The 2012 Spring season will be a great chance to see one of the deepest and most skilled positions on the field, wide receiver and tight end. The Bulls have one of the deepest and most skilled groups of receivers in the conference and with a senior quarterback and solid offensive line, it could be a big season passing the ball for USF.
The real question this spring is who will win the starting jobs and who will take over the depth chart. There are so many stars on the team that could win the jobs, but the competition will be fierce and even the reserve rolls will be hard to come by with this deep group. The Bulls only lose two seniors from last year's team in AJ Love and Joel Miller, so the experience returning is huge.
The top returner is Sterling Griffin (6-0 189-pounds). Griffin returned last year from ankle injuries the year before and became the primary receiver. He missed time due to another ankle injury in the middle of the season, but came back at the end of the year and continued to be the main go-to weapon. Behind him is junior Victor Marc (5-11 220-pounds) who could see time at running back this Spring and kick return specialist Lindsey Lamar (Junior, 5-9 172-pounds) who is not a big time part of the vertical passing threat, but provides a speed option on the inside.
Lining up at the other wide receiver position is Andre Davis (6-1 200-pounds). Davis burst on the scene in his freshman year becoming a sure handed threat that will only get better with more time (could win one of the wide receiver jobs). Behind him is sophomore Stephen Bravo-Brown who earned a scholarship after being a walk-on a year before (solid receiver that battled a few injuries last year).
At the slot receiver position is the nicknamed "YAC Master" Deonte Welch (6-0 204-pounds) who emerged during his redshirt freshman year as a go-to target that was capable of turning the ball upfield after the initial hit with the defender. Behind him is Ruben Gonzalez (6-3 197-pounds) that showed flashes in his brief playing time. Each starting position is deep with talent, but there are other names out there that will be major factors during Spring and into the season.
UF transfer Chris Dunkley (6-0 185-pounds) who sat out last season (transfer rules) has been noted as one of the most sure-handed targets on the team. He had wrist surgery in the off season and could be limited at the start of Spring but will be a big time weapon this year. Terrence Mitchell (5-10 160-pounds) missed most of 2011 with a concussion. He returns as one of the fastest receivers on the team and could be just another lethal weapon in the open field. Jordan Duval, Derrick Hopkins, and William Whiteside are also other options at receiver, but they will have to work harder than ever if they want to get on the field.
The tight end position also another interesting position to watch this season with familiar faces returning, hoping to add more production to the position.
Evan Landi (6-3 227-pounds) returns for his senior season after switching over to the position last year. Junior Andreas Shields (6-4 246-pounds) also returns as well, giving the Bulls two big bodies that can get down the field.
Michael McFarland (6-5 240-pounds, another transfer from UF) played sparingly last year after he got a waiver from the NCAA to play (big time threat, will have more experience this spring). Jeff Hawkins (6-4 251-pounds) who missed last year with an injury, returns as well to the depth chart. Tyler Guy (6-5 243-pounds), Isaac Virgin (6-4 245-pounds), Robert Arnemann (6-2 214-pounds), and Jake Carlton (6-3 220-pounds) all return as well on the depth chart.
From the players above, this is a deep unit, probably the deepest in many years for USF. The starting positions are somewhat open with Griffin and Davis the favorites. Welch could be the slot receiver, but Dunkley and others will push them. It will be interesting to see how the players progress, who wins the back-up spots, and how the tight end position with McFarland and Hawkins in the mix works itself out.
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