SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
The emergence of Quinton Flowers last season changed the whole dynamics of the South Florida football program turning the Bulls into a contender and one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
With Flowers at the controls, USF ended a string of four consecutive losing seasons in spectacular fashion, averaging 33.6 points per game, which nearly doubled its 2014 average (17.2) and finished by averaging 47 points per game in their last four games.
Flowers was dynamic in his first season as a starter, amassing 3,287 total yards and 34 touchdowns, including 991 yards rushing, with a set of playmaking skills that enabled him to avoid sacks and turn broken plays into the big gainers that confounded defenses.
Now the Bulls will expect even more from the junior as they make a run for their first AAC East division title and berth in the league championship game. The best part is Flowers has shown the skill set to to make that happen with arguably the best set of receivers that USF has had at his disposal and running back Marlon Mack.
Under Flowers the Bulls set school records for total offense and touchdowns. And for the first time under head coach Willie Taggart USF has an established quarterback entering the season.
DB to watch
Deatrick Nichols, Jr.
The Thorpe Award candidate and 2015 first-team, all-conference selection led team with four interceptions and five pass breakups. He ranked fourth with 62 tackles and third with 8.5 tackles for losses. He added a sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
IMPACT NEWCOMER
Marquez Valdes-
Scantling, Jr., WR
The transfer from N.C. State adds to an already talented corps of receivers that could produce the Bulls’ first 1,000-yard receiver. At 6-3, 210, he has an abundance of speed and explosiveness that enables him to separate from receivers. He had 44 receptions in two years with the Wolfpack and is a former high school teammate of USF’s top receiver Rodney Adams.
At a glance
Herald’s forecast: 9-3
This is the year everyone has been waiting for since Willie Taggart took over four years ago. The team returns 14 starters and the program’s three offensive single-season record setters: Quinton Flowers, Marlon Mack and Rodney Adams. The Bulls return five of their top six tacklers. Raymond Woodie is the new defensive coordinator, and he plans to keep the Bulls’ 4-2-5 defense, which is led by linebacker Auggie Sanchez, the AAC’s top returning tackler (117).
Deep at: Running back, receiver
Thin at: Offensive line, defensive line
Head coach: Willie Taggart
Career: Fourth season with USF (14-23); 30-43 overall
2016 schedule
S3 | Towson, 7 |
S10 | No. Illinois, 7 |
S17 | at Syracuse*, 3:30 |
S24 | Florida St., 11 a.m. |
O1 | at Cincinnati* |
O8 | East Carolina* |
O15 | Connecticut |
O21 | at Temple, 7 |
O28 | Navy* |
N12 | at Memphis* |
N19 | at SMU* |
N26 | Central Florida* |
* — Conference game
Times TBD unless noted
2015 results
Florida A&M W, 51-3 at FSU L, 34-14 at Maryland L, 35-17 Memphis L, 24-17 Syracuse W, 45-24 at Connecticut W, 28-20 SMU W, 38-14 at Navy L, 29-17 at East Carolina W, 22-17 Temple W, 44-23 Cincinnati W, 65-27 at UCF W, 44-3 MIAMI BEACH BOWL Western Kentucky L, 45-35 |
This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS."