Position breakdown: Defensive backs

I'll do my best in the next week to run through each position going into preseason practice, outlining starters, position battles and the rest of the players, one area at a time. To keep you guys coming back, I'll start at the defense and save the running backs and quarterbacks for last, though truth be told, cornerback is arguably the best position on the team ...

STARTERS: Cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams combine for 59 starts and could both land first-team all-conference honors. Williams led the Big East with seven interceptions last year, and the speedy Jenkins will likely be the first Bulls player drafted in April. Safety is less established, with promising sophomore Nate Allen stepping into a major role at free safety, with junior Carlton Williams ahead of Louis Gachette for the strong safety job.

POSITION BATTLE: Williams has the edge at strong safety after starting nine games last year, so the real battle is for the nickel defensive back. It looks like sophomore Jerome Murphy, arguably inheriting Jeremy Burnett's title as the unit's hardest hitter, could step in at nickel and even push Allen for the starting free safety job. The next option at nickel would be junior Tyller Roberts, who had 25 tackles in a limited role last season. If Jenkins or Williams should go down, senior Ryan Gilliam, a track standout, is the top backup.

AND THE REST: True freshmen Charlton Sinclair and Quenton Washington are among the most talented players in the incoming class, but the depth of returning players would make it hard for either to play a major role. Redshirt freshman Dylan Douglas will likely help on special teams, where junior Jamaal Jenkins has been a standout for the past two seasons. The new addition is former quarterback Carlton Hill, who will be playing defense for the first time since high school. I'd think of this as a transition year for him, so I'd be surprised if he's on the field much as a safety. He can help on special teams. Just as a reminder, junior Danny Verpaele is ineligible this season but will return as a senior in 2008. With three of the top four corners being seniors, it's easy to see a young secondary in 2008, much like USF had in 2004 when Jenkins and Williams played prominently as redshirt freshmen.

Thoughts? Questions? The floor is yours for d-back discussion ... Oh, two small notes: Mo Esseghir, the 6-foot-11 basketball walk-on we've been writing about, likely won't be eligible to play until the end of the fall semester, meaning he'll miss the first six games or so, same as transfer guard Aaron Holmes. Again, Stan Heath's club will have depth issues in the post early on. ... USF has a new season-ticket offering for alumni (and alumnae) who have never bought a season ticket. You get a base-level season ticket ($129 value), a year's membership with the alumni association and a USF specialty license tag, all for $99. Alums should be receiving information by direct mail. ...

Comments

[G.A.]

Hill can take a redshirt if he wants to, and it'd make good sense, since he's making a major position change. You get five years to play four seasons, and he's played two. He sits out this year, he'd still have two years of eligibility. He seems intent on playing, so the question is whether he can get on the field for special teams. If he doesn't in the first few weeks, he might change his mind and take the redshirt.

[E.T. Thomas]

Can't argue with your thoughts Greg.

I feel very good about all our DB's and love our depth.

Question regarding C. Hill. What would the RS status be he he decides? He can take one can't he? He may after seeing the talent and the possible limited field time due to his DB experience, not talent.

Love this feature Greg.

Go BULLS !!!

[Mack]

You also have to remember that everyone that is anyone in WR/QB in the Big East is leaving after this season. Except for Grothe of course. Pat and Steve are out together. Brohm and the twin towers are out. Maybe Pitt can put something together. I feel good about our Green DBs next year. We have depth until Quenton and Tyson along with ChaCha get their stuff together.

[G.A.]

Ryan, you're right. If you play, you use a year of eligibility, no matter how little you play. Allen played sparingly on special teams -- finished with all of two tackles, both against East Carolina. A lot of times when college programs brag about playing a lot of true freshmen, it's not really a great thing.

[Ryan]

Greg, I was just wondering why Nate Allen is a sophmore. I thought he redshirted last year and yet, I see that everyone is listing him as a sophmore so...did he play to much on special teams to receive the redshirt year?

[JoeB]

Let's enjoy the Corners this year, because next year we'll be very green at that position. Hopefully we'll get some young guys some playing time in the blowout games (if we have any).

[Jim Johnson]

Sandro -- Not only are the Louisville receivers the best we'll face, but Brohm is the best QB we'll face all year. Two years ago, when we throttled them - Louisville still outgained USF.

[Dave]

It's impossible to not feel good about this group. I think Verpeale's absence is a blessing in disguise, because as you said, 2008 will be a young year on the corners, but Allen, Williams, and Verpeale will be experienced at the safeties. The skill of the corners will allow C. Robinson to wreck havoc on the blitz behind Selvie and Cray.

[Sandro]

I think our corners will do just fine against everybody that we play this season. The only game that I'm a little concerned about is the Louisville game because both of their receivers are pretty good. Most of the other teams have one go to guy, and as long as you shut that guy down the others should not be a big problem. However, in Louisville case it will take a team effort to stop those two receivers.

[Claudel]

Dang! I feel robbed. Anyways, I think the secondary (especially those corners) will allow USF to do some different things (many blitz packages come to mind).

[G.A.]

Bill, good reminder. I'm using the media guide roster as a guide in making sure I'm not overlooking players, and I skipped Hill as a result.

I don't know if he'll get on the field much as a safety. The games most likely to result in lopsided scores that would allow subs to play late in a game are mostly early in the season, and Hill's bigggest transition will be a mental one, learning USF's defense and how to be in the right position to make plays. That said, I think he could help USF's special teams, especially on kickoff coverage and such.

[Bill]

Greg,
Do you see Carlton Hill playing Safety this year? If not, will he get on the field at all?
Thanks, Bill