Trip Down Memory Lane; Looking Back at the 2006 Recruiting Class

2006 was a fun year, it brought the first bowl win in program history to the program and an interesting group of young freshman were a part of it.

2006, what a year it was.  After the football team made it to their first bowl game in 2005, the 2006 recruiting class joined the campus.  It was my sophomore year, I had moved out of my humble Kappa dorm and into an apartment off campus.  As I made the move, the new incoming freshmen were moving onto campus and beginning their USF careers as the team returned to a bowl game and beat ECU for the program's first bowl win (wonder who's team they beat that year?)  Here are the players from the 2006 class and what they did during their careers.

1. Edner Alcin - 6-0 164-pounds - Wide receiver - Tampa, FL (Chamberlain HS)

A local product, the 3-star prospect came to USF but never quite going in his career.  After redshirting in 2006, he appeared in 8 games for the Bulls, playing as a back-up to Marcus Edwards, but did record one catch for 26 yards.  In 2008, he was once again a back-up, this time to Jessie Hester Jr. and appeared in 7 games, recording 2 receptions for 17 yards.  His 2008 season was cut short after appearing in 8 games and recording 1 catch for 5 yards.  Injuries forced him to miss the rest of the season and in 2009, he decided to leave the football program.  Alcin was a victim of the depth on the roster and the style of offense the Bulls played with different attacks each week and an emphasis on rushing the ball during those years.

2. Nate Allen - 6-2 190-pounds - Quarterback - Cape Coral, FL (Cape Coral HS)

Yes, another offensive player that was moved over to the defensive side of the ball (just like Selvie).  The 2-star quarterback was never going to be compete with Grothe, so the coaching staff decided to move him over to defense and special teams and it worked out well.  His first season, mostly on special teams, he recorded 2 tackles but was limited due a quad injury late in the season.  In 2007, Allen exploded on the scene as a starting safety, starting 13 games for the Bulls and totaling 76 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 8 pass break-ups, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 touchdowns, shocking everyone after just 2 years removed from quarterback that he would make the natural transition to safety.  Allen displayed excellent skills in the field, reacting, getting back in coverage, and making great solid tackles.  In 2008, he made all 13 starts, recording 53 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception.  Allen returned in 2008 for his senior season and made 85 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 interceptions, 4 pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble and scored a touchdown in his last season.  Allen was drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles and has shined at times for them but has also dealt with injuries that have held him back.  Allen is one of my personal favorites of all time for USF.  I had class with him and spoke with him many times.  He was a very humble, easy going, and bright young man that was also one of the smartest football players on the field.

3. Delbert Alvarado - 6-2 185-pounds - Kicker - Tampa, FL (Robinson HS)

For those who know the name, he has a reputation for some of the USF alum who remember his kicking performance against Auburn, but overall, Alvarado had a solid career for the Bulls.  Alvarado won kicking duties starting in 2006 as he beat out struggling Mike Benzer for the job.  He was 5 of 9 that year and 13 of 14 in extra point attempts.  He also punted the ball 10 times, averaging 34.3 yards a kick, showing his strong leg.  In 2007, the kicking job was his, but he struggled at times, going 19 of 29 (52 of 53 in XPA).  His most notorious game was at Auburn where he was just 2 of 6 as the Bulls went to overtime to win that game. He punted the ball well, however, averaging 41.6 yards a kick on 58 punts and kicked off 14 times that season.  In 2008, after going just 1 of 4 on field goal attempts, a new young kicker named Maikon Bonani took over the job from Alvarado, pushing him back to strictly punting duties, where he averaged 39.7 yards a punt (48 punts) and was the kick off specialist, kicking off 11  times before Bonani took over that duty as well.  In 2009, after Bonani was out for the year with his back injury at Busch Gardens, Alvarado tried to win back the job, but was just 1 for 5 before walk-on Eric Schwartz took over.  Alvarado continued to remain the starting punter and averaged 40.6 yards a punt during his senior season.  Alvarado graduated and is now working out with the Dallas Cowboys as he looks to continue his career.

4. James Boger - 6-4 315-pounds - Offensive lineman - St. Petersburg, FL (Dixie Hollins HS)

Boger, rated 2 stars coming out high school, enrolled, worked out with the team for a few days and decided to leave after that.  It was a short lived USF career.

5. Keeley Dorsey - 5-11 207-pounds - Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln HS)

The talented young freshman joined the team, but during a workout on campus, Dorsey collapsed and passed away due to a heart disorder (RIP in Keeley).  This is probably one of the saddest things I have ever seen for a family to go through and prayers still go out to the family.  I personally recall the day after news broke about his unfortunate death, it was one of the rainiest days in Tampa, but not a thunderstorm, just a gloomy, misty rain all day.  It was very saddening and the time continued to  bring his jersey out to each game in his memory that season.

6. Dylan Douglas - 5-10 170-pounds - Jacksonville, FL (Andrew Jackson HS)

Douglas, a 2-star defensive back, redshirted his first season and left the program after just one season.

7. David Fonua - 6-2 250-pounds - Bradenton, FL (Southeast HS)

Fonua, a 2-star lineman, enrolled in the fall of 2006 and joined the team starting in 2007.  He redshirted his first season with the Bulls and appeared in 1 game in 2008, totaling 1 tackle.  He left the program in 2009.

8. LeBrandon Glover - 6-0 217-pounds - Linebacker - Pensacola, FL (Pensacola HS)

Glover, a 2-star prospect, redshirted his first season then transferred out (notice a lot of this class transferred out).

9. Aaron Harris - 6-5 250-pounds - Defensive End - Williston, FL (Williston HS)

Harris had a long and productive career with the Bulls.  The 2-star prospect played in 10 games his first season, starting 6 of them and totaled 10 tackles and a half tackle for loss.  In 2007, he started in 11 games and totaled 25 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks, becoming a tremendous pass rusher off the edge.  In 2008, working across from Selvie, Harris made 12 starts, totaling 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.  His playing time was reduced in 2009 (some guy named Jason Pierre-Paul was here) but did start 6 games, totaling 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks and forced 1 fumble.  He was a great leader on the line and helped anchor a great defensive line over those years.

10. Frank Harry - 6-3 285-pounds - Defensive tackle - Poplarville, MS (Pearl River C.C.)

Harry, a JUCO transfer, was with the team for a week before he decided to leave.

11. Zach Hermann - 6-3 310-pounds - Offensive lineman - Tarpon Springs, FL (East Lake HS)

Hermann, a 2-star prospect, redshirted his first season in 2006 and started every game in 2007 at guard for the Bulls.  2008, he was limited to just 7 games (5 starts) due to a foot injury that took him out of action.  He returned in 2009 and appeared in 9 games before a neck injury ended his season.  He was named 3rd team All Big East, but decided to leave the football program due to the injuries he had sustained over the years.

12. Jeff Ide - 6-6 250-pounds - Offensive Lineman - Bradenton, FL (Manatee HS)

Ide, a 2-star prospect, redshirted his first season but left the team in 2007 due to a lingering foot injury that took him off the field.

13. James Jackson - 6-1 260-pounds - Defensive end - Santa Monica, CA (Santa Monica C.C.)

A 2-star JUCO that did not qualify to enroll at USF and was never part of the football program.

14. Joseph Jackson - 6-4 188-pounds - Defensive end/linebacker - Miami, FL (Booker T. Washington HS)

After failing to qualify to enroll at USF, Jackson went to Butler Community College and would not return to USF.

15. Sabbath Joseph - 5-11 203-pounds - Linebacker - Miami, FL (Central HS)

Joseph, a 2-star linebacker, redshirted his first season and appeared in 12 games in 2007, totaling 14 tackles as a reserve. In 2008, he totaled 19 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 interception, gaining a little more playing time.  Joseph became a starter in 2009, totaling 48 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 pass break-ups, and forced 3 fumbles.  In 2010, he started 1 game, being used as more a reserve, totaling 43 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 pass break-ups, and forced 1 fumble.

16.  Andrew Ketchel - 6-5 215-pounds - Fort Walton Beach, FL (Chochtawhatchee HS)

Ketchel, a 2-star prospect, was part of a rarely used tight end position under the old coaching regime.  After redshirting in 2006, Ketchel appeared in 8 games in 2007, being used as an extra blocker.  He made 1 start in 2008 and appeared in 6 games as well.  In 2009, he made 2 starts and caught his first 2 career passes for 42 yards that year.  In 2010, he had his one catch of the season against the Gators in the Swamp for a 2-yard touchdown, the only catch he made all season.  Like we have said before, the tight end position wasn't used that much in the past, tight ends were merely another body on the line to help block for the run game. 

17. Alwan Lee - 6-0 171-pounds - Athlete - Miami, FL (Booker T. Washington HS)

Lee, a 2-star recruit, went to Mississippi Gulf C.C. in 2006 after failing to qualify at USF.  In his first season there, he injured his knee and never made it to USF after that.

18.  Craig Marshall - 6-4 206-pounds - Defensive end - Fort Walton Beach, FL (Chctawahatchee HS)

Marshall, a 3-star prospect, went to junior college right after high school and joined the Bulls in 2008 where he made 2 starts and recorded 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack that season.  In 2009, he made 4 starts and recorded 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks that season as he saw more playing time. In his final season in 2010, Marshall started 8 games, recording 34 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks, becoming a great senior leader and even better pass rusher in that final season (first season under Holtz as well).

19. Kevin McCaskill - 6-0 287-pounds - Offensive lineman - Tallahassee, FL (Godby HS)

A 2-star recruit, McCaskill enrolled in 2008, a semester later (joined with his brother Keith).  He appeared in 4 games in 2008 and 6 games in 2009, starting 1 game at center due to an injury to starter Sampson Genus.  In 2010, he was a reserve at both guard and center that season, providing much needed depth on the line.  He appeared in 3 games in 2011, mostly as a reserve to starter center Chaz Hine.

20. Alonzo McQueen - 6-1 199-pounds - Linebacker - Jacksonville, FL (Robert E. Lee HS)

McQueen, a 3-star prospect, redshirted his first season with the Bulls.  In 2007, he recorded 3 tackles as a reserve and totaled just one tackle in 2008.  In the beginning of 2009, after working with the second team defense throughout the spring, McQueen transferred out.

21. Carlton Mitchell - 6-3 188-pounds - Wide receiver - Tampa, FL (Gaither HS)

Mitchell, a 3-star prospect that decided to stay close to home, became one of the best receivers in program history.  After redshirting in 2006, he burst onto the scene in 2007 with 35 receptions for 537 yards and 4 touchdowns, becoming a big time vertical threat that had great hands and a solid frame to beat and shield off defenders.  In 2008, he recorded 28 receptions for 405 yards and a touchdown.  In 2009, he recorded 40 passes for 706 yards (single season record) and hauled in 4 more touchdowns. Mitchell, now with the Cleveland Browns, became one of the best vertical threats in program history.  Watching him, it was a mismatch every time he went down the field with a defender, using his long stride to out-pace them and always seemed to come up with a huge grab.

22. Julian Riley - 6-4 285-pounds - Defensive tackle - St. Petersburg, FL (Lakewood HS)

After 3 years at UF where he was a reserve, Riley returned closer to come by coming back to Tampa.  He appeared as a reserve in 5 games in 2006 and appeared in 6 games in 2007, but never recorded a stat during that time.

23. Aston Samuels - 6-0 190-pounds - Running back - Belle Glade, FL (Glades Central HS)

Samuels, a 2-star prospect, redshirted his first season.  In 2006, he ran 21 times for 167 yards and caught 4 passes for 21 yards. However, he took a medical redshirt in 2008 and only carried the ball 6 times for 34 yards in 2009.  In 2010, with lingering ankle issues, he graduated early and did not use his last year of eligibility with the team.

24. Jason Sherman - 6-4 195-pounds - Wide receiver - Jacksonville, FL (First Coast HS)

Sherman, a 3-star recruit, redshirted his first season.  In 2007, he caught just 1 pass for 16 yards and only appeared in 4 games in 2008.  He was once again a reserve in 2009 but also dealt with several injuries that forced him to leave the football team at the start of 2010 after receiving his degree.

25. Joshua Smiley - 6-3 230-pounds - Tight end - Milton, FL (Milton HS)

Smiley, a 2-star recruit, who moved to defensive end/linebacker out of high school, eventually transferred to Bethune-Cookman. 

26. Leslie Stirrups - 6-2 274-pounds - Defensive tackle - Tampa, FL (Hillsborough HS)

The former 4-star recruit didn't quite live up to the hype.  Before coming to USF, Stirrups went to Pearl River (Miss.) Community College and East Mississippi Community College before joining USF in 2009.  Then, he appeared in just 9 games and totaled 9 tackles.  In 2010, being listed on the third team defense, he was dismissed by Coach Holtz before the season started for a violation of team rules.  Stirrups had a very checkered path before coming to USF and he never quite lived up to the expectations that surrounded him coming out of high school.