Danny Tolley and Joe Herzhauser, two reserve offensive linemen who have been limited by injuries, will not be back next season, coach Jim Leavitt said Wednesday. Tolley, a junior who has been sidelined by groin, knee and ankle injuries in the past two years, will be on a medical scholarship next season, while Herzhauser, a walk-on from St. Petersburg who played in six games this season before suffering a serious knee injury, will not be able to return to the Bulls. Herzhauser, a 25-year-old who joined the Bulls after a stint in the Air Force, had worked on the second-team offensive line up until his injury.
Leavitt said defensive end Shane McElwain and defensive tackle Marvin Peoples, two fourth-year juniors who have been limited largely to special-teams work at USF, will be graduating this spring and are not expected to return for their final year of eligibility. McElwain, who had one tackle in eight games this season, had also worked some at tight end while with the Bulls, and Peoples, a converted linebacker, had two tackles. Both have the option to return, but Leavitt said he would be surprised if they did.
Leavitt said USF is seeking medical redshirts for four true freshmen who played in games this season but suffered significant injuries early enough to have a chance to regain a year of eligibility: quarterback B.J. Daniels (wrist), defensive tackle Cory Grissom (leg), linebacker LaDre Watkins (knee) and receiver Daniel Bryant (groin). All four meet the NCAA's requirements for seeking a medical redshirt -- we've previously reported all but Bryant, who played in only two games, logging one punt return for 6 yards.
If the medical redshirts are granted as expected, USF will have been able to redshirt all but two members of its freshman class -- kicker Maikon Bonani and tackle Danous Estenor.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
I hope more true freshman play next year.
Posted by: | January 02, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Hopefully all of those guys get the medical redshirt, especially BJ. There was no reason to play him in the first place, but given the short showcase, he looked like a guy we need to keep around as long as possible. Bryant could end up being a solid WR and Grissom is a needed body next season.
Posted by: David Weber | January 01, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Those two graduated in four years--good for them, good for USF.
Posted by: Ken | January 01, 2009 at 08:44 AM