Manatee High product Mike Galati new starting center for USF

TAMPA -- The USF spring football game was laced with some Manatee County flavor. The Bulls' new starting center is Manatee High grad Mike Galati, and his backup is his former high school teammate, Brooks Larkin.

Galati is a redshirt sophomore, Larkin was admitted to the Air Force Academy from high school. He went to the Academy's prep school and then decided to leave and came to USF.

"Mike is doing a great job. He had a great spring. Our entire offensive line did well today and it all started with Mike," USF head coach Willie Taggart said.

Another newcomer to the Bulls is linebacker Greg Reaves from Manatee High. He went to the same prep school as Larkin and also decided to leave and come to USF. He played linebacker and defensive end in Saturday's spring game.

"I liked what I saw today. He is progressing," USF defensive coordinator Ray Woodie said. "We knew he was a good player and he did some good things this spring for the first time putting his hands in the dirt. I think he is going to help us in rushing the passer."

Larkin and Reaves are redshirt freshmen and Galati is a redshirt sophomore. Also on the Bulls roster is Braden River grad Ryan Hintze, a redshirt junior who has moved from defense to tight end.

Game Stat Leaders:

Passing: Asaintii Woulard 9-16-0, 152 yards, 1 TD; Quinton Flowers 15-22-1 129 yards, 1 TD.

Rushing: Darius Tice 14-80, Trevon Sands16-57, 1 TD; Flowers 10-45, D'Ernest Johnson 7-42,

Marlon Mack 8-37.

Receiving: A.J. Legree 7-73, Tyre MCCants 6-83, 2 TDs, Rodney Adams 4-91, 1 TD, Marquez Valdes 4-72, Mack 3-24, 1 TD.

Defense: Bruce Hector 2 sacks (-11 yards), 3 tfl (-14). Khalid McGee 10 tackles (7 solos)

Alan Dell, Herald sports columnist/writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter@ADellSports

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee High product Mike Galati new starting center for USF ."