Down with JPP Tribute Song

Are You Down with JPP? As the Giants head back to New York to celebrate their great Super Bowl win, USF fans celebrate as two Bulls, Jason Pierre-Paul and Jacquian Williams win Super Bowl rings as well. JPP, the incredible pass rusher that had 16.5 sacks had a huge game for the Giants and Williams, a rising rookie linebacker, had 3 tackles as they helped win Super Bowl XLVI.

So in tribute to JPP and the Giants, this song, a remake of a Naughty by Nature classic, is dedicated to JPP and his incredible season. Once again, congrats to the Giants and the Super Bowl winning Bulls.

Jason Pierre-Paul and Jacquian Williams Win Super Bowl XLVI with New York Giants

USF Alums Big Plays Lift Giants in Super Bowl Victory.

The New York Giants are Super Bowl Champions, 21 to 17, as they hold on to beat the New England Giants. As the Giants celebrate their huge victory, two former USF Bulls celebrate with them. Star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who finished the season with 16.5 sacks, had 2 tackles on the game and deflected two huge passes to help the defense stop Brady and the offense. He was able to get plenty of pressure during the game to help the Giants win. Jacquian Williams, a rookie getting plenty of playing time, finished the night with 3 tackles as well.

JPP and Williams joins former LB Kawika Mitchell (who coincidentally was on the 2008 Super Bowl XLII championship team) as one of USF's representatives in the ring Super Bowl Champions. Once again, congrats to the Giants and special congrats to JPP and Jacquian for their efforts in getting a championship and making more history for the Bulls nation.

Bulls in the Pros: Jacquian Williams

Jacquian Williams continues to shine in his rookie season with the Giants. 

The Bulls have had some talented players go to the NFL in the past few seasons, even last year.  One player that continues to rise to the challenge is linebacker Jacquian Williams (6-3 224-pounds).  Williams was selected in the 6th round by the New York Giants and has come on this year, racking up the tackles and helping the team stay in the playoff hunt in the NFC East. 

Bulls in the NFL: Carlton Mitchell with the Browns

Carlton Mitchell is hoping to stay healthy this season with the Browns.

There are a lot of Bulls making their way in the NFL and while we have taken a look at several of the defensive players, there are a handful making their way on offense as well. Probably one of the better offensive players to suit up for Bulls over the past few season is looking to get going in his career with the Browns, wide receiver Carlton Mitchell. [keep reading]

Tyrone McKenzie Slips on Bucs Depth Chart

Former USF Bulls Tyrone McKenzie is slipping on the Bucs recent depth chart.

We mentioned last week that former Bull Tyrone McKenzie had been working hard and progressing with the Bucs, taking snaps with the first team defense and making strides, it appears now he will have to work a little harder.

The Bucs released their first depth chart of the Spring and McKenzie has taken a step back behind the 3rd round draft pick Mason Foster. The 6-2 242-pound tackling machine out of Washington was selected by the Bucs to fill the void left behind by veteran Barrett Rudd who went to the Titans.

Even more recently than the release of the depth chart, the Bucs have come out and stated that veteran linebacker Quincy Black, usually an outside linebacker, will come in on 3rd down plays and on passing downs, leaving Foster in to handle the running downs as he gets use to the play calling and speed of the NFL game (from what I am hearing, he isn't do the greatest job in the middle in the passing game and could be beat easily once the season starts).

So where does this leave the former Bull? It leaves him on the roster, but will be cutting into his playing time at least early in the season. McKenzie has some experience, which is more than Foster has at the moment and the Bucs will use him on the field due to his ability to play the pass and experience with the play calling. He will get a chance to show himself on the field as the Bucs take on the Chiefs tomorrow night (NFL IS BACK!)

Kevin Gidrey Released from Redskins

The Redskins have released former USF tight end Kevin Gidrey.

Former Bulls are having a rough start to the 2011 NFL season. With Murphy and Bogan both out for the season, another player was cut from their respective team today.

Fullback/tight end Kevin Gidrey was released from the Washington Redskins as the pro teams begin to cut and set their rosters. The 6-2 256-pound Gidrey had been doing well with the Redskins since the lockout was lifted, but now it appears he will have to find a new team.

Gidrey, the transfer from ECU wasn't a huge passing catching threat for the Bulls. He recorded 8 receptions for 95 yards including a long of 27 yards in 13 games (started 11 games). He was used primarily as a blocking fullback or blocking tight end as the offense began to transition to a more traditional pro-style and away from the old spread offense of two years ago. Gidrey was a solid contributor during his career at ECU, starting 21 games and appearing in 41 games total.

Gidrey will begin the search for a new team but should be able to find it quickly. He is a strong blocker, a hard worker and will find his way onto an NFL field soon.

We wish Gidrey the best of luck as he pursues his NFL career.

Bulls in the NFL: Jerome Murphy Out for the Season

Jerome Murphy appears to be done for the season (Picture:www.yahoo.com)

We continue to take a look at some of the Bulls who were recently drafted by the NFL and look to catch up on the impact the are making in the league (aren't we all glad the NFL is back on schedule?)

This time we take a look at cornerback Jerome Murphy and how his career is going with the St. Louis Rams. The 3rd-round pick in the 2010 draft had a solid first season with the Rams, but it appears his 2011 season is already over. [keep reading]

Bulls in the NFL: George Selvie with the Rams

Former USF great George Selvie continues to work hard for the St. Louis Rams.

The Bulls have enjoyed a lot of recent success in the past few years and star players have made their way to the NFL gridiron to continue their play after they graduate. One of the biggest stars to have ever played for USF, defensive end George Selvie, continues to grow in the NFL level and looks to make an even bigger impact in his second season as a pro. [keep reading]

Bulls in the NFL: Nate Allen Recovering for Eagles

Find out how former USF safety Nate Allen is doing with the Eagles and how he is recovering from his knee injury.

The Eagles are one of the most talked about NFL teams right now due to their recent moves in their secondary. With the signing of Nnamdi Asomugha, the trade for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and veteran cornerback Asante Samuel, the Eagles secondary is loaded with talent. However, they have another player, a former Bull, that is making his way back from a nasty knee injury and come make a big impact on their season. [keep reading]

Dontavia Bogan Injured with 49ers

Wide receiver Dontavia Bogan will miss the 2011 season for the San Francisco 49er's.

From Greg Auman - Some sad news from yesterday. Former USF wide receiver Dontavia Bogan tweeted that in just his second day with the San Francisco 49er's, that his season is already over after suffering a knee injury. MRI results showed a torn ACL ligament and a cracked bone in his knee (according to his tweet).

Bogan, the 6-1 188-pound deep threat out of Thomasville, Georgia was the best receiver for the Bulls last season. In 12 games (missed one due to an ankle sprain) Bogan had 47 receptions for 685 yards including a long of 64-yards. He hauled in a total of 6 touchdowns and averaged 14.6 yards per reception. Bogan was also a standout on special teams during his career at USF, returning 69 kickoffs for a total of 1598 yards, including a career long of 71-yards. Bogan had been working hard all during the lockout for a chance, but now unfortunately it has come to an abrupt end in camp in 2011.

According to GA, since he did sign a contract, he has been placed on injured reserve, allowing him to stay on the team, but of course he is out for the season.

All of us from Bull Rush and the entire USf family wish Bogan the best and hope he has a speedy and successful recovery so he can tear up the turf in San Francisco in 2012.

Lockout Ending is Bittersweet for Bulls Fans

If you were following me on twitter this morning, you probably saw this:

Make no mistake, I love NFL football; and as a Jets fan, this year was something to look forward to. But I, and many other fans of college football in the Bay area, was willing to sacrifice this year in NFL football for a year of building support for a perennially good college team that gets overshadowed by the deep-rooted NFL Buccaneers. This lockout would have granted the use of Raymond James Stadium to USF for the whole season, and, more importantly, it would have lent USF some filled seats that they have been desperately chasing for the past few years as the program grew.

Think about that for a minute. Raymond James all to ourselves? USF banners and flags outside and throughout the stadium? End zones painted green and gold with "BULLS"? No more stupid white flag with an outlined USF logo at the 50 yard line? That all sounded like exactly what USF needed to break the mold of "just a college team in an NFL city", like many other Big East teams.

All in all, this lockout would probably have been the best thing to happen to not only USF, but the Big East as a whole. While USF and Pitt play in their respective NFL stadiums, Cincinnati and Rutgers also have very nearby NFL fanbases. That combined with Louisville's and Syracuse's shot at a comeback to the league's elite could have proven to be the best attendance year the league has ever seen (sorry, UConn, you don't really apply here).

So the ending of this lockout is bittersweet for fans like myself. And although many people will be going back to just waiting for Sunday to come around to watch some football, there will surely be some fans that appreciate the permanence of college football. So maybe we won't snatch up all the Bucs fans to our games, but we'll likely be seeing some new faces in the stands.

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.

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.