Position breakdown: Receivers, finally

Remember the daily position breakdowns? From first week of camp? I'm going to try to get them in before Elon. We start back with receivers, where former USF offensive coordinator Mike Canales returns, taking over for Lawrence Dawsey, who went back to his alma mater, Florida State.

THE BIG THREE: The position is led by three veteran players expected to continue major roles in their third seasons playing at USF: senior Amarri Jackson and junior Taurus Johnson and Marcus Edwards. Johnson (37 catches for 494 yards) was named USF's Offensive Playmaker of the Year in 2006 despite starting only two games. Jackson, a huge target at 6-foot-5, averaged 15.1 yards per catch last season, and Edwards had 27 catches for 328 yards and two scores. These three will provide the leadership, on the field and likely on the stat sheet.

THE NEXT THREE: After those top three, receiver is a young position, loaded with freshmen and sophomores who could make huge jumps the way Johnson and Edwards did last year, when those two went from eight catches as freshmen to 64 as sophomores. Leading this second group are sophomore Jessie Hester Jr., who sat out last season but steps into a starting role after the season-ending injury to speedy Colby Erskin. The new big target will be redshirt freshman Carlton Mitchell, who has drawn high praise from coaches with a rare combination of size (6-4) and speed (he set USF's 400-meter record in track this spring). The fast riser this fall has been true freshman Dontavia Bogan, who earned higher accolades as a defensive back in Thomasville, Ga., where he had five interceptions. I'm just getting this from the stats, but he might be the offense's new reverse specialist -- he rushed 17 times as a high school senior for 295 yards and five touchdowns. Nothing like 17.4 yards per carry.

THE REST: There are four other redshirt freshmen who will make their debut -- 6-foot-2 Eddie Alcin is the only one to crack the two-deep, but watch out for 6-2 A.J. Love, 6-4 Jason Sherman and speedy walk-on David Cozzo. Senior Courtney Denson made a lot of plays in the spring game, and sophomore Antwon Hanks is, like Mitchell, a track star who could make his first football impact this fall. All signs point to the unit's other two true freshmen (Patrick Richardson and walk-on Rhett Hamrick) redshirting this fall.

So I'll turn things over to you guys: who will be the breakout star of the group? After combining for seven touchdown receptions last season, how many scores can the big three pull in? And most importantly, what number will Sherman (No. 23 in your programs, sorry, 4; sorry, 3; sorry, 1) settle on in the next five days? Get your comments in and I'll get to the tight ends tonight or Wednesday.

-- Oh, one little piece of online bulletin-board material, since it's been hard to find anything remotely negative about the Bulls in the media lately. Remember, first, that USF didn't look that sharp while playing in Kansas last season. The Wichita Eagle, in its season preview, tags the Bulls as the Big East team likely to take "a step back." They cite a "nonexistent running game" and "tough road games" in writing that "the Bulls' road to a third-straight bowl will be rough." No need for that hyphen, really.

Comments

[Dave]

There is a nice combination of size, speed, and experience. I think that the passing stats will be like last years, just with TJ getting Ean's grabs, Hester getting SJ's grabs, and Mitchell and Bogan replacing those two guys. Grothe will still be able to spread the wealth, which should make this offense more dangerous than only having one or two weapons.

[Mark]

Since Colby Erskin is gone for the year, who will be the next Ian Randolph? The Bulls always had success with those little guys(5'6 to 5'9)that was a threat to take it the distance. And will we see more deep balls taking advantage of there height and speed? Get the community behind the Bulls and fill RayJay. We are on the verge of something special. Go Bulls!

[Adam]

I am looking for Edwards to step up big this year. TJ will still be our play maker, but I can see Marcus having a huge role in this offense.

As for the Wichita paper, maybe they should help everyone else with their research, apparently people are missing all of the 'holes' in our defense

[Ari]

I have always been a bit of skeptic when it comes to this years football team.

Losses to Cinci -- Kansas -- and very poor play against FIU, UCF, McNesse State --- plus a total butt whipping at Louisville last year doesn't lend itself to some magical breakout year.

I am hopeful though.

[Mark]

No, not magical, but special. Last years team at that time(beginning of the season) was very young and determine to fight through it's mistakes. With the lack of an running game and experience. They accomplish alot last season. Now they have more experience and better coaches. They should do better this season.

[G.A.]

This year's Ean Randolph? I would have said Erskin, and I think Hester is the player most likely to step into his role. Our season preview section comes out Friday, and Greg Gregory talks a fair amount about the improved running game giving them play-action options that will set up more downfield passing. In the last 10 games of last season, the Bulls had one play of 50 yards or more.

[Mack]

I continue to stand by my personal favorite. Carlton Mitchell has an amazing blend of size, strength and speed. Don't be surprised to see him burn many 3rd string DBs on post routes. As far as the Wichita article goes. Let's see what you'd have to say about Kansas going into the season without inside information. The guy probably has no clue that BBQ gained 15 lbs of muscle (203 lbs) or that Mike Ford is in the building.

[Mark S]

I am always amused by people that cite a poor performance against Cincinnati and KU as reasoning for this year's team to do poorly. First of all, we weren't favored to beat either team. Going into the season we only had 3 starters that had seen any meaningful playing time then we replaced 1 of those starters with a freshman QB making his first out of state road start against KU with 3 players that we were being counted on to as impact players being on suspension. I think we did well at that point in the season, with the team that was on the field to jsut come close to pulling off the upset. Play that game 6 weeks later and we win.

As far as Cincy, why are people surprised we lost to them? Ever look at their schedule? Swap our games with Mcneese and FIU with their losses to Virginia Tech and Ohio State and they are a 10-3 team. No surprise that we lost to them.

This is a much more experienced team. Different team with different expectations. This is going to be a fun year.

[Ari]

Mark S...

We didn't lose to Cinci.. We got smoked by them. We didn't lose to Louisville got waxed.

Other then a great game against West Va and a solid win against a weak C-USA team in the bowl game. USF didn't really play well in 7 of its 12 games. They played Rutgers tough, beat West VA on the road, but they lost to Cinci and Kansas.. Good teams don't lose those games.

Plus, they almost lost to one of the worst teams in D-1A - FIU.

sorry to be a realist.

[BadA$$Bull]

Last years team exceeded preseason expectations by a sizable margin. So Ari, the bulls didn't do well last year? Then why all the media hype this year. The bulls weren't an elite team but certainly a good team and thinking otherwise is pessimism not realism. And yes, sorry is an accurate description of your view.

[Mack]

USF had a weak team coming into the season last year. Many players stepped up their game as the season went on. This year is going to be the best team ever coming in and if the guys step it up another notch, Look Out!

The Big East is ours to loose for the next 3 years.

[gdp]

The mark of a competent team is one that wins. Last year we were 9-4 so that tells me we won more than we lost. You can take close wins over UCF or FIU and call them losses, so why not take close losses and call them wins???

I am not saying that USF is world beaters by any stretch, but I think they deserve more credit than you are giving them Ari.

Granted this year's schedule is more difficult at the front end than last year's but I think this team is more prepared and experienced than last year's team too.

With JT getting his waiver, I see a heck of a lot better running game EARLY than we had last year and that will make a HUGE difference!

[Ari]

Do you guys watch the games, or are you just blinded by the light.???

I call it how i see it.

Even CJL admits that USF wasnt a very good football team last year.

If they don't beat WVA last year -- the season would have been marginal at best.

West VA turned the ball over on the one yard line and Pat White had a fumble returned for a TD.

You guys are in outer space sometime.

I am one of USF's biggest fans...but that doesn't stop me from seeing things as they are -- rather then what i want them to be.

[Steve Stacy]

Ari -
Starting a season on shaky ground by losing some games and squeaking out victories against lesser opponents is bad. But watching the team evolve to beat Pitt by making Palko look like a freshman (while Grothe looks like freakin' Vince Young in that game)and then going into Morgantown and giving them their first loss there in 9 years is (r)emarkable. Dominating a bowl game (against anybody) was the exclamation point on a season that was a complete success by year end. Think of our 2006 season as the Dow Jones Industrial Average over time. Sure it has ups and downs. But the trend was definitely upward last year. And returning ~16 starters is enough to lend optimisim to anybody but cee.

WAR PELICAN!

[Ari]

Some very good points Steve.

Still -- I keep my "rah rah" on the low side.

This is without a doubt the toughest schedule we have EVER played.

2-2 through the first four would not be all that bad..

3-1 through the first four would be monumental in my eyes.

what do i know.

[Steve Stacy]

I think we should expect to be 2-2. Any better is great. Any worse is a poor showing.

[Ari]

I think North Carolina is going to be much better then expected.

[PINGBULL]

I agree about UNC. That will be a tough game...I really wish our bye week wasn't so early in the season.