his focus into academics. Gunsby could be eligible to return to the roster in the Fall if his academics are up to standard.

This is sort of a surprise, but an understandable one. Gunsby obviously wants to focus on his grades and feels that football may take his time away from class, in that case, class is much more important. Gunsby needs to take care of business before playing a game. From the football aspect of it, its sad to see a strong quarterback like him leave the team. He would probably have been the 3rd string quarterback, behind Daniels and Eveld, but has plenty of talent. The former 3-star recruit out of LaGrange, Georiga has all the skills needed, but is putting that in the rearview mirror now.

Good luck to Mr. Gunsby and his academics. I hope he is able to get his grades to his liking and maybe he can return to the program.

Bulls Begin 6 Game Road Trip

The Bulls are back in action tonight as they take on the University of North Florida in Jacksonville at 7 PM.

The Bulls are coming off of a rough weekend series where they lost two straight games to Big East foe West Virginia after starting the weekend in dominating fashion.

The Bulls are now 10-14 (1-2) and in desperate need of a solid win. The Bulls were able to hit, but couldn't get a runner across in clutch time in the two losses to WVU. Despite Mende and Koscso hitting over .300 (no one else is) and the power of Brazeal, no one else is doing much. The starting pitching was awful after the strong performance by Fontanez, Reed and Gonzalez were chased after just 4 innings.

UNF is 14-11 and not a powerful team, although they did score 22 runs against Belmont, never a number you want to see, no matter who they played. The Bulls need this game before they travel to take on Villanova on Friday. Nova is only 10-13 (1-2) on the season, but the Bulls could use the momentum on the road trip before they continue Big East play.

This feels almost like a must win for USF (can't believe I am saying that at this point in the season). The season is not young anymore (24 games in now) and the team is struggling after being picked to finish 4th in the conference and the new expectations that went along with the new stadium. There are injuries on the team, but at some point, the team has to put it together and so far, they haven't. Good luck to the team, try to win this game before the season gets any uglier.

Haynes to Transfer

Senior guard Shedrick Haynes is transferring.

From Greg Auman and Adam Adkins - The scholarship issue that Stan Heath was facing with his recruiting class is now over. Senior point guard Shedrick Haynes will be transferring out of USF.

First tweeted, then confirmed via facebook, then confirmed with Haynes, he will be leaving the program. The 6' 180-pound guard out of Lackawanna Community College in Pennsylvania never made in impact this season for Coach Heath. Haynes averaged just 1.1 points per game and had a .7 assists to turnover ratio, meaning he couldn't hang on to the basketball and saw only 6 minutes per game on average.

Haynes only has one year of eligibility left, meaning he will have to transfer to a Division two program in order to play this season. Good luck Mr. Haynes.

This now opens the door for recent verbal commit Anthony Collins. Collins will be able to join the Bulls on scholarship and gives Heath a new point guard that he may be able to teach to run the show for the future.

Gilchrist's Chances in the NBA

Will Gilchrist leave or come back to USF?

Gilchrist has put his name in the NBA draft, but what are the real chances he gets drafted by an NBA team or will he simply return to USF? [keep reading]

More on Anthony Collins

Coach Heath landed another commitment to the class of 2012, point guard Anthony Collins. Collins (6' 175-pounds) out of Westbury Christian High School in Houston, Texas is the third commitment to Heath this year, but there is just one small problem, Heath doesn't have a scholarship to offer. [keep reading]

Grading Jarrid Famous

What grade does Jarrid Famous get?

Time to take a look at the only graduating senior on the Bulls roster, Jarrid Famous. The forward/center had a solid season, but not quite the season people were expecting, especially after his strong 2009 year (thanks to DoJo again for that). Famous had a solid year both on offense and defense. Let's take a closer look at the numbers behind him. [keep reading]

Famous (6'11' 240-pounds) averaged 8.9 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game (shooting 51% from the field). Famous improved his mid-range and continued to play well in the paint, matching up with bigger centers and out hustling forwards all season long.

On offense, Famous continued to dominate the paint. Famous has solid moves to get to the basket, working around defenders and using his body well. This year, Famous added a new mid-range jump shot that helped open up his game, freeing him up from a defender. His shot was not highly accurate, but made it harder for defenses to put a body on him because he could step back and make a small jump shot. Famous has never been a very physical post player, but played tough and battled for every shot.

On defense, Famous was a good defender. His size allowed him to match up with opposing centers, but he is also athletic enough to guard an opposing forward as well. He uses his body well to position against a ball handler and is able to box out well for rebounds. He was part of a rotation on the front line, but started a majority of games due to his size and ability.

Famous had an overall solid year. He played well, but not as great a some wanted him too, but without DoJo, the team didn't come close to the expectations some had put for them.

Final grade: B-

Bulls Offer LeHigh Star

From Scout.com - The Bulls have offered cornerback Malik Simmons out of Lehigh Acres, Florida.

The 5'11" 180-pound defensive star of Lehigh High School impressed coaches during the Badger 7 on 7 Camp held on USF campus.

Most of the recruiting sites don't have much available on the versatile athlete (played quarterback in his junior year and being recruited as both a wide receiver and cornerback). The Bulls have offered him and there are plenty of schools that will be lining up for his talents. The Bulls have a huge need for defensive backs due to the depth issues and will continue to recruit heavily for versatile athletes that can play in the secondary.

The Bulls have also offered Hampton, Georgia athlete Rico McWilliams. The 6' 170-pound Lovejoy High School star has never visited USF, but has stated he enjoys the coaching and would to take a visit. McWilliams has the Bulls high on his board and could potentially be a defensive back for the Bulls.

Bulls Fall Again to WVU

The baseball team fell behind early, rallied, but it wasn't enough as the Bulls lost again to WVU and their second straight conference game.

The Bulls were down early, but were able to come back and make it close, but as usual the team couldn't get enough run production and the starting pitching was awful. Gonzalez pitched 4.1 innings, giving up 5 runs, hits, and 5 walks. That gives the Bulls two straight bad starts by Gonzalez and Reed after Fontanez started the weekend strong.

Sam Mende was 2 for 5 on the game and had a homerun. Koscso was 2 for 4 and Ramsay was also 2 for 4. The offense was hitting again today, but couldn't drive in runners that were in scoring position and couldn't get in done in the 9th inning (Quackenbush had another solid 9th inning as he continues his strong season).

The Bulls are now 10-14 (1-2) and aren't playing well. The offense is hot and cold and the pitching is spotty at best. While the Bulls are waiting on two other pitchers to return from injury, the current staff has to get it going before the Bulls find themselves too far gone in the season. The Bulls will now travel to Jacksonville on Wednesday to take on North Florida at 7 PM. UNF is 14-11 on the season (9-8) at home and scored 22 runs in a win over Belmont, so the pitching staff better get ready for this one.

News for USF Basketball

The 2010-2011 season is over, but two new stories after emerged (via Greg Auman).

Junior forward Augustus Gilchrist has put his name into the NBA draft. Now before fans panic, Gilchrist is not going to hire an agent, meaning he can return to school and withdraw his name. By placing his name in the draft, Gilchrist will be able to see where he stands in the draft selection and if he would be selected or not. He has plenty of time to withdraw his name and return, so for now we wait and see.

Coach Heath has been busy recruiting and has received a verbal commitment for the class of 2012 from point guard Anthony Collins. The 6' 172-pound guard from Westbury Christian School in Houston, Texas says he is verbally committing to Heath and staff and has fallen in love with USF. USF doesn't have a scholarship available for this incoming recruiting class, but is expecting someone to leave the program. There will be more on this recent commitment later.

Bulls Hammered by WVU

After an impressive win over West Virginia the other night, WVU returned the favor to the Bulls, beating them 9 to 3.

Matt Reed (1-2) retired the first 7 batters he faced but was lite up after that, going only 4 innings while giving up 6 runs.

The offense once again failed to move baserunners despite getting 13 hits. The Bulls got plenty of chances on the bases, but failed to make clutch hits when they needed. Koscso went 3 for 5 and Jimmy Fall went 3 for 5 as well.

The Bulls are now 10-13 (1-1) and will take on WVU once again this afternoon at 1 PM in the series finale. The team really needs this win to take the series and to get a good start in Big East play. Make sure to come out and pack the stadium today as the Bulls try to get on track.

Bulls Win Over WVU

The baseball team began Big East play last night and came out swining as the Bulls won a nice game over WVU, 8 to 4.

Randy Fontanez went 8 strong innings, striking out 6 and now has a record of 2-2. Quackenbush had a quick 9th inning to give the Bulls a 10-12 record and 1-0 in conference play.

Todd Brazeal broke out of an 0-22 slump going 3 for 4 and 2 homeruns, driving in 4 RBIs. Koscso had 2 hits and Luis Llerena was 2 for 3 as he continues to hit well.

The Bulls will be back in action tonight as they play WVU at 7 PM. Make sure to get out to the came and support the Bulls as they try to take this series and get back on the winning track.

USF Gets Funding for Sun Dome

The Sun Dome is finally going to get a facelift after 30 years.

While everyone was enjoying Pro Day on campus, USF got some great news from the vote by the Board of Governors. The Board decided to vote in favor of funding $35 million to help renovate the Sun Dome. But there is a catch in the funding approval, USF must set aside at least $20 million to help cover the loan or if there are other expenses. USF had not prepared for this and will have to vote to whether or not to allocate this money. The amount can be reduced if USF is able to prove it will not cost that much to rehab the Dome.

The Sun Dome has become an eye sore and a pathetic excuse of a stadium. The Bulls are one of the worst venues in the Big East, ranking nearly dead last in attendance and suffering from it. With all of the new facilities, the Dome has to be redone.

USF has been losing money on the Dome for years and not just from games, but other events that draw in revenue to the area and with the bad economy, every person that attends an event at the Sun Dome helps the community. Right now the Dome looks abandoned and going inside is even worse (the Dome isn't even ADA approved right now).

USF will probably vote in favor of putting the money behind the renovation project and supporting the funding the state is giving USF which means the Dome will be redone. USF already has bidders lined up to begin designs on the Sun Dome and there is a lot of exciting ideas going into the new plans. The Dome is scheduled to be done by December, right during the beginning of basketball season and the winter graduations, so it will be done fast and should be incredible. (from Greg Auman and TBO.com)

Bulls Host WVU Tonight

The Bulls are back in action tonight as they host WVU to tip off the Big East portion of the schedule. USF is now 9-11 on the season and hasn't played since the road loss to Florida Gulf Coast (that was pathetic). The team is only 6-6 in their new stadium and continues to play inconsistently. Prado is hoping the team is able to put something together this weekend to get off on a solid start in conference play.

The Bulls pitching has been decent lately, but the offense continues to fall asleep and take days off. Sam Mende is doing everything he can, hitting .364 so far this season. He is the only Bull hitting over .300 at the moment. Brazeal is hitting .263 and Koscso is hitting .274, they need to get it going soon. Jimmy Falla has been hot recently at the plate, but is still only hitting .216 on the year, can he keep it going/

The Bulls have struggled all year and this is their chance to get this season turned around or honestly it could be a disaster year and a losing record for the team that was picked to finish 4th in the conference. The game begins at 7 PM, so come out early and support the team (and help those attendance numbers).

Ladies Travel to New York

The ladies are back in action tomorrow as they make their first real road trip of the season to Queens, NY to take on St. John's.

The Bulls have had the week off and come into the weekend with a 18-15 record. Stephanie Medina is leading the team right now, hitting an insane .410 and leading with 5 homeruns. She will have to power the offense while freshman Sara Nevins (7-5) continues to pitch well and will get the nod in game one tomorrow at noon.

The Bulls are 13-1 all time against St. John's (SJU is 13-17 this season) and 3-1 all time in Queens. This should be a great chance for the ladies to get a strong start in conference play at try to get going. The Bulls have faced a lot of the top ranked teams to start the year and are very experienced despite having so many freshman on the roster. Go get'em ladies!

Grading Hugh Robertson

What grade does Hugh Robertson get? (Picture:www.gousfbulls.com)

Time to take a look at guard Hugh Robertson. Robertson transferred to USF from Tallahassee Community College and immediately made the starting lineup and started in all 31 games this season for the Bulls. He played well and showed glimpses of his great shooting ability. So what grade does he get for his work this season? [keep reading]

Quick Results From USF Pro Day

Mistral Raymond had a great senior day and improved his draft stock.

15 seniors got a chance to showcase their talents in front of NFL coaches and scouts today at the USF ProDay held on the new facilities on campus. A large crowd came out to watch this solid class of young men and get a chance to see what they can do on the field. These are some of the notes on the top performers on the day.

Wide receiver Dontavia Bogan ran a 4.9 in the 40-yard dash and had 16 repetitions on the bench press (at 225-pounds). Bogan had a soldi day and should be a late draft pick (5th or 6th round). He has private workouts with the Seahawks coming soon as well (via Greg Auman). Terrell McClain, the big defensive tackle, had an outstanding day, running a 4.8 and a 4.9 in the 40-yard dash. Dancing Bear showed his speed and the Patriots are taking a closer look at him as well.

Jaquain Williams put on a show today. Williams weighed in at 231-pounds and had a 36" vertical. He ran a 4.5 and a 4.6 40-yard dash. Williams has come on strong and could be a great late round draft pick. Mo Plancher surprised everyone today, running a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 40" vertical today, best performance of the day. Sabbath Joseph had 25 repetitions on the bench press today, impressing everyone and displaying his strength. Sampson Genus had 28 repetitions on the bench today as well and may sneak back into the draft in the later rounds (scouts don't like his height and range).

Corner/safety Mistral Raymond had a great day as well. Raymond was clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.6 seconds. There are a lot of analysts and sites that don't have Raymond going in the draft. I think they are beyond wrong. Raymond, clocked now with a great speed and his senior bowl performacne, has moved himself back into the late rounds of the NFL. He can give an NFL team great versatility at either corner, safety, and special teams and the one thing they can't measure on the field, his character. Raymond rose to Captain this year for the Bulls and will continue his greatness at the NFL level.

Congrats to everyone at the Pro Day today, good luck at the next level.

Marcus Shaw Breaks Thumb

Running back Marcus Shaw may miss the rest of the Spring practices after breaking his thumb yesterday (Picture:scout.com)

From Greg Auman - Running back Marcus Shaw left practice the other day with a broken thumb, he didn't return. With Shaw's injury and Bradley Battles still recovering from knee surgery, it leaves Aycock, Scott, and Murray as the only three healthy running backs on the depth chart.

The 5'9" 187-pound running back emerged on the scene last year for the Bulls both on offense and special teams. Shaw ran for 105 yards on just 12 carries and 1 touchdown. Shaw missed the remainder of the season due to academic issues, but in his short playing time, got the fans talking. Shaw is a fast runner and probably the fastest running back on the team. With Lamar spending all this time at wide receiver, Shaw could help give the offense a new look with a runner like Shaw in the backfield to help compliment Scott and the bigger runners.

Shaw is out for the scrimmage and could miss more practice time. Shaw will see a specialist and evaluate if he will need surgery or not. This is not the worst injury and Shaw will be able to return by the fall (if all goes according to plan). The Bulls have plenty of depth at running back, but this does make me a bit nervous to the experience of both Scott and Aycock (sat out a year), putting more pressure on Murray as well.

USF Pro Day

Mistral Raymond is just one of 15 seniors that will be working out today for NFL scouts (Picture:orangeandwhite.com)

Today is a big day for 15 senior Bulls who are hoping to impress NFL Scouts, it's USF Pro Day here on the campus. Officials and scouts from all 32 teams will be here to evaluate the USF seniors and decided where they believe they will be selected in the upcoming NFL draft. Tests will range from strength and condition (such as the bench press) and will move to the field for individual tests.

The Bulls don't have the biggest names in this senior class like they have had in past years. Names like Jason Pierre-Paul, Nate Allen, Jerome Murphy, were guaranteed locks. This group however, has a lot of questions on if many of the members will make it in the draft or will have to try their luck in the NFL free agency (if there is a season next year).

Terrell McClain has already proven himself at the NFL combine, but will have a chance to increase his draft stock. He is one of the guaranteed locks in the draft and should be going off the board in the second round. Dontavia Bogan could find himself in the 5th round, but may move up with his speed and talent. I expect a huge day from him. Jacquian Williams has all of the physical tools the NFL would want and should improve his stock. The most intriguing player is Mistral "Skinny" Raymond. Raymond has been showing off during the senior bowl and has been working hard. He can be either a safety or corner in the NFL, making him much more versatile. Most scouts don't have him making the draft, but I think he will be a late selection and prove everyone what he is capable of .

Good luck to the seniors today, show them what being a Bull is all about!

Grading Anthony Crater

What grade does Anthony Crater get?

This is going to be a very interesting grading article, time to take a look at point guard Anthony Crater. If you are a frequent reader of this site (which I appreciate) you should know by now I have been very critical of Crater during the season and rightly so. I am not alone in my criticism of him and often, we are right. The transfer from Ohio State was primarily a role player for Coach Heath, coming off the bench to give the defense a spark and give Howard and company a break. This season, Crater took over fulltime as the starting point guard and struggled to find his game all year. [keep reading]

Bulls Fall Again to FGCU

The Bulls lost another game last night, once again to the hands of Florida Gulf Coast University, 9 to 5.

Kyle Eastham only lasted 4 innings and gave up 6 runs as FGCU jumped out to an early lead. The Bulls fought back and made it an interesting game. Jimmy Falla continues to swing well as he went 3 for 4. But it just wasn't enough offense and poor pitching led to the Bulls demise. They now return to Tampa with a 7-10 record.

Prado will have to get this team in shape as Big East play opens up on Friday night. West Virginia comes to town at 7 PM and the Bulls need to get work early and often. If the Bulls fall apart in this opening series, it could be a very long year for the team.

Grading Ron Anderson Jr.

What grade does Ron Anderson Jr. get? (Picture: www.voodoofive.com)

The grading series rolls on as this time we stop and take a look at Ron Anderson Jr. Anderson, the transfer from Kansas State, played his first season with the Bulls after sitting out last season. Anderson dropped over 50-pounds and got in shape to help the Bulls interior game. Let's take a closer look at one of my favorite players on the roster. [keep reading]

Bulls Take on FGCU Tonight

The Bulls are traveling to Ft. Myer's tonight to take on Florida Gulf Coast University. The game will start at 6:30 PM.

The Bulls, now 9-11, are trying to get to double-digit wins before they begin Big East play. The Bulls split a series with Bethune-Cookman over the weekend and are hoping the offense comes to life in this game.

Kyle Eastham will get the start and will look to get his third win of the season as he continues to have an excellent senior year. The Bulls lost the previous matchup with the Eagles in Tampa, 3-2. USF is 1-4 all time against FCGU and 1-1 in Ft. Myers.

After this game, the Bulls will host West Virginia as the open up Big East play on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 PM.

Let's hope the Bulls are able to get a much needed win tonight and head into the weekend series with some momentum. The season has been disappointing so far, but a win tonight and a solid weekend to open conference play could put the team on the winning track and get them going as they hope to finish the season at the top of the conference.

Mitchell Progressing at Wide Receiver

The Bulls returned to practice yesterday and Holtz said they were a bit sloppy, but were working hard. One of the players that continues to turn heads in Terrence Mitchell. The All Big East return man is working with the offense at the wide receiver position and continues to get better every day. [keep reading]

T.J. Knowles Transferring

From Greg Auman - Practice resumed yesterday for the Bulls and the team was a bit sloppy but played hard and continues to work every day. A surprising note is the transfer of T.J. Knowles.

The 6'6" red-shirt junior has informed Holtz and staff that he will transfer back to his home, Nevada. The reason for the transfer is due to personal issues, according to Holtz.

Knowles was a late addition to the Bulls last season and never made a big impact in the receiving game like many hoped for. He had 3 catches for 13 yards and missed a lot of playing time due to illness and never got back into shape and on the field. This Spring, Knowles has played well, but is still behind in the depth chart and has decided that he will transfer away, although he did not indicate which school he would be transferring to.

I am sad to see Knowles leave. He could have been a big redzone threat due to his size and hands, but the Bulls have plenty of depth at receiver entering the season and it doesn't appear that Knowles would have been a starter on opening day. Good luck to the young man and his future.

Bulls Offer 2012 Defensive Back

The Bulls continue to offer standout local talent, this time they have extended an offer to Plant City's Sam Green.

Green, a 6'1" 195-pound defensive back, is yet another prospect the Bulls are scouting and recruiting hard. Green is a fast and physical defensive back that is starting to get a lot of attention and has already picked up offers from Rutgers and Cincinnati. The Bulls have a serious need for cornerbacks in this year's recruiting class due to the lack of depth and the seniors that are on the roster currently. Green would be an ideal player to add to the depth chart due to his size and speed. Let's hope USF is able to keep Green close to home and help add talent to the USF defense.

Grading Shaun Noriega

What grade does Shaun Noriega get? (Picture: USFnation.com)

This is going to be an interesting grading post as we take a look at sophomore guard Shaun Noriega. Noriega, the 3-point specialist, was cold early in the season and struggled to find his range. But as the season wore on, he got plenty of playing time, got starts in big games, and came to life in the Big East Tournament. Time to take a closer look at the sharp-shooting guard. [keep reading]

Bulls Split Series with Bethune-Cookman

The Bulls got a nice 1-0 win victory today over Bethune-Cookman and split the season series 2-2. The Bulls are now 9-11 this year and are hoping to get above .500 this week.

Matt Reed got his first win of the season after pitching 8 strong innings. Reed had two jams during his outings, but was able to work out of it and got the win. Kevin Quackenbush got his 5th save of the season and continued to dominate in late game situations. The coaches didn't want Quack to pitch, but needing the win, Prado and company called upon Quack and he got the job done (unlike the offense, which once again took the day off).

The Bulls will travel to Ft. Myer's to take on Florida Gulf Coast before they host West Virginia on Friday night at 7 PM in Tampa. The Bulls are hoping to get the win over FGCU (game is at 6:30 PM) before they begin Big East play.

Bulls Fire Back at BCU

After losing the first game on Thursday night in Daytona, the Bulls opened up the offense (a rare sight) and won a shoot-out against Bethune-Cookman, 11 to 9.

The Bulls scored 7 runs early but had to hold on for the win. Quackenbush got his 4th save of the season and the Bulls split the series in Daytona and now sit at 8-10. Sam Mende had a huge night and is hitting .366 now on the season.

The Bulls return to Tampa today to host BCU for two games, tonight at 7 PM and tomorrow at 1 PM. Randy Fontanez, the ace of the staff will take the mound as the Bulls hope they can win a key game and take the weekend series. Fontanez needs to have a solid outing due to the injuries on the USF pitching staff and the use of the bullpen over the past few nights means Prado has a limited group of pitchers and will need Fontanez to be at his best.

Grading Mike Burwell

What grade does Mike Burwell get? (Picture:www.scout.com)

The grading series is back on track and this time we will take a look at guard Mike Burwell.  Sophomore Mike Burwell (6'6" 210-pounds) played sparingly all season for the Bulls.  He played quite a few minutes in the first few games of the season and even started in 1 game (Crater injured).  But as the season wore on, he saw his playing time reduced and he found himself keeping the bench warm.  Here is a closer look at Burwell's season.  [keep reading]

Grading Toarlyn Fitzpatrick

What grade does Toarlyn Fitzpatrick get?

The grades continue and this time it is time to grade one of the big men for USF, sophomore forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick had a solid season for the Bulls, both coming off of the bench and starting in a few games for Coach Heath. Fitzpatrick is a big body that can dominate the paint and work on the baseline as well. He seemed to disappear late in the season, but still put in a solid effort during the season. Time to take a closer look at Fitzpatrick's year. [keep reading]

Bulls Fall to Bethune-Cookman

The Bulls lost a key game last night to Bethune-Cookman, 4 to 3 and now have an overall record of just 7-10.

Fresh off the win over UCF, the Bulls were hoping to take care of business in Daytona over a BCC team that historically the Bulls have dominated, but once again, the bats went quiet for USF. Eastham pitched another solid game, going 7 strong innings, but suffered the lost because USF couldn't get anything going on offense.

The Bulls will try to wake up today in game two of the 4 game set when the Bulls take the field at 6 PM. Freshman Nick Gonzalez will try to give the Bulls a solid outing and pray the bats come to life. Prado can't afford another loss here to a team that the Bulls should be winning over easily.

Barbosa out for the Year

Andrew Barbosa is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery (Picture: www.tbo.com)

From www.gousfbulls.com - As the Bulls prepare to take on Bethune-Cookman this evening, the team received devastating news today.

Senior pitcher Andrew Barbosa will miss the rest of the season after having successful Tommy John surgery Thursday morning.

Barbosa was 0-1 this season, but had 13 strikeouts in just two starts and was the Bulls number 2 pitcher, behind Fontanez. The former walk-on has been out for nearly a month now after leaving with a forearm injury, but now it is clear the injury was much more severe than any fan could have predicted.

Barbosa was 8-2 last season and was picked as a Pre-Season All-Big East Selection.

This is bad news for the team that is already down another pitcher, Junior Carlin, who left the game against UCF with an apparent shoulder injury. The Bulls are now thin at pitcher and will have to find a way to put healthy arms on the mound if they want to stay in contention this year for the Big East title.

Grading the Bench Warmers

As the grading series continues on, I will take a minute to cover the players that never got onto the court this season or never made a real impact in any fashion.

Guard Jordan Heath - 6' 185-pounds

The son of head coach Stan Heath, Jordan walked onto the Bulls squad this off-season. Heath red-shirted however early in the season and never logged a minute for his father. Heath is a bit undersized and does have great range (looking at his high school footage). Heath might get some playing time this year, but he probably won't make much of an impact during the season.

Forward Alberto Damour - 6'5" 225-pounds

Damour walked onto the team early in the season. He didn't contribute, only playing a few minutes. Damour has great size for the forward position and may get some playing time this season.

Forward Victor Rudd - 6'7" 207-pounds

Rudd transferred to USF last year from Arizona State University. The former 3-star recruit sat out last season and will have three years remaining entering this season. He is a small, but very athletic guard that can drive and create his own shot. Heath is very high on Rudd and believes he can become a go-to scorer, much like Jones was, just a year ago. Rudd is in great shape, after sitting out a year, practicing, and learning the system, he should be ready to hit the court running this year.

USF Takes on BCC Tonight

The Bulls (7-9) are on the road again as they take on Bethune-Cookman tonight at 6 PM in Daytona, Florida. If you are celebrating Spring Break in the Daytona area, make your way over to the baseball game!

The Bulls are coming off of a great come from behind win over UCF on Tuesday night. USF was down 3 to 0 early, but clutch hitting and solid pitching allowed the Bulls to get the big win and hopefully set them up for more wins before they enter conference play.

The Bulls are a bit banged up right now on the pitching staff and will have to rely on the hitting of Mende, Brazeal, Koscso, and Ramsay to carry the team during this stretch. Junior Carlin left the UCF game with an apparent shoulder issue (same shoulder he had surgery on last year). Barbosa is still hurt as well with an injured forearm, but Prado is expecting him to return soon, at least at the beginning of conference play.

The Bulls will play two games in Datyona before returning to Tampa for the final two games against Bethune-Cookman. Make sure to get out to the games and support the Bulls as they try to get back over .500 and make a statement before conference play.

More 2012 Names

From ESPN - With all of the training camps going on, more names continue to surface and Holtz and company continue to work hard on recruiting. Here are some more names that have popped up.

Athlete Dennis Andrews (6' 183-pounds) out of Tallahassee, Florida is another athlete the Bulls are after. Andrews has played primarily as a quarterback, but could move to wide receiver. Georgia Tech and USF are his top schools and has offers from Iowa State and Western Kentucky as well.

Quarterback Demeitre Brown (6'3" 215-pounds) from Plant City is a rising quarterback that the Bulls have interest in. He has a strong arm and could be a great talent at the college level.

Wide receiver Chris Murray (5'11" 175-pounds) out of Tampa is a local talent that has USF high on the list because he wants to stay close to home. He is a very fast receiver that could be a big time weapon in the slot position. FSU and UF have also offered.

Wide receiver Brandon Snell (5'11" 160-pounds) is starting to get attention. He is a bit undersized, but has tremendous speed and could be dangerous in both the return game and as the slot receiver position.

Offensive lineman Duaron Williams (6'4" 292-pounds) out of Orlando, Florida is a big lineman prospect that is starting to get a lot of attention. UCF is another school that is after Williams and the Bulls will be working hard to try to get him to make the trip to Tampa.