Top 5 players of 2010: Number 5

Football season is still a long way off, but as we sit and eagerly await the 2011 season to get started, we are taking a look back at the 2010 season and looking at the top players that made it a special season. Mike and I will be bring you our top 5 players from the 2010 season, starting with number 5. See if you agree with our picks and tell us who you think we should have picked!

Matt's #5 - Center Sampson Genus

Sampson Genus, the 6’1” 315-pound senior center makes my list at number 5. It is not often the big guys up front on the offensive line get their due credit, but Genus was one of the best players not only on the team, but in the conference as well.

Genus started all 13 games for the Bulls, playing in 44 games and starting 30 games during his career at USF. Genus was named team captain in 2010 and was named 1st All Big East for his great performance. Genus played well all season. He was the corner stone on the offensive line. Learning a new offense under first year offensive coordinator Todd Fitch and understanding the play calling and blocking schemes was difficult, but Genus learned quickly and became a contributor in both pass blocking and great holes for the running backs.

Genus wasn’t drafted by the NFL, but many believe (as well as I do) that he will find his way onto an NFL roster at some point because of his ability.

With Genus gone, the Bulls will be looking for a replacement, not the easiest task. Keith McCaskill will get the job and should do a fine job at center, but it will not be easy to replace an all conference performer like Genus.

Mike's #5 - RB Demetris Murray

Murray was actually my favorite breakout player this year, but I have him only at my #5 because he did share much of his role. He is, however, my highest-rated running back of my 2010 list because he really did everything for the position. Murray entered the first game as a redshirt sophomore and picked up a lot of the slack left by senior Mo Plancher. As the season progressed, Murray became the lead candidate at running back for the team, but didn't earn a start. He posted 542 yards on 120 carries with 4 touchdowns, including that galvanizing conversion in overtime at Miami.

While Plancher was still doing his one-yard-per-carry thing, Murray took over the position in garbage time initially, but showed an outstanding combination of speed and power that resulted in his 4.5 YPC mark. His style of play was essential in Skip Holtz's ground-and-pound strategy at Florida, where Murray recorded 11 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown.

With two 100-yard games (against Western Kentucky and Cincinnati), Demetris Murray may very well have earned himself the starting job that he perhaps should have held in the second half of last year. Unfortunately for him, however, is the fact that he's going to have much stronger competition for the job this year, as he'll have to stack up against Colorado transfer, and former #1 RB recruit in the nation, Darrell Scott and Auburn transfer Dontae Aycock. In spring practice, Murray saw a majority of the carries, which just might indicate that his seniority and potential may have reserved him a spot on the field for opening day.

So what do you think, USF fans? Genus was a great player on the offensive line for the Bulls, but where do you think he should have been placed on the list? Murray was a great runner between the tackles, but was he the fifth most important player on this football team? Should these guys be higher, or lower? Leave your thoughts below. Go Bulls!