Three Bulls face long odds at Bucs mini-camp

Checking in from One Buc Place, where three former USF starters -- receiver Amarri Jackson and offensive tackles Walt Walker and Jared Carnes -- are among 54 players attending the Bucs' rookie mini-camp today through Sunday.

Seven draft picks are here, as well as eight undrafted rookies already under contract, but the other 39 players are battling for what could be as little as one or two contracts, since the Bucs would have to release a player under contract to make room for any additions to the roster.

Having said that, the three Bulls are out here in Bucs uniforms, getting a small taste of an NFL roster, if only for a weekend in May.

"I've got a Bucs helmet in my hand. Are you kidding me?" said Walker, who grew up a Bucs fan in Jamaica and in South Florida, with Warren Sapp his favorite player. "It's an opportunity, and that's all I can ask for. You have to be confident in what you can learn, that you can be coached. I'm real excited."

Jackson, one of six receivers here, is wearing No. 85 and looks to be the tallest of the group (he's on the right in the photo, taken by the Times' Daniel Wallace). Walker (No. 62) and Carnes (No. 77) are among 10 offensive linemen getting a look. Former USF linebacker Ronnie McCullough, who finished his college career at Bethune-Cookman, is also here trying out.

"It's a blessing," Jackson said. "The routes are the same, with the exact same depth, but just different names. I want to help the team, so I'm just trying to expose my talent and let God take care of everything else."

Those three aren't the only Bulls in attendance, as rising senior receiver Taurus Johnson, one of several USF players who could be drafted in 2009, was watching from the sidelines, along with USF assistant coaches Mike Canales and Larry Scott. More links, while we're talking football ...

-- Former USF running back Chad Simpson, who finished his college career at Morgan State, has signed a free-agent deal with the Colts, who have been Bronco-like in their ability to find unheralded gems at running back.

-- For all those folks who were wishing Ryan Perriloux would come to USF a few years back, the quarterback has been dismissed from LSU's roster by coach Les Miles. Yes, I'm sure he'll surface somewhere, but I seriously doubt it will be at USF.

-- Remember Huey Whittaker? My first year at the Times, I covered Whittaker when he was a lanky receiver at Springstead High. He's now with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League, and while he's suffering through a 0-9 record, he's leading Arena football in catches and second in yards, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

-- Recruits coming off the board: Defensive end Ed Stinson from South Dade has committed to FSU, while Donnavan Kirk, a 2009 power forward from Detroit who made an unofficial visit to USF this spring, has committed to Miami. The Palm Beach Post notes that he's ranked as high as No. 56 nationally.

-- And yes, another 2008 preseason top 25, this from SI.com's Stewart Mandel, who traditionally has had a high opinion of the Bulls. USF doesn't make his top 25, though West Virginia is 14, Cincy is 22 and Pittsburgh is 25th, with Connecticut "on the cusp." I'm about 50-50 on whether USF will open the season ranked; if the Bulls beat Kansas -- 15th in Mandel's ranking -- in Tampa, they'll be ranked.

-- Tell me if you've heard this before: Big East basketball should be really, really good this season. So writes ESPN.com's Andy Katz, who notes the slew of talented Big East players who could have bolted for the NBA Draft -- UConn's Hasheem Thabeet leading the way -- but opted to return to campus. Yes, USF makes it into his column; no, it's not in a real positive light.

Comments

[Ben Jarrods]

All - Think Amari; he has already signed for camp in July. The local other player is not Walker.

[Reality]

XR4ti007 where you from? Obviously, not Florida.

[xr4ti_007]

Yes, radio host Jim Rome also owned an xr4ti, and he refers to his radio posse as the xr4ti crew.

[xr4ti_007]

The xr4ti was Ford Merkur sportscar imported from the FDR in the 80’s, and xr4ti007 was my plate. The phrase “jumping the shark” has become a colloquialism used by TV critics and fans to denote the point at which the characters or plot of a TV series veer into a ridiculous, out-of-the-ordinary storyline. Such a show is typically deemed to have passed its peak The origin was Fonzi jumping a shark tank on Happy Days. Once a show has "jumped the shark" fans sense a noticeable decline in quality or feel the show has undergone too many changes to retain its original appeal.

[G.A.]

Mikebeau ... best I can tell, Justin Green is still an option. Haven't been able to reach him last couple times I've tried. With all the transfers out, USF can enroll a full 25-player class, so if any of the signees fail to qualify, a new player can take his place in the class. I'll keep checking on him ...

[mikebeau]

looks like a Jim Rome reference.

Greg,
what happened to that O-lineman kid who committed but was not offered a scholie because of grades/test scores. Wasn't he still going to try to imporve rade and get accepted here?

[Stephen Blackehart]

That's funny, xr4...nice Fonzie reference!!

BTW, you have an interesting name. Are you a Cylon? I guess if you were you wouldn't say, so never mind.

[xr4ti_007]

The 2005 Louisville game made his career. He jumped the shark that night and he was never the same. His line that night:
2 rushes 63 yards 2 TD’s
2 receptions 75 yards
1 for 1 passing 11 yards and 1 TD
From that night on nothing but some dropped passes and injury in his senior season.

[Ken]

Walker was solid--we sure did miss him when he was out. I don't know if he can make it in the NFL.

Amari, well, I hope he enjoys the weekend. He was an emotional leader of the team.

[Nick]

No way Jackson makes it past this weekend. He drops more passes than anyone I have ever seen.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I always thought that Walk Walker was a solid lineman.

Maybe his performance at pro day didn't do much for him. Surprised he didn't get a free agent deal from somebody.

I think he has the best chance of out of everyone over there.

[Stephen Blackehart]

The Bucs don't need more receivers who can consistently get wide open and then drop the ball. They've got Mark Clayton for that.

[RR]

Uh, Josh?

Did you catch the poster's name up there?

Yeah...I'd say there's some sarcasm there...juuuust a touch.

[jarred]

Greg failed to mention that perriloux was released from the team for failing a drug test, has also been involved in counterfeiting, and all sorts of other garbage so I dont think we would benefit in the long run with this guy.

[Josh]

Amari a lock...I sure hope you are being sarcastic. The guy was cocky as hell in HS and he's not going to do zilch in the NFL.

[Green & Gold Glasses-Wearing USF Apologist]

I think Amarri Jackson is a lock for making the regular season roster.

[Mike Lakeland]

The reason why we don't (and won't) have a preseason ranking was our three-game skid and out bending over versus Oregon.

Win on the field, win in the polls.