USF mulls ways to replace Sanchez

TAMPA — USF middle linebacker Auggie Sanchez must miss the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s contest at Maryland after being ejected for targeting FSU quarterback Everett Golson during Saturday’s 34-14 loss.

Speaking on the weekly American Athletic Conference coaches teleconference Monday, Bulls coach Willie Taggart said his staff hasn’t decided on Sanchez’s temporary replacement, though the USF has two seasoned options.

Junior Nigel Harris and senior Tashon Whitehurst — both weakside linebackers — return from two-game suspensions for undisclosed violations. With both absent Saturday and Sanchez sidelined the last 17 minutes, USF turned to redshirt freshman Nick Holman and freshman

Danny Thomas.

On the first play following Sanchez’s ejection, Golson found fullback Freddie Stevenson on a screen pass for a 15-yard gain before Thomas brought him down. Three plays later, FSU scored to take a 24-7 lead.

“It’s good to have [Harris and Whitehurst] back,” Taggart said. “You go back to that game, Florida State started to get a lot more guesses when we had two freshmen back there playing the inside ’backers, and it’s tough playing two freshmen against an opponent like Florida State.”

■ A week after struggling with a handful of snaps in his first college game at center against Florida A&M, Taggart felt senior Brynjar Gudmundsson was nearly flawless Saturday.

“He was a heck of a lot better in this game,” Taggart said.