Leavitt not expecting Samuels back in '08
Lots of little bits of news from Tuesday's news conference with Jim Leavitt, but the biggest might be on the injury front, as Leavitt said he is not counting on running back Aston Samuels returning healthy this fall from the shoulder injury he sustained during spring drills.
Samuels played sparingly as a redshirt freshman, going over 100 yards on two reverses in USF's win at Syracuse. Leavitt said Samuels broke the socket bone in his shoulder, and said the priority this fall will be getting him back healthy without worrying about him rushing a return to play this season.
Leavitt said receiver Colby Erskin is making good progress recovering from a second torn ACL, and said offensive lineman Danny Tolley won't likely be available until mid-October at the earliest as he returns from a torn ACL suffered late in spring drills.
Leavitt also said he'll have a vote in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll this season. Leavitt has voted in the past but not since USF joined the Big East in 2005.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
awesome to hear Leavitt gets a vote in the coaches poll. Hope they took GOL's away, how could that clown put UCF over USF after getting beat by half a hundred
Posted by: flsportsfan83 | July 17, 2008 at 10:26 AM
True dat, 83. True dat.
I hope that when Erksin comes back he's at 100%. He's be super-awesome on kickoff returns.
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | July 17, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Would like to see Colby Erskin play...
Posted by: Tom | July 17, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I hope Samuels makes a full recovery that sounds like a painful and debilitating injury. Will he be able to get a medical redshirt?
Posted by: Blkice12 | July 17, 2008 at 11:21 AM
If Samuels were to miss the entire season due to injury, he'd be in position to ask for a sixth year of eligibility and medical redshirt to get that year back, yes.
Posted by: G.A. | July 17, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Perhaps a blessing in disguise if Samuels does miss the season. Ford could leave early either of the next 2 years, and B-Will is a senior this year. Hopefully Taylor can step up as 3rd string and Erskin can provide the speed boost that Samuels did last year (since Samuels lined up as WR sometimes).
If Ford does stay we are stacked, especially with the guys we are recruting this year and that guy this past year.
Posted by: Windbane | July 17, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Oh, and only (here's that cliche again) a blessing in disguise if he gets the medical redshirt, of course, which I wuld fully expect if he missed the season.
Posted by: Windbane | July 17, 2008 at 03:00 PM