Bulls add Bell, push to jump-start offense
USF is looking to bounce back after suffering through a collapse late in the 2018 season. The Bulls hired new offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell, who is installing a highscoring offense that could be just what USF players need to put last season behind them.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2019 season. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 53: USF
Coach: Charlie Strong (17-8, entering third season; 70-45 overall)
2018 record: 7-6, 3-5 in the American Athletic Conference; fourth in the East Division
Look back: It was a tale of two halves for USF, with the Bulls opening last season by winning their first seven games, climbing as high as No. 21 in the Associated Press top 25 poll. But as quickly as the undefeated team ascended the the polls, things unraveled during a six-game losing streak that was capped with a humiliating loss to Marshall in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Offensive starters 9
Offensive starters lost: 2
Defensive starters 5
Defensive starters 6
returning: returning:
lost:
Key losses: WR Tyre McCants, WR Eric Mayes, DB Ronnie Higgins, LB Khalid McGee, DB Mazzi Wilkins, DT Kevin Bronson, DE Josh Black, DB Jaymon Thomas
Top returnees: QB Blake Barnett, RB Jordan Cronkrite, TE Mitchell Wilcox, TE Mitchell Wilcox, OL William Atterbury, OL Marcus Norman, OL Brad Cecil, WR Stanley Clerveaux, WR Randall St. Felix, DE Greg Reaves, DE Kirk Livingston, DB Mike Hampton, DB Nick Roberts, DT Kevin Kegler
Strengths: The Bulls coaching staff went through an overhaul during the offseason, with five new assistant coaches joining the staff including Bell (offensive coordinator) and Jeremy Darveau (offensive line coach). Bell led Valdosta State to the Division II national championship. The Blazers featured the top scoring offense in the country last season after averaging more than 50 points per game.
Bell inherits an offense that returns nine starters led by quarterback Blake Barnett, who passed for 2,710 yards and 12 touchdowns during 11 games last season. Barnett spent the offseason focusing on his health, hiring a nutritionist to help improve his performance.
“What to eat at the right times of the day is something that’s really going to help me, especially coming into my senior season, to maintain the weight and hopefully help maintain my health,” said Barnett, who added 10 pounds during spring practice.
Tailbacks Jordan Cronkrite (1,121 yards) and Johnny Ford (787 yards) provided the offense with a one-two punch out of the backfield. The pair combined for 17 explosive plays 20 or more yards, setting up seven touchdowns. Ford’s versatility could work well in Bell’s offense, with the sophomore working out at wide receiver as well as tailback during the spring.
Tight end Mitchell Wilcox and receiver Randall St. Felix are the top returning pass catchers for the Bulls. Wilcox set a school record for tight ends with 540 yards on 43 receptions, while St. Felix led the team in receiving yards (679) and receiving touchdowns (4).
As much as the Bulls
2019 schedule
struggled on defense, the team featured one of the better pass defenses in the conference. The group allowed opponents to complete 55% of their passes for fewer than 200 yards per game. USF allowed 300 or more yards passing just twice last season (UMass, Houston). Cornerback Mike Hampton finished the season with a team-best 16 pass breakups and 18 passes defended.
Weaknesses: Attrition hit the defense hard in 2018, with the unit returning just five starters from a group that ranked No. 1 in the conference in total defense (360 yards) and scoring defense (23.5 points per game) in 2017.
USF ended last season with one of the worst rushing defenses in the country. The Bulls allowed more than 248 yards per game and an average of 5.1 yards per carry. Senior Greg Reaves paced the team with a career-best 89 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for a loss, while playing linebacker. He moves back to his true position of defensive end as the team looks to upgrade its physicality up front. He’ll have help from fellow defensive end Kirk Livingston, who is the top returning sack leader (4).
Outlook: Bell’s “play fast, score faster” mentality could give the Bulls a big energy boost. The 54-year-old coordinator wants to see his offense eliminate turnovers that proved costly during last season’s six-game losing streak.
USF returns a wealth of experience on defense, but the group needs to go back to what made it successful in 2017, attacking and creating turnovers.
The Bulls can jump out to another hot start in American Athletic Conference play thanks to a favorable schedule, but they must brace for a difficult November.