Bulls now 3-for-3 with NCAA waivers

Good news for Bulls fans from the Fortuitous Bounces Dept.: For the third time this summer, USF has been able to get a football player eligible for the 2006 season thanks to a waiver granted by the NCAA.

Linebacker Marvin Peoples, who transferred from Maryland after one season, has been granted a hardship waiver, allowing him to skip the usual year off that transfers must take. Peoples came to USF to be closer to his home in Apopka due to an undisclosed family illness, much like former Florida defensive tackle Julian Riley, who joined the Bulls in January to be closer to his mother, who has lupus, in St. Petersburg. Riley, too, was granted an NCAA waiver.

Strangely enough, I got to break the news to Peoples, an hour after USF had sent out a release about his immediate eligibility. The coaches hadn't told him yet, but he's all the more excited about reporting with his teammates on Sunday.

"I'm elated to have the chance to play this fall," said Peoples, who will likely work at the Sam and Will linebacker spots on the outside, groomed as a potential starter next season after seniors Stephen Nicholas and Patrick St. Louis graduate.

Add in long-snapper Ryan Bordeau, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility, a major boost to USF's special teams, and it's an impressive 3-for-3 for USF's compliance department and associate athletic director Steve Horton. All three have valid claims behind their requests, but that doesn't always translate to landing a hardship waiver.

As if that trifecta weren't enough, the Bulls have filed a fourth waiver petition, for center Ryan Schmidt, who transferred to USF after two seasons at Kansas State. Schmidt isn't on scholarship this fall, but if eligible, could compete or at least provide valuable depth behind likely starter Nick Capogna.

One more nugget to tide football fans over until practice starts Monday: A.J. Love, a late addition to USF's recruiting class from Bradenton Southeast, has been accepted into the university and will start classes this month with the rest of the freshman class. Love will start his Bulls career as a defensive back, a position he hasn't played since his junior varsity days at Southeast.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Sounds great. They needed some "good thing" to happen, given some of the recent "issues" they've faced.

[E.T.]

What is the reason for the waiver for Schmidt? Great news about Peoples!USF = LBUGo BULLS !!!

[Anonymous]

Great reporting, great insight. USF fans appreciate your effort.This is almost as good as instant messaging.

[Brian R]

Great information. You really do an outstanding job covering USF. Do you happen to know what the reason is for Schmidt's waiver. I figured the others had a reasonable shot but Schmidt to me seems like a real long shot to get the waiver unless there is something I am missing. He would probably be the largest contributor and make the biggest impact if he got the waiver since we are in desperate need at center. I like Capogna's heart and dedication to the program but a 270 pound center worries me. I would feel a lot more comfortable with a 310 pound center that was projected to start at K-State had he stuck around.

[Anonymous]

270 for Capogna is way over stated trust me on that one

[Greg Auman]

I'm not aware of any family illness with Schmidt, and I know initially he hadn't planned on petitioning. He has nothing to lose by trying, and I think that's the logic in going for it ...

[Anonymous]

I agree with "brian r." Capogna and his brother have been around USF for awile, now. Probably no family has had more involvement. But, at 270, Nick is a little light. And he is like 6-3 or 6-4. Might be different if he was 6-0 and 270. But, he does have the drive and determination.