3 USF Bulls Get Drafted

Mistral Raymond was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings today during the NFL draft.

The Bulls made their presence in the NFL draft in the last two days. Although USF didn't have as many player drafted as last season, 3 players were taken and all will have a chance to rise up and make an impact on their respective NFL squads.

Defensive tackle Terrell McClain was taken with the first pick in the 3rd round (65th overall) by the Carolina Panthers. McClain, 6'3" 310-pounds, will make an immediate impact on the interior of their defensive and will probably either be a starter or a second-string player. He played in 50 games during his USF career, making 33 starts. He had 89 tackles, including 7.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Carolina was the last team Dancing Bear worked out for. McClain is a hard worker, despite ESPN talking about his work ethic. McClain has been a force on the interior of the USF defense, seeing 3 different coordinators during his time at USF.

Defensive back Mistral Raymond was selected in the 6th round (176 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. Skinny played in 25-games in his time at USF, working his way up from walk-on, to team captain, to NFL pick. He had 96 tackles while at USF, 6.5 for loss. He had 2 interceptions and 7 pass break ups, being named 2nd team All Big East this season. Mistral is truly one of the best stories out there. Going through tragedy with the murder of his sister, his documented story through USF, this is a great reward for Mistral we can only hope he gets onto the field this season to show the rest of the world what he can do.

Linebacker Jacquian Williams was taken by the New York Giants with the 202nd overall pick. Williams, the former JUCO transfer, became a solid force in the middle of the field for the Bulls over the past two seasons. In 26 games, he totaled 99 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 3 pass break ups. Williams will join Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end, and first round pick of the Giants from last season.

Congratulations to the Bulls that were selected in the draft. The players that weren't picked, such as wide receiver Dontavia Bogan, tight end Kevin Gidrey, and center Sampson Genus, the NFL teams don't know what they missed out. All of the USF family supports you, loves you, and wishes you only the best as you continue your journey to the NFL and making an impact with a team in the very near future.

USF Wins 2 to 0 Over St. John's

The Bulls got a big time win last night over 30th ranked St. John's, 2 to 0. Randy Fontanez pitched a huge game for the Bulls. He went 8 innings, giving up just 6 hits and striking out 9. Fontanez did not walk a batter and was able to get out of trouble early in the game. Kevin Quackenbush pitched a perfect 9th, striking out one batter and collecting his 10th save of the season.

The offense was held in check, but timely hits got the job done over a tough St. John's team. Junior Carlin was 2 for 4 and scored a run. Sam Mende was 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored and Todd Brazeal was 1 for 1 with an RBI. The Bulls were able to get the big hits when they needed them the most.

The Bulls are now 20-21 (9-7) on the year and will take on the Red Storm again tonight at 7 PM and finish up the series on Sunday at 1 PM. This was a huge win for the Bulls and they need to keep it going and keep their dimming hopes alive.

Gilchrist Does Not Submit Name to NBA Draft

Coach Stan Heath is smiling a little bit more tonight.

From Greg Auman - Stan Heath is smiling tonight with news that junior power forward Augustus Gilchrist has not submitted his name among the 69 underclassmen who submitted their names for the NBA Draft process.

Gilchrist got an evaluation from NBA scouts and has decided he won't submit his name to the draft. This is huge news for the Bulls. Gilchrist will graduate this summer and there is an outside chance, although unlikely, that he could try to play overseas, but for now there is a big possibility that he will return to USF next season.

Gilchrist was the only Bull last season that averaged in double figures and would be a big weapon returning for the Bulls that have added some big time players in this years recruiting class. Bringing in two post players and two athletic and scoring guards, the Bulls will look to improve on their terrible 10-win season. Gilchrist will be a leader on the court and will be an experienced scoring presence for Heath, if and once he returns. He hasn't officially stated he is returning and something strange could always happen, but for now, pencil him in lightly to come back.

USF vs. UCF Again, Not So Fast

Lies make Lou Holtz mad!

George O'Leary opened his mouth the other day stating that the USF vs. UCF rivalry would begin again, hopefully starting in 2014 or 2015, being played around Thanksgiving.

Once again, O'Leary is talking without any information. Greg Auman has confirmed there is no contract between the two programs (Woolard and Tribble both have stated it). There is not even a handshake agreement on it. There has been some talk between the schools, but that is all it is, nothing more than talk.

The debate can continue to rage as long as it wants, but there is nothing here, at least yet. USF and UCF have no contract to play football against each other, no matter what O'Leary can dream up of. It may happen down the road and more discussion may happen, but please have your facts straight before talking to real people.

USF Baseball Taking on St. John's Tonight

USF baseball is back in action tonight as they host St. John's for a 3-game series. The Bulls are coming off of an ugly loss to Miami on Wednesday night and are hoping the starting pitching is able to give a better performance. USF sits at 19-21 (8-7) and really needs some wins right now just to stay alive for a postseason berth. But, St. John's may not be so easy.

The Red Storm is ranked 30th in the country. They enter the series with a record of 23-13 (10-4). St. John's is led by Joe Panik who has an incredible OBP of .520. The Storm can score a ton of runs, they recently scored 23 runs in a win over Hofstra, so the USF pitching staff better locate their pitches or it could be a long night for them.

Randy Fontanez is expected to open the series for the Bulls tonight (first pitch is scheduled for 7 PM). Fontanez is 4-3 on the year with an ERA of 2.88, he is allowing opponents to hit just .233 against him.

The Bulls offense will have to get to work as well tonight. Jonathan Koscso is the only Bulls hitting over .300 (.321) and has to be the spark plug leading off for the offense. Alex Mendez (.279) and Sam Mende (.271) need to step up as well to help produce more. Junior Carlin had his 19-game hitting streak snapped on Wednesday (.269) and will have to get back and start a new streak.

This is do or die series for the Bulls. They are already under .500 and sitting in the middle of the conference. A few losses here would put them back at the bottom and nearly end any chance of a postseason berth. Get out to the baseball stadium and cheer for them as they try to get a much needed win.

Bulls Land New 2012 Defensive Back Commit

While everyone was sleeping or busy watching royal wedding, the Bulls landed a stud defensive back commitment. (story credited to Kipps Adams on UGAsports.com and Scout.com).

Defensive back D.J. White (6' 175-pounds) out of McDonough, Georgia and Union Grove High School has committed to USF. According to Scout.com, he feels very comfortable with the program, coaches, and academics. He understands the teams need for corner backs and pictures himself living in the Tampa area.

This is a big time commitment for USF. White had offers from such programs like Auburn, Cal, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, UCF, and Texas Tech. The Bulls needed some playmaking ability in this upcoming recruiting class and it appears White is going to be a big time player for the Bulls.

Check out some of his high school footage. The kid is a big time player, very physical and high football IQ. He doesn't jam wide receivers well yet, but will have plenty of time to grow and become a good one for USF:

USF Offers 2012 Wide Receiver

USF has offered wide receiver Jason Croom (Picture:www.rivals.com)

The Bulls have offered wide receiver Jason Croom (according to Corey Dowlar of 247noles.com via Twitter). Croom (6'5" 212-pounds) is a big wide receiver out of Norcross, Georgia.

Croom has already received a lot of attention from big time program such as Arkansas, Auburn, Louisville, Miami and Illinois as well. USF has given him an offer and competition will only increase for him.

Check out some footage of his big time receiver:

Bulls Get Bashed by Miami

The rough day for USF got even rougher for the Bulls baseball team last night with a 14 to 5 beat down to Miami. The Bulls, after beating Miami earlier in the season, were hoping the pitching and offense would do enough for them, but in the 6th inning, the Canes scored 9 runs as the Bulls were looking to get home early.

The pitching did well in the beginning, with Kyle Parker getting the start, but after that, it was all Miami. Jonthan Koscso was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Todd Brazeal was 2 for 3, including a home run (haven't had many of those recently). Peter Brotons was 2 for 2 including a home run as he played back in his home of Miami. Junior Carlin was walked twice, but was 0 for 2, snapping his 19-game hitting streak.

The Bulls are now 19-21 (8-7) and return home to host St. John's starting Friday at 7 PM in a must win series. If the Bulls want to stay in the hunt for the Big East tournament and an outside and magical shot at the NCAA tournament, they have to get the sweep this weekend.

Bulls in the Draft: Part 4

With the NFL draft coming tomorrow, this will be the final installment of 2011's Bulls in the Draft. That being the case, it's only appropriate that tonight we focus on the two players that have turned the most heads of NFL teams with their workouts: Jacquian Williams and Terrell McClain. McClain has been on several analysts' radars for a while, earning invitations to college all-star games and receiving accolades for his work on the field. Williams, on the other hand, didn't really start turning heads until after his playing days. His workouts and interviews were what made teams start looking at him. While we obviously hope to see all our players get picked, these two have the most realistic shot to get chosen in the draft.

An alum of Riverdale High School, Jacquian Williams isn't too far from home here at USF, but it hasn't always been that way. Out of High School, Williams took an opportunity to go to Fort Scott Junior College in Kansas where he saw great success. Over the two seasons he spent there, Williams racked up 132 tackles, 23 for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble on his way to receiving several honors, including Kansas Junior College and Community College Defensive Player of the Week. His last year at Fort Walton ended with Williams being voted a National Junior College All-American. After his graduation from Fort Walton, he came home to Tampa where he immediately saw the field, playing in all 13 games in his first season at USF. There weren't many stats to be admired after his junior season, but his leadership made it easy for his teammates to select him as a captain next season. His senior year, Williams started all 13 games at linebacker, picking up 71 tackles, three passes defensed, and an interception, including an outstanding performance at Miami.

Williams' performance on the field was admirable, but it was his performance at Pro Day that got people talking. His low 40 time was 4.53 seconds and his vertical jump was recorded at 36.5 inches. For a 6-3, 231 pound frame, those are excellent measurements to move that much mass. As a comparison, Akeem Ayers, one of the top linebacker prospects in the draft, ran his 6-3, 254 lb body in the 40 in 4.81 seconds, a significantly slower time. It would be wise of Williams to bulk up a bit before he steps onto a field, but I see a lot of success in his future.

Finally, we come to the main attraction: Terrell McClain. McClain won all-state honors at Pensacola High, and, again, didn't go too far from home to play his college ball. After receiving offers from Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina among others, McClain decided to stay close to his hometown and attend South Florida. He played in a rotate-in role at DT for his first year, but soon afterward he became a regular member of the defensive squad. In his sophomore season, he started nine games and recorded 32 tackles, the highest in a single season of his career. He also forced a fumble and had three sacks, also tied for career highs. He played in every game the next two years, starting all but two his junior season. Over those two years, he recorded 4.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble, also having his career day at Miami in 2010. He capped off his excellent senior season with invitations to the East-West Shrine Game, and his performance there earned him an invite to play in the Senior Bowl.

At 6'2", 297 lbs, McClain was the only Bulls to be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year. He recorded 28 repetitions on the 225 lb bench press, which is impressive for anyone. I compare him most closely to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first draft pick last year, Gerald McCoy. McCoy measured in at 6'4", 295 lbs, and recorded 23 reps on the bench, five less than McClain. If McClain can get his technique down, I see him with plenty of potential to go as high as a mid-second round pick.

It appears that some of the NFL coaches and staff also see the potential in these players, as Jacquian Williams got a lot of attention from Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith during Pro Day in Tampa, and McClain has been spending a lot of time talking with the executives of several teams, most notably Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. I'm glad the draft is finally here, so all this speculation can end and we can actually find out where these guys will really end up. We offer our good wishes to all players waiting to get that phone call this weekend that changes the lives of their entire families.

My Day at the USF Softball Doubleheader

I got up at 9:55 this morning, rolled out of bed, and immediately put on my USF shirt and hat. I grabbed something to eat on my way out to the car, and drove to campus, excited to finally see a USF team in contention for a league title this late in the season. After finding out yesterday that Sara Nevins would be starting both games today, got to the park at around 10:30 hoping see a no-hitter. I guess I forgot that we were going to be facing the 23rd ranked softball team in the country, one whose only losses this season are to teams that have won national championships and are still national powers. Even with that considered, I was confident when I settled into my seat, ready for game one.

Game one started exactly as expected. Sara Nevins walked out to the circle and was dialed in from the beginning. She struck out the first three batters on 14 pitches to get the Bulls a quick trip back into the dugout. Gina Kafalas got hit by the Notre Dame pitcher Laura Winter's first pitch, and Janine Richardson drew a walk, but that was pretty much the highlight of USF's game. Unable to capitalize on the first inning baserunners, the ladies took the field again. Nevins was still in the zone, though, pitching perfectly through the first four innings of the game, only to be matched by Winter's outstanding performance. In the top of the fifth, though, things began to come apart. After a one-out single by Sadie Pitzenberger broke up the perfect game and stole second, Nevins struck out the next batter. It looked like the Bulls were going to be able to escape unharmed until Erin Marrone popped up what looked to be a routine fly ball. Gina Kafalas came in to chase the ball down, but Kelly McCarver was tracking it from left too. The two collided, and the ball fell to the ground allowing Pitzenberger to score. That was the only damage done by the Irish's offense, but it appeared to be all Winter needed. Since the first-inning walk to Richardson, Winter was perfect, retiring all remaining 19 batters in order. Like I said, when I woke up this morning, I hoped to see a no-hitter. I wasn't expecting Notre Dame to be the one pitching it.

Final score: Notre Dame 1, USF 0.

And don't worry, I kept track of the scoring again:

Here's my scoresheet for Notre Dame and for USF

I also kept track of pitch counts and pitcher stats, but I figured this was good enough.

Game two came around at 1:15, and Nevins was handed the ball for her second start of the day. After 107 pitches in game one, it was clear that Nevins wouldn't be around long. the first and second innings went very well for both pitchers, but the third was where things started getting bad. Alexa Maldonado had a leadoff single, and a walk put two on with one out. It appeared that things may not be too bad when Sadie Pitzenberger slapped a ground ball to short, but Janine Richardson misplayed it and it turned into an RBI. The fourth was even worse, when a leadoff single allowed Marrone to come aboard, which was followed by what would be Nevins' last batter. Brianna Jorgensborg bunted to advance the runner, but an errant throw by Nevins rolled all the way into the corner of right field, and Jorgensborg turned a sacrifice bunt into a bunt home run. After 57 pitches in the second game for a grand total of 164, Nevins' day was finally done. By this time, I was pretty much ready to go, seeing how the offense couldn't produce all day. But I had to be strong and finish watching so I could write about it here, so I stuck around. Capri Catalano was able to close out the inning without further damage. Offensively, the Bulls still hadn't found a hit. It wasn't until the bottom of the 6th with two on and one out that Janine Richardson finally recorded USF's first hit of the day, breaking a 13.1 inning hitless streak. The bases were loaded at this point, but Stephanie Medina flew out to left field, followed by an inning-ending groundout by Laura Fountain.

Final Score: Notre Dame 5, USF 0.

My scoresheets for Notre Dame and for USF

I'd like to say I took something positive away from this doubleheader, but there really wasn't anything that looked good all day. The only thing that was remotely encouraging was Nevins' perfect game going into the 5th, but we already knew she could do that. We can only wonder what would have been different if Lindsey Richardson had been healthy for the game, but nothing good can come out of the "what if" game. The offense was, no pun intended (maybe a little), offensive, not being able to record a hit in more than a game and a half. Obviously Notre Dame didn't get ranked #23 in the nation for just no reason, but if USF expects to compete with teams of this caliber they have to be able to manufacture hits and capitalize on baserunners. Defensively, the ladies looked confused at times, even though there were no pre-game position changes. Now, the Bulls have a few days off before going to Chicago to complete their season at DePaul, who still lead the conference. As it looks right now, they're going to have to sweep the Blue Demons and hope Notre Dame drops a bunch of games in these final weeks of the season if they have any expectations of a #1 seed in the Big East championship tournament in Clearwater. Despite the losses today, this softball team has given us a great season, and hopefully we get to see some more of them in the postseason.

USF Baseball Takes on Miami Tonight

USF baseball is back in action tonight as they travel to take on Miami for an in-state battle. The Bulls, after losing 2 of 3 games against Louisville, but awakening in the final game, are hoping to beat the Canes again and get back to .500, they are currently 19-20 (8-7) on the year.

The Bulls beat Miami earlier this season during the Florida 4 tournament hosted here in Tampa, but this time, USF must be better prepared for the potent Miami offense.

The Canes are 27-13 on the season, but are 17-6 at home. Nathan Melendres is hitting .322 for the Canes and is one of their best offensive weapons. Rony Rodriguez is hitting 312 on the year and has launched 7 home runs, making him a big power threat in their lineup.

The Bulls pitching will be the key in this game. Kyle Parker appears to be getting the start tonight and will have to keep the Bulls in this one by not allowing home runs and not walking batters. Expect to see Zack Piertrzyk pitch in this game and Quackenbush as well, if the game is close in the later innings.

The Bulls offense, with Koscso and Mende will have to get something going early and apply pressure on the bases as well. Junior Carlin has a 19-game hitting streak and will have to keep producing to help the Bulls score enough runs in this big game.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM and the Bulls really need this win tonight. They are a game under .500 and are sitting in the middle of the pack. A win on the road against a power team like Miami could build some momentum down the stretch and could give them a spark they need to get on a roll heading into the final stretch of the conference schedule.

Thoughts on Title IX

By now, everyone has read about the Title IX article that the New York Times article presented yesterday and used USF cross country and track as its prime example. For those who don't know what title IX is, it is a law that has been passed to provide equal opportunity for women in college athletics. Before Title IX, schools didn't worry about women's athletic programs and focused on what teams they cared about, which was simply awful, but now the doors are more open than ever and schools have to allow an equal number of women and men onto collegiate athletic programs, neither side is favored or discriminated against.

While USF has allowed plenty of women onto its teams, the question that has been raised here is how many of these ladies are actually competing and is USF simply adding names to the roster to comply with Title IX?

Our friends over at Voodoofive have done an amazing job to really dig deep into the matter and prove that the numbers on the cross country roster and even the sailing team don't quite mesh, despite what USF athletics is stating, the numbers don't lie.

If USF is adding names to the roster just to comply to the Title IX code, this is a major black eye to the athletic program and a shame. USF needs to be honest on the number of how many athletes are competing on the cross country team, even if the number is low and doesn't comply, it would be better than lying to the NCAA and posting fake numbers.

Now USF isn't the only school that is probably fudging the numbers and there are some who think Title IX isn't needed and it just adds more pressure to the colleges, but the facts are out there and the truth needs to come out.

Gameday: USF Softball vs. Notre Dame

Today is a huge day for the ladies and USF. The Bulls, 32-16 (12-1) and tied for first place are taking on the 22nd ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a double header today as both teams battle for the regular season Big East title.

This is a huge game for the ladies and they need everyone to get to the softball complex this morning for game one, starting at 11 AM and the second game at 1 PM. Please get to the games and cheer on the ladies as they continue to play at such a high level and battle for first place in the Big East.

Sara Nevins and company will be at their best as they face a tough Notre Dame team that has plenty of power and wants to beat USF, but they won't let that happen. Good luck ladies and get to the game!

Bulls in the Draft: Part 3

I'm particularly excited about this installment of Bulls in the Draft because it showcases two of my favorite players of my time watching USF football: Mistral Raymond and Dontavia Bogan. Raymond has endured quite the dramatic life, from personal tragedy to football star, and showing excellence in every aspect. Bogan's career has been defined by highlight reel catches and great leadership on the field. Once again, similar to last night's post, these two players play similar positions, on opposite sides of the ball.

At Central County High School in Thomasville, Georgia, Dontavia Bogan was a star Safety, being named his region's Defensive Player of the Year. He also received accolades for his work at receiver. As a freshman, Bogan immediately saw playing time, taking the field in 11 games, racking up 190 yards and a touchdown and leading all receivers i yards per catch (15.8). The next year, Bogan became a bit more of a regular on the field, seeing game time at receiver as well as on special teams. His breakout game was against Connecticut, where he averaged 67.5 yards per kickoff return, adding to his outstanding special teams season where he finished 17th nationally in yards per kick return (26.6). 2008 was also the year of his real transition to receiver, hauling in 26 passes for 354 yards, but only one touchdown. His numbers remained consistent throughout the 2009 season, when he had 22 catches for 205 yards. His return yards matched the previous year's total at 770, but with more attempts. At the time, those two seasons held the top two return averages in USF history before one of them was overtaken by Lindsey Lamar last season. In his senior year, Bogan spent more time perfecting his job on offense than in special teams, only returning four kicks, enough to push him to the top of the all-time list for career returns (69). He brought down 47 catches for 685 yards, and six for touchdowns, including a career day at West Virginia where he had 11 catches for 98 yards.

Bogan may see a transition back into his old role as a kick returner with an NFL team, as his 6' 192 pound frame is likely more built for agility than to be a target for quarterbacks, at least not with the frame he's got now. I compare his size to Santonio Holmes out of college, but the big difference is in their 40 times. Bogan recorded a 4.55 run in the 40, while Holmes had a significantly better 4.38. If Bogan expects to see early playing time, I expect that he'll need to either shave some time off his 40 or bulk up a bit. If he adds about 15-20 pounds, his combine stats would match Roddy White's almost perfectly. Bogan has the skill and the ability, so if he works on his tangibles he'll be a great pick for an NFL team.

Now it's my pleasure to write about my favorite player in my years of watching USF football: Mistral Raymond. Initially a free safety, Raymond hails from Palmetto High School. He went to play football in Iowa for Ellsworth Community College, before a close tragedy struck his family. Back at home in Palmetto, Raymond's childhood home was sprayed with gunshots and set on fire with Molotov cocktails. One of his sisters was hit, but the rest of his family escaped relatively unharmed. His mother passed away a few months later of lung-related illness, but it is unclear whether it was caused by the house fire. Raymond was on the first flight home to be with his family during this time, but he couldn't get away from his main passion: Playing football. Raymond found his way to the University of South Florida, where he got an opportunity to try out for a walk-on position for the team. At 6'2", 192 lbs, Raymond's lanky frame earned him the nickname "Skinny", courtesy of the USF coaching staff. He spent his first year on campus rotating in on special teams in nine games. "Skinny" started being more than just a name in the 2009 season, as he tallied 40 tackles and an interception in his 13 games on the season. In 2010, Raymond earned the honor of being voted by his teammates as a captain for the team on his way to having a career season, recording 56 total tackles, one interception, and seven passes defended.

Mistral Raymond ran the 40 at Pro Day in 4.56 seconds, not a bad time for someone looking to play Safety. His 32.5 inch vertical jump and 10'2" broad jumps are relatively comparable to safeties around the league. Former Miami FS Antrel Rolle is of similar size and his measurables are also comparable. The biggest setback for Raymond is his hands, which is obviously why he played defense instead of receiver. Raymond had two picks in his career at USF, but there were many more opportunities to ass to those stats. At Pro Day, the same was true, as a couple drill passes were dropped as well. The strongest part of Raymond's game is his character. Without a doubt, someone who has endured as much as this guy must have a heart of steel. No matter where Raymond winds up, I'll be rooting for him the whole way, and I know the USF community will be too.

Each of these players has been shown on a couple draft boards here and there, but it is ultimately going to be up to the scouts' notes to determine their futures. They each have qualities on the field that could use some work, but it's nothing that can't be improved with perseverance. Obviously, Raymond's story is enough to win the hearts of anyone in the real world, but NFL executives are going to be a bit tougher to win over. I do think that they each have great potential to succeed at the next level, and we in the USF family wishes them the best.

USF Softball Preparing for Judgment Week

With the five biggest games of the season just over the horizon for the Lady Bulls of the softball team, everything seems to be falling right into place for head coach Ken Ericksen. There are many emotions stirring in the clubhouse this week approaching a season-defining doubleheader tomorrow at home against Notre Dame, but the most prevalent is excitement. Coach Ericksen has seen success in the past in USF's Conference USA days, but this team has something special about it.

USF Offers Two 2013 Prospects

Recruiting never takes a break and prospects get contacted earlier and earlier in their high schools careers. USF has recently offered a local star that has some connections to USF already.

USF has offered defensive back Vernon Hargreaves, III of Wharton High School (2013 prospect). Hargreaves is 5'11" 177-pounds and has been showing off his talents at camps this season, USF is the first school to offer him, but expect other programs to quickly join USF.

In case you are wondering, yes, Vernon the III is the son of USF coach Vernon Hargreaves, the special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach. This could give USF the inside track on the younger Hargreaves and his recruitment, but we will have to wait and see what transpires.

USF has also offered another 2013 prospect. Wide receiver/defensive back Richard Benjamin (6' 182-pounds) out of Middleton High School, received a verbal offer from USF, he also has an offer from Kansas as well.

It is great to see the USF coaching staff recruiting so early and targeting the local talent as Holtz continues to build his wall around the bay area. The Bulls will need some more talent at defensive back and wide receiver in the coming seasons, so these young men are great prospects to go after early and often.

Sara Nevins Receives Big East Honor

Sara Nevins is simply unhittable right now, can she keep it going vs. Notre Dame tomorrow?

From Greg Auman - Sara Nevins continues to garner attention and rightly so. The stand out freshman pitcher received Big East Pitcher of the Week accolades after he dominating performance in the sweep over the Huskies.

Nevins is simply dealing right now. She has 14 wins on the season, leading the Bulls pitching (Richardson is unhittable as well, taking nothing away from her and her great season thus far). She hasn't allowed a hit run since April 3rd, going 41.1 innings without a player crossing home plate.

Another surprising number Nevins has is her 8 saves, setting a new school record once held by USF great Cristi Ecks in 2007. It shows the pitching strategy that Eriksen likes to go with, using Richardson to start games, making it hard on opponents to begin win and late in games, he brings in Nevins to seal the deal. This one-two punch makes USF one of the toughest teams to face in the country and will have to be at their best tomorrow morning vs. Notre Dame.

Outfielder Gina Kafalas was also honored by being named to the Big East weekly honor after going 5-8 against UCONN and scoring 6 runs as well. She continues to hit over.370 on the season and gets the offense going early from the leadoff spot in the lineup.

Please come out tomorrow for the softball double header that begins at 11 AM and second game scheduled for 1 PM (times could vary depending on time of first game). I know I continue to repeat myself, but this is very important to USF and the ladies. Come out and show your support for not only USF athletics, but for the incredible season the ladies are having and the bright future ahead.

USF Softball vs. Notre Dame

Laura Fountain and the Bulls will try to sweep Notre Dame in this huge double header on Wednesday (Picture:www.gousfbulls.com)

USF softball has a fight on its hands as it comes down the stretch of the Big East conference schedule. The Bulls sit at 32-16 (12-1) on the season and are tied for first place with DePaul and face a huge test on Wednesday when Notre Dame, 3308 (12-2) comes to town.

The ladies swept UCONN this weekend with dominating performances by freshman pitcher Sara Nevins. Nevins has become the leading arm for USF (taking nothing away from the great Lindsey Richardson). Nevins has lowered her ERA to 1.71 and now has a scoreless streak of 41 straight innings, showing how dominate she is. Nevins has been key starting games and coming out in relief, she has 8 saves on the season which is the highest number in the nation.

Offensively, the ladies are hitting everything right now. Gina Kafalas gets it all started with a .380 batting average. She is a slap hitter and is able to use all of the field to get on base and is a threat to steal at any time. Janine Richardson is hitting .371 on the year, including 3 homeruns and 44 RBIs. Laura Fountain is doing an incredible job behind the plate and from the batters' box. She is hitting .296 on the season and has 21 RBIs. Ashli Goff is a huge threat at the plate, batting .368 and driving in 50 RBI on the season so far.

The ladies face a huge test in the double header on Wednesday. Notre Dame is a powerful team and can hit with the best of them. They are led by Heather Johnson who is hitting .385 on the season and has launched 11 homeruns. Alexis Clay is hitting .380 and has 5 homeruns. Alexi Maldaonado is hitting .378 with 3 homeruns and Dani Miller is hitting .386 and has 7 homeruns on the year.

This is a huge moment for USF. They control their own destiny now and need this series against Notre Dame. The first game is at 11 AM and second game is scheduled for 1 PM. The Bulls really need to sweep the series to remain in a tie for first and help set up a big matchup with DePaul to end the season. Everyone needs to get to the softball complex for this series, skip studying for finals for a few hours, take a longer lunch break, whatever you have to do, get to the games and help cheer on the ladies as they continue to play at a high level and continue the battle for the Big East regular season title.

Bulls in the Draft: Part 2

To go along with the great news today, as temporary as it may be, that the NFL lockout has been lifted by the federal judge, I want to continue this series on USF players with the high hopes of getting selected by a pro team this week with a piece on Sampson Genus and Craig Marshall. Each important players on opposite sides of the trenches, they both bring a similar quality in their intelligence on and off the field. Genus has been the centerpiece of the offense for almost his whole career, while Marshall has been a successful member of an outstanding defense the past few years.

Recap of USF Baseball Weekend

The Bulls came into the weekend with a .500 record and riding the momentum of a big win over then #18 Stetson, but after two straight loses to Louisville, the Bulls finally got it going on Saturday afternoon with a 10 to 5 win.

The game, after major rain delays, finally got completed and the USF offense woke up. The game was close until Andrew Longley blasted a grand slam to put the Bulls ahead for good. Junior Carlin was 2 for 4. James Ramsay was 2 for 6. Sam Mende had the biggest day going 4 for 6 and driving in 3 RBI. The offense, which had been held in check the first two games, was able to unload on the Cardinals pitching.

The USF pitching staff was able to get quality innings. Matt Reed started the game, but pitching only 2 innings before the rain delay, but still go the win and is now 3-3 on the year. Quackenbush pitched 2.2 innings, allowing only 1 hit as he continues his solid season.

The Bulls are now 19-20 (8-7) and sit still in 5th place. They will have a huge game on Wednesday night when they travel to take on #20 Miami and hope to get the season sweep from the Canes who are coming off of a loss to #10 UNC. The Bulls then return home for a 3 game series against St. John's, starting Friday at 7 PM, then Saturday at 7 PM and finishing on Sunday at 1 PM.

Bulls in the Draft: Part 1

With the upcoming NFL draft approaching this Thursday, I thought it would be a good time to put together a series of posts that talk about some of the top prospective athletes trying to make their dreams come true by getting selected by an NFL team. I'm beginning the posts with two great athletes in Sabbath Joseph and Kevin Gidrey.

First up is Sabbath Joseph. A linebacker out of Miami Central High School, Joseph redshirted his freshman year in 2006 before making his debut in 2007, where he played as a reserve linebacker. In his first year, he recorded 14 total tackles, including a season-high four against Pitt, and another three against UCF. In 2008, Joseph played in 12 of the Bulls' 13 games, recording 19 tackles and an interception. 2009 was Joseph's real breakout year, where he started in 12 games, missing the one start due to illness. His best game was the Bulls' program-changing win against Florida State, where he recorded two fumbles and seven tackles and a pass defensed. In his senior season, Joseph had 43 tackles, including 6 for loss and a fumble recovery.

The biggest thing Joseph brings to the draft is his strength. At USF's pro day, he posted an impressive 25 repetitions on the 225 lb bench press. He also recorded a 4.96 in the 40 yard dash, which was a relatively good time considering he had a bit of trouble with his footing. His performance on the weights earned him some looks from NFL executives and hopefully will prove to make a difference in separating Sabbath Joseph from the other talented linebackers in the draft.

The other subject of this post, Kevin Gidrey, followed coach Skip Holtz to Tampa after three loyal years at East Carolina. A tight end from Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, VA, he saw playing time in all of his respective teams' games, earning a lot of time on the offensive line in his first year. Gidrey was mostly utilized as a blocker throughout his career, but that doesn't mean he can't catch and run, either. In his second year at ECU, he started in half the team's games, tallying four receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown in the team's Conference-USA championship season. In his third season at ECU, Holtz got a bit more used to playing Gidrey, starting him in all 14 games. He had a career year then, pulling in 9 catches for 101 yards. Gidrey came to Tampa as a graduate student, following Holtz for his final year of eligibility. He again posted consistent solid numbers all season, with his career day against Connecticut when he had 43 receiving yards.

As I stated before, Gidrey is a good blocking tight end, posting 14 repetitions on the 225 lb bench press. But that doesn't mean he can't run. Gidrey has good hands in the field, and his 6'2" frame can take a hit. He completed the 40-yard dash in 4.96 seconds as well. Gidrey has had multiple workouts with NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, who called him earlier this weekend.

Joseph has put together an excellent four years here in Tampa, and has shown good improvement in each of his seasons. His size and talent on the field suggest that he has the potential to bring great athleticism wherever he winds up. Gidrey obviously doesn't have much of a body of work here at USF, and therefore isn't going to be one of those players all the students in Tampa will be watching for his whole career, but he is no doubt a part of the USF family as much as anyone else. We hope for the best for both of them, and wish them well wherever they go.

Mostly Successful Week for Bulls

Over the past week, there were several USF teams in action. Right here in Tampa, the softball team had a three-game conference series against Connecticut, which they wound up sweeping. The lovely ladies of USF Volleyball held their tenth annual find raising golf tournament across the street at River Hill Country Club on Friday, which was enjoyed thoroughly by the guys at Voodoo Five all day. Up in Indiana, the track team spend a couple days competing in the Polytan Invitational Tournament, where they wound up winning winning five events as well as improving on some personal bests. The baseball team didn't have quite as much success, however, as they bring home a 1-2 record from their three-day stay in Louisville. USF Golf had the Big East tournaments during the week, and while they competed beyond expectations, expectations were low to begin with.

The USF Softball team had yet another conference sweep, this time welcoming UConn to the new softball complex. As I wrote before, the Bulls had a great Friday, dominating a doubleheader and allowing only three runs all day. Sara Nevins got her eighth save, taking over the outright spot for most season saves in USF history. They completed the series sweep Saturday afternoon with an 8-0 run-rule victory and another Nevins gem. She has now not allowed a single run in her last 41.1 innings pitched.

While the doubleheader was going on, down the road at River Hill CC the girls of USF Volleyball were holding their annual fundraiser scramble tournament. With nearr 100 prizes for raffles and plenty of supporters on the course, the day was a complete success. I'd tell you how much they raised, but I figured I'd just let them do that:

It's always great to see a fundraiser go well for any of our teams, so congratulations to the volleyball team on a great job on the course once again.

Out of the state, half of USF's track team went to Bloomington to compete in the University of Indiana's Polytan Invitational while the other half was in Baton Rouge for the LSU Alumni Gold competition. In Indiana, USF's 'A' team took the gold in the 4x400, while individually Jared Thomas won the discus. At LSU, the first-place finishers included Denise von Eynatten (pole vault) and Marqueshia Stallworth (triple jump). In addition to the victories in competition, the athletes achieved 11 personal bests and posted 27 Big East qualifying times.

The success wasn't unlimited, though, as the baseball team took a trip up to Louisville, there they lost two of three, dropping their first conference series since losing to West Virginia in the conference opener. USF dropped a late lead in game one, before getting blown out in game two. Saturday, the Bulls answered with a 10-5 victory thanks in part to the help of a grand slam by Andrew Longley.

The golf teams were playing in the Big East tournament at Innisbrook, where hopes for a championship win were pretty low. USF golf has underachieved in recent memory, but actually competed surprisingly not-too-horribly. The men's team tied their best-ever Big East showing with a fourth place finish, highlighted by a fourth-place individual finish by Robby Carl. The lady golfers earned a third-place finish, only shooting a higher final day score than eventual champion Notre Dame.

Overall, the weekend was full of South Florida sports, and it's always a pleasure when the teams give us something good to write about. Be sure to go out to the softball stadium on Wednesday for the Big East leading USF Softball team's final home series of the season against Notre Dame, who is currently second in the conference, and a weekend baseball series against St. John's. It's sad to see the USF athletics season coming to a close, but the end does bring the end of the semester for students, and the upcoming of a new athletics season to come soon.

Happy Easter!

Hello USF fans, from all of us at Bull Rush, we wish you a Happy Easter! Enjoy the day with family and friends and remember the real reason for this holiday. We will be back tomorrow with more highlights and analysis from baseball and softball performances this weekend and all new material as well.

USF Sweeps UCONN

The Bulls are simply on a roll right now. The softball team finished the sweep today of UCONN, winning 8 to 0 and improving their record to 32-16 (12-1) and will now take on Notre Dame in a huge conference battle on Wednesday in a double header.

Sara Nevins had a shout out again as she continues to show her dominance in just her freshman season. She pitched 5 strong innings in route to another win on the season. Along with Richardson, the Bulls have a strong one-two punch in the pitching circle and can handle anyone that challenges them.

Gina Kalafas had 2 hits as she continues to be the spark for the offense from the lead off spot. Ashley Goff had 2 hits as well. Janine Richardson had 3 RBI in this game as the USF offense continues to roll and simply beat down opponents on the season.

The Bulls now wait and prepare to take on Notre Dame on Wednesday in a key double header as USF continues to play at a high level and prepares for the postseason and Big East tournament. This team, graduating only 3 seniors today, is a powerful young team that will only get better behind Eriksen calling the shots. Make sure to get out to the softball complex for this huge double header on Wednesday.

Ladies Comfortable at Home Once Again

Another day, another two wins on the diamond for the Lady Bulls of South Florida. I had the pleasure of spending the day at the park, and it was a glorious day to be out there. In fact, if the people sitting down the aisle from me didn't keep getting up to walk out every 5 minutes and coming back 5 minutes later, I would say it was a perfect day. The guys from Voodoo Five were taking advantage of the outstanding weather at the USF Volleyball annual golf scramble tournament over at The Claw (link to come). I hope someday I won't be a poor college kid and actually have money to support our girls in a golf tournament.

But I digress...

As the guys from V5 were probably slamming back the 5th or 6th of their beers in the tee boxes, I was doing my part to support the ladies of our USF Athletics. The Bulls hosted Connecticut (17-20, 5-5 Big East) this afternoon, and Lindsey Richardson got the start for game one. After a bit of a rough start for USF, UConn didn't take long to load the bases with two walks and an error. Richardson kept cool, though, and struck out two in the inning to escape with no damage. The offense was uncharacteristically unproductive early in the game, failing to even get a hit until the third inning. After that, though, USF got back to their good old selves again, scoring two in the third inning with RBI by Ashli Goff and Kourtney Salvarola. The Huskies came back immediately with leadoff back-to-back solo home runs, but that would be the last we would see of Connecticut's offense for the game. USF was really in control for the rest of the game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. They also scored four runs in the fifth on only two hits in the fifth, as three UConn pitchers walked three straight batters with the bases loaded. Final score: USF 9, Connecticut 2. A game note: pitcher Sara Nevins got her 8th save of the season, moving her into first place outright for most season saves in USF history.

See what I spent the game doing after the jump.

That's right, I made my own scoresheet. I did one for Connecticut too, but I figured just uploading one would suffice. I apologize for the less than beautiful handwriting, too. The announcer was talking fast and I had to write everyone down.

Anyway, the Bulls didn't have much time to celebrate that big game 1 win, as they got started on the next game 30 minutes later. Richardson got back on the field for game 2, and this time she seemed just about the same. Connecticut made a few changes to the lineup, but it proved to not make much of an improvement as the Huskies only scored one run in the fourth on a sac fly to tie the game at 1, which was charged to Richardson. Sara Nevins came in to relieve Richardson, and at that point, the game was over. Nevins closed the fourth and pitched the next three innings nearly perfectly while getting a bit of run support, courtesy of an RBI single by Ashli Goff. Final score of game 2: USF 2, Connecticut 1. Another game note: Lindsey Richardson only got charged with one earned run in both of her starts today, but did not record a victory (Brittany Bowles got the win in game 1, Nevins in game 2).

The doubleheader sweep improves USF to 11-1 in Big East play, and boosts them into an outright spot,however temporary, for second place in the conference. They get a chance to move into first place tomorrow, but need some help as current first-place team DePaul is in New Brunswick this weekend to play Rutgers. Although the day in softball is over, this doesn't mean my day has to end. As I write this, I'm listening to Ronan O'Shea broadcast the USF Baseball game at Louisville and watching the UCF-UF baseball game on Brighthouse. It's a tough life, but someone has to do it.

USF Gets Big Time Baseball Commit

While USF lost last night to Louisville, the Bulls got a huge commitment in the same day.

All-American pitcher Jose Fernandez out of Alonso High School has committed to the Bulls.

Fernandez is one of the highest ranked players in the upcoming MLB draft, ranked 22nd by Baseball America.

This season at Alonso, Fernandez went 8-1 on the season, finishing up with an insane ERA of just .126. He struck out 91 batters in just 61 innings. He also threw 5 complete games and 3 shutouts, showing his dominance. He also hit .394 on the year with 8 home runs and 26 RBIs, but scouts are drooling at his pitching.

Fernandez has incredible velocity in his pitches, already reaching the upper 90s with his fastball and displaying great command and variety of other pitches as well.

Fernandez could be a top 10 pick in the draft, but he has signed his letter of intent for Prado, so what will happen to him? Fernandez is a near lock for the draft and a major league team will select him. At this point, it is really up to Fernandez to decide where he wants to go. Coming out of high school, will he head to the minor league system of a major league team where he will have to compete with older players and have pressure on him or will he decide to head to college and play close to home and develop a bit more?

I really hope Fernandez comes to USF to join a strong team and help the pitching staff. Fernandez could use the time to develop his pitches and help the Bulls win some more games, plus he would be close to home, have a new stadium and supportive fan base behind him, but no matter what he does, he will succeed. Let's just hope he comes to school.

USF Softball vs. UCONN Today!

Sara Nevins and company are back in action this afternoon against UCONN.

USF softball is in action today and everyone, I mean, everyone needs to get to the softball complex to cheer on the ladies as they take on UCONN and battle to get to first place in the Big East.

USF enters the game at 29-16 (9-1) and only a half game back of Seton Hall in the standings. USF is on a tear right now. The offense, led by Fountain, Medina, and Kafalas are punishing pitching no matter who they face. USF pitching has been dominate with Nevins and Richardson throwing heat in the circle.

They face UCONN who is 17-20 (5-5) on the year, but just 5-6 on the road. USF has to take advantage of this series and get the wins this afternoon. UCONN has some power hitters, but the dominance of the USF pitching will be the key to the double header this afternoon as the ladies try to continue this huge and successful season. USF really needs to take both games today so they can maintain their standing in the conference and position themselves even more for a long run into the postseason.

Game one is scheduled for 2 PM and game two is scheduled for 4 PM. The series wraps up tomorrow at noon. The ladies will then face Notre Dame in a double header on Wednesday morning (11 AM) and at 1 PM (strange times). Get to the softball complex this afternoon and watch this incredible team full of talented young ladies go to battle and hopefully win both games. GO BULLS!

Chris Dunkley Visits USF?

There is some interesting news brewing around a possible high level transfer taking a look at USF.

Wide receiver Chris Dunkley (5'10" 175-pounds) who recently transferred from the University of Florida took a visit to USF the other day and seems to like what he sees.

Dunkley is a 4-star (5-star on Scout.com) receiver that has incredible speed and athletic ability. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and has a 30" vertical.

He is leaving Florida due to some academic issues (according to TheBullGator.com) and his inability to move up the depth chart on the Gators roster. He was suspended this Spring and decided to leave the program. The Gators won't block him from transferring into any other school in the state of Florida, so this is a good sign for USF who has a few scholarships available due to the transfer of T.J. Knowles and Chase Griffiths.

Is this a good move and can USF get him? There is a lot of talk among fans that this is a near done deal and Dunkley will be running down the field in Raymond James Stadium this season, but nothing is for certain and there is a lot that has to be done with paper work and if Skip Holtz is even offering him a spot on the team (wouldn't be eligible to play until 2012 due to NCAA rules, thanks to anonymous commenter for pointing that out) . Personally, I would love to see him suit up for USF. He is a big, fast receiver that could be a huge target for the Bulls and really make the offense even better and give Daniels another big downfield weapon. We will have to wait and see what happens with Dunkley.

Welcome to the Bull Rush Store!

Hello Bull Rush readers, first off, thank you for being so supportive of the site, we couldn't do it without you. Bull Rush is now offering something unique, it's own merchandise store. Yes, we have a store! Check out the Apparel tab at the top of the page and head over to the Bull Rush Store to find exclusive gear for your favorite USF blog. The store will be adding new items soon, so stayed tuned!

Same Old Story: USF Dips Below .500 Again

Stop me if you've heard this one before: USF's baseball team had a chance to get their record over .500 for the first time this season, but couldn't close out the game.

Randy Fontanez led the Bulls into Louisville for the first game of a three-game set with a Big East ERA of 1.69 and a 3-0 record in his four starts. The game went well for most of his appearance, only yielding a run in the first, but unraveled in the 7th inning as he allowed 4 more runs before being relieved by Nick Gonzalez. Gonzalez faced one batter with the bases loaded, and walked him in. Jimmy Moran finished the game without allowing any more damage, but the worst had already come.

Offensively, the Bulls didn't have too much trouble producing, but the amount of production wasn't enough to overcome the offensive attack of the Cardinals. No Bulls were struck out, and four were walked. Junior Carlin once again contributed two hits, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Daniel Rockhold made his first appearance in 29 games at the DH position, but was clearly rusty as a sacrifice groundout highlighted his 0-4 comeback.

In the end, the Bulls once again fell short and lost 6-4 when their 9th-inning rally wasn't enough. The win snaps Louisville's 6-game losing streak after getting swept by St. John's in their most recent conference matchup. USF gets another shot at the Cards tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. and are in jeopardy of losing their first Big East series since the conference opener against West Virginia. If they do come back and win the series, USF will be proud owners of a record over .500 for the first time since 2009.

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USF Softball in Action This Weekend

Gina Kafalas and company are back in action starting Friday afternoon.

The ladies are back in action on Friday afternoon as USF hosts UCONN in another key Big East series. USF is 29-16 (9-1) on the season and sits in 2nd place in the Big East conference and will try to defend its record and home turf against the lady Huskies (this begins a big 5-game home stand for the Bulls).

The Bulls are led by Stephanie Medina who is hitting an incredible .371, has driven in 48 RBIs, and has launched 8 home runs (leads the team). Gina Kafalas is doing an incredible job at the leadoff spot, hitting .367 and getting the offense going. She is also fast on the bases, giving UCONN more trouble. Janine Richardson is hitting .364 and along with the rest of the team, the Bulls are out hitting everyone and with Lindsey Richardson and Sara Nevins in the circle striking out everyone, USF is a tough team.

UCONN enters the series at 17-19 (5-5), but is only 5-6 away from home. USF is coming off of a series win over Seton Hall, despite having their 10-game winning streak snapped. The Bulls are on a hot streak right now and have to continue the recent success over the Huskies and improve their overall record as they continue to battle towards the post season.

First pitch is scheduled is for 2 PM followed by game 2 at 4 PM. Make sure to come out to the new softball stadium, enjoy the wonderful Florida weather and cheer on the ladies as they look to sweep the Huskies and try to take over 1st place in the conference, this is a huge series for the Bulls. GO BULLS!

USF Baseball Taking on Louisville Tonight

USF baseball begins a big series tonight as they travel to Louisville to take on the Cardinals for a 3-game set. The Bulls got a nice win over 18th ranked Stetson on Tuesday night. A combination of strong pitching and timely hitting got the job done and helped USF get back to .500 on the season, now at 18-18 (7-5).

The Bulls currently sit in 5th place in the conference and are only 3 games behind UCONN, but they are only two games away from the bottom of the conference as well so this series against Louisville come be a breaking point in the season.

Louisville is reeling a bit right now, losing 6 straight games and sit at 6-6 in the conference and eager to get back to winning.

Randy Fontanez will get the start in game one tonight at 6 PM, but the rest of the rotation is still undecided at this point. With Reed inconsistent and Gonzalez throwing batting practice to opponents, Prado will have to find the right arms to send out this weekend if the Bulls want to get some wins and improve their conference record and avoid the bottom, a place they could easily end up at if they don't take 2 games this weekend.

USF will play Friday night at 6 PM and wrap up the series Saturday afternoon at 1 PM (no game on Sunday due to Easter). This is a must win series for USF, if they want to stay alive in the conference and have an outside shot at the postseason, they need to take at least 2 games here.

USF Offers Orlando OL

The Bulls continue to search the Orlando area for top recruits and they have targeted another from a familiar high school. USF has offered offensive lineman James Hamilton (6'4" 325-pounds) out of Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida.

Hamilton comes from the same high school as Corian Hamilton, member of the USF 2011 signing class (not sure if they are related).

James Hamilton is a big young man. He can play any position on the offensive line and could even move over to the center position. With Genus gone and McCaskill leaving after this season, the Bulls need someone to take over the center position and anchor the line. With his size and skill set, he could be an ideal player to recruit.

Hamilton is getting a ton of attention already. He has received offers from Cincinnati, Clemson, UCONN, Michigan State, and Syracuse, among others.

USF has addressed its needs on the offensive line in the last two recruiting classes and has Reno Henderson verbally committed for this incoming recruiting class. Hamilton is a big player and could be one of the few offensive linemen that Holtz and staff are recruiting for the class of 2012.

Chase Griffiths Leaving USF

Coach Holtz announced yesterday that sophomore fullback Chase Griffiths will be leaving the program and transferring to another school.

The 6'3 225-pound fullback converted to offense last season from the linebacker position and only played in one game, Stony Brook. Griffiths didn't crack the Spring depth chart and probably wouldn't find the field on either offense or defense this season.

Griffiths leaving does open up a scholarship for next season, but does leave a gap in depth at the fullback position. Armando Sanchez is the fullback, but there is not much depth behind the converted linebacker. Perhaps Andreas Shields or Isaac Virgin could move over to help the position and provide more offensive firepower (don't forget Ty Turner coming in this fall as well).

We wish Mr. Griffiths luck in his playing and collegiate career, hopefully he can find a program where he can get the playing time he wants. This is only the second player to leave the program this program, joining wide receiver T.J. Knowles.

Closing Thoughts on USF Victory Over Stetson

As Mike posted last night, the Bulls got a great win over Stetson, 5 to 2 to finally improve them to .500 on the season at 18-18. But what does the future hold for this team?

The Bulls have been playing up and down all season. Getting a huge win over Miami only to fall to Florida Gulf Coast College. The team wins big games over Big East opponents, but can't sweep a series and falls asleep in game 3 of each series.

The offense is brilliant at times with Koscso and company getting on base and producing runs. They don't have a lot of power, but can get on base and are smart hitters. But many games the offense looks overmatched and can't move runners over. The same goes for the pitching. With Barbosa out for the year, the pressure is on Fontanez. After him though, there are so many question marks as to who is going to take over and help pick up the slack on the starting rotation. So far, Eastham and Gonzalez have not been so great, but continue to battle.

The team is traveling to Louisville on Thursday to begin a 3-game set against the Cardinals. Lville is 20-16 (6-6) on the season, so USF can hang with them and should be make it a great series. This could be a breaking point for the Bulls, coming off of a win over the #18 team in the country. Can they carry the momentum from a nice home win onto the road and get a few wins against a tough Big East foe? We will find out Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 6 PM.