USF's Best Receiver

Concerns with the consistency of quarterback play last year had Bulls fans questioning how far USF could really go. The defense was solid, and the running game played well, but real good football teams move the ball through the air. That's why the Bulls relied so much on the athleticism of the receivers and some trickery to keep themselves in football games.

So who is USF's best receiver? The topic is obviously debatable, and maybe there is no answer, but great receivers are something that makes the football team stand out. Especially after the loss of Dontavia Bogan and Carlton Mitchell in consecutive years, the team was left thin at the position unless a few guys stepped up. Impressive efforts came forward this offseason by youngsters Stephen Bravo-Brown, Andre Davis, and Ruben Gonzalez, but they're still making their transitions to the game. Sterling Griffin returns this year from an ankle injury, and with his track star speed he's a very good choice to be one of the best. He had a great showing in South Bend, leading the team in all receiving categories against the Irish. A.J. Love, once regarded as one of the top receivers on the team before his preseason ACL injury, is also returning for one more season, but due to his removal from the game and his mentality, Love is physically excellent but lacks the confidence that a leading receiver should have for now. Love will make some good progress in his transition back into the game in the coming weeks, and should have his confidence restored by the beginning of Big East play.

In my opinion, the best receiver for the Bulls is Evan Landi, who hauled in the lone offensive touchdown for USF on Saturday. Since he was moved away from under the center, Landi has been used as a big target at the slot receiver position, mostly getting looks when Bogan was covered downfield. With his size, Landi became a popular option for passes over the middle of the field, which results in plenty of hard hits right as the ball arrives, but Landi was rarely affected. He holds onto the ball no matter who is coming at him. Catching passes over the middle of course doesn't allow a lot of opportunity for yards after catch, but the catch-to-drop ratio is the important category, and he does not disppoint. On multiple occasions, Landi has been overthrown or had a bad location for a pass. Each time, he found a way to pull it down in bounds and allow the team to keep rolling.

Give B.J. Daniels credit, though. Through all the criticism of last season, B.J. rose up and spent the entire offseason learning from his troubles, and is now a much improved quarterback. But as improved as he is, he's human, which means he'll make a bad pass now and then, and he'll need the help of a good pass catcher. To me, the choice is clear. Landi isn't the track star on the field, but his hands are undoubtedly the best on the team. His experience at quarterback early in his career also assists in his non-verbal communication with the playcallers. A good football team should have great receivers, and USF definitely has one in Evan Landi.