USF’s Mack suffers hamstring injury

USF sophomore running back Marlon Mack, currently the American Athletic Conference’s No. 3 rusher (114.8 ypg), missed Sunday’s practice with a mild hamstring strain, coach Willie Taggart confirmed Monday.

Mack sustained the injury late in the Bulls’ 28-20 win Saturday at Connecticut, where he amassed 113 yards on 13 carries, and told reporters afterward is was “just a cramp.” On his last carry, on the game’s final drive, he ran for 14 yards on third-and-1 to allow the Bulls to run out the clock.

Speaking on the AAC’s weekly coaches teleconference Monday, Taggart seemed unconcerned.

“He didn’t practice [Sunday], but his hammy’s OK,” said Taggart, whose team won’t practice again until Tuesday. “A little strained in the hamstring. We’ve got to do a great job of rehabbing this week but Marlon should be fine.”

Junior Rodney Adams and senior Jamie Byrd were named to the AAC’s weekly honor roll Monday.

Adams, playing with a sore left knee, had a careerbest afternoon (five catches, 118 yards, three TDs) against UConn. Byrd had 12 tackles, two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and two QB hurries.

In his latest weekly bowl projections, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach projects USF (3-3, 1-1) will face Midddle Tennessee State in the Dec. 26 St. Petersburg Bowl.

At the season’s midway point, the Bulls rank 56th nationally in total offense (418.0 ypg). Through six games last season, they were ranked 118th (294.5).