2008 South Florida Football
Head coach Jim Leavitt remains one of the most underrated teachers of the game. Leavett has turned this South Florida team into a powerhouse, compiling a 79-47 record in 11 seasons there. South Florida was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation last year, before losing three straight heartbreakers by a touchdown or less. The Bulls rebounded to win their final three regular season games, but a 21-56 setback to Oregon in the Sun Bowl has to have left a sour taste in players’ mouths. Let’s see if they can use this motivation to get off to a hot start as the Info Plays team previews their 2008 South Florida Bulls football predictions below.
Offense:
The Bulls return 10 starters on offense, including dual-threat quarterback Matt Grothe. This stud led a Bulls’ offense that averaged 34.7 points and 414 yards per game last season. Grothe led with Bulls with 872 yards rushing to go along with his 2,670 passing yards in ‘07. He enters his junior year with 29 TD passes and 19 rushes for scores. Sophomore Mike Ford is back after rushing for 672 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns last year. He is a load at 6-2, 225 and his role should increase as the coached lighten the burden on Grothe.
The top five receivers all return. Sophomore Carlton Mitchell, junior Jessie Hester Jr., and senior Taurus Johnson are a trio that combined for 106 catches and a dozen touchdowns last season. Running back Benjamin Williams and tight end Cedric Hill combined for 48 catches as well. Junior Colby Erskin won a starting job at receiver last preseason before getting injured. He’ll help make the wideout position deep and talented this year. Four starters return on the offensive line, headed by All-Big East senior guard Ryan Schmidt.
Defense:
Three big losses on the defensive side of the ball are a big cause for concern. Linebacker Ben Moffitt and cornerback Mike Jenkins will All-Big East first-teamers, and cornerback Trae Williams was a second-team selection. Coordinator Wally Burnham experimented with the line backing corps in the spring and ended up with senior Tyron McKenzie in the middle, flanked by veteran senior Brouce Mompremier and junior Chris Robinson. McKenzie set a team record with 121 tackles last season after transferring from Iowa State. Leading candidates for cornerback jobs are senior Tyller Roberts and junior Jerome Murphy. The two have combined for three interceptions in their careers.
The Bulls feature two veteran safeties in senior Carlton Williams, who has 33 career starts, and junior Nate Allen, who had four interceptions. Danny Verpaele was declared ineligible last season, but he’s back to add depth and competition to the safety position. Junior defensive end George Selvie, the reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Year, led the league in sacks with 14.5 and tackles for loss with 31.5. His tackles for loss were nearly twice as many as the second-place finisher. Senior Jarriett Buie started nine games at the other end, and junior Aaron Harris is a returning starter at tackle. Harris finished second on the roster with 5.5 sacks a year ago.
South Florida Football Predictions at Info Plays: 2nd in the Big East
South Florida reached No. 2 in the nation last season, but faded away when the spotlight was at its brightest. They are hungry to right those wrongs and close losses from last year. They have the stars and experience on both sides of the ball to make noise again. The Bulls should be in the thick of the Big East race, perhaps all the way to a Dec. 6 game at West Virginia where the league title will likely be decided.
The Bulls open the season ranked No. 21 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. Voice your opinion on where they stand and check out the perspective from other college football fans just like you.
Big East Wins Expected in ‘08: PITTSBURGH, SYRACUSE, RUTGERS, CONNECTICUT
Potential Scares/Losses: at Louisville, at Cincinnati, at West Virginia
Related Articles You May Be Interested In:
- Pittsburgh/South Florida Predictions
- Kansas/South Florida Predictions
- Pittsburgh/South Florida Football Picks October 2nd
- 2008 Florida Gators
- 2007 SouthFlorida Football Predictions
- 2007 Florida Football Predictions
- 2008 Pittsburgh Panthers Football
- 2008 South Carolina Gamecocks
- South Carolina/Florida NCAAB Free Picks for Tuesday!
- 2008 Syracuse Football