USF has landed three key commitments from a big weekend of official recruiting visits, and another could be coming soon from Boca Ciega defensive end Julius Forte, who is said to be choosing between the Bulls and Big East rival Louisville.
Forte, a three-star recruit according to both major recruiting sites, did not commit during his campus visit but sounds close to making a decision. USF got a boost over the weekend with news that Louisville defensive coordinator Bill Miller, on the job less than a month, left to take a job as co-defensive coordinator at Kansas, which is closer to his family and his 85-year-old father. Miller had replaced Ron English, who became head coach at Eastern Michigan last month.
Forte told a Louisville recruiting site that the latest coaching shift wouldn't hurt Louisville, but it's hard to imagine it's helping the Cardinals' chance of luring him away from a close-to-home option. The Bulls already picked up a key defensive end commitment over the weekend in Armwood's Ryne Giddins, and the addition of a player like Forte would help USF earn the highest national recruiting rankings in its young history.
-- USF is still battling for former Boca Ciega star Josh Bellamy, who signed with the Bulls in 2007 but did not qualify academically. Bellamy, who has played two seasons at Butte Community College in California, committed to Iowa State on Sunday after making an official visit, but on Monday called it a "soft verbal" and admitted he could still change his mind. "I just got off the phone with Coach Leavitt," he said Monday afternoon, saying the Bulls were trying to convince him to stay close to home. The big issue? Bellamy wants to play receiver, where he caught nine touchdown passes this season, and Leavitt has been pushing Bellamy to play safety for the Bulls. "He said I can play anything I want, but I don't know how they would use me, and I only have two years, so I could get lost in the system," Bellamy said. Bellamy's friend and teammate at Boca Ciega and Butte, Preston Pace, has committed to Louisville. Then again, he wasn't aware Monday that Miller had left the Cardinals, but said that wasn't likely to change his mind in the next few weeks.
-- A little early to be thinking about 2009, but given the big names from key teams leaving early for the NFL Draft, it's doubtful there will be a runaway preseason team to beat in the Big East next season. A writer on West Virginia's official site, noting that Mountaineers guard Greg Isdaner is leaving for the NFL ranks, suggests that USF will "nab preseason honors in 2009" with quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie returning as seniors.
-- With Monday's news that Colts coach Tony Dungy is retiring, it's a reminder that USF remains the first and only scholarship offer for Dungy's son, Eric, who just finished his junior season as a receiver and safety at Plant High in Tampa. Check back for more on Dungy, Forte and on USF's recent commitments ...
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Just saw Bellamy picked Iowa State. Along with Kevin Williams, there are two speedsters that we didn't get. But even Bellamy admitted that without a clear position and only two years to play, he could get lost in the shuffle. A high school player without a position has the advantage of trying a few before finding his niche (both for skill players, like Brandon Hogan at WVU and big men, like Sampson Genus).
Posted by: David Weber | January 13, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Right now the recruiting class sounds good, but how many will qualify to be at USF rather than Pearl River or elsewhere remains o be seen.
Posted by: Al | January 13, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Wow man...this is definitely our best recruiting ever!
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | January 13, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Bellamy said he's likely no longer taking the Louisville visit.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 12, 2009 at 10:19 PM
1. Chalko-get a life.
2. any relation with the Bellamy's (i'm guessing not-or you would have mentioned it)
3. I see Joshua Bellamy hasn't RE-visited USF, and has a visit scheduled with the uber-pathetic Louisville on the 16th...just skip that visit, and come home to Tampa instead!
4. I'm sure that us having like 12 receivers with a catch last year doesn't excite any kids wanting ALL the glory either.
Posted by: kevin | January 12, 2009 at 09:57 PM
I think I'd rather us not be the favorite.
Great news on the defensive line. I'd asked earlier about whether any of the defensive ends might switch to linebacker, and I guess that is a possibility. I even wondered whether Selvie is really big enough to play DE in the pros and whether he might want to take a shot at OLB.
Posted by: Ken | January 12, 2009 at 09:34 PM
To quote a very wise bogger...
"USF is going to be just fine"...Wasn't that you Bull Daly!
...You need to play the lotto or something.
This week we have had so much great news...It is almost like Christmas all over again!
Posted by: Bulliever | January 12, 2009 at 09:20 PM
USF has the chance to take control of the BIG EAST next season if they play like they should play. I believe our defense played a lot better after that Rutgers game, so I am confident in that group. We just have to get our offense on the roll. We need to keep our RBs healthy, so we can use that running game to help out Grothe.
Posted by: Bull Daly | January 12, 2009 at 09:04 PM
We think alike Mr. Weber.. just saying. Good points all around!
Good to have you aboard Julius! Great choice.
Posted by: B^S | January 12, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Just saw on Scout that Forte is going to be a Bull! This class coming in is incredible on hype! I think we've always brought in good classes, but this one seems to have more players that can make an instant impact, but still has guys like Virgin that, with coaching, could become stars as well.
Posted by: David Weber | January 12, 2009 at 08:46 PM
Get on the horn Greg!!!! Whats the word?? Best damn offseason ever so far!
If it is true - welcome aboard Julius!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 08:46 PM
indeed =)
Posted by: Windbane | January 12, 2009 at 08:42 PM
Could Forte or Giddens move to LB? Both seem to have excellent speed at DE and that would translate well to LB, plus their size would be an upgrade at the position. It seems like Chris Robinson really is the key piece in the puzzle. If Robinson is at DE, then the position is overloaded and OLB will need help, but if he's at OLB, then both positions seem set. I've been in the Patrick Hampton fan club since the spring game, so I'm comfortable with him (even though he's too small). I'm less comfortable with the depth at LB. With two big losses and a senior, that's a position that needs quick development.
On the BEAST, I think we're the favorites. WVU, Rutgers, UCONN and Louisville have to replace their QBs, Pitt and UCONN have to replace their entire offense, Rutgers lost the best playmaker in the conference, WVU lost their entire offensive line, and Cincy lost almost their entire defense. Syracuse won't contend for a few seasons. So if USF can solve the offensive line, replace T-Mac and TJ, and play intelligently and with intensity (ok, so those are huge IFS), why wouldn't we be the favorites? I think the raw talent should be there at all of the positions (I'm excited to get playmakers like Bryant and Baker on the field). Basically, in a conference full of questions, I think we have the fewest. It might be a lean year, but a new generation of stars (V. Anderson, J. Baldwin) will rise.
Posted by: David Weber | January 12, 2009 at 08:41 PM
Word on the street is that Julius Forte committed to USF today! I just read the headline on USFNation.com by Josh Newberg.
Julius Forte commits to South Florida.
-by USFNation.com Jan 12, 2009
Posted by: Brandon | January 12, 2009 at 08:29 PM
The interior is looking good, as well.
Posted by: Windbane | January 12, 2009 at 06:40 PM
At end, I think USF would like to have five solid ends they can rotate in. The Bulls haven't had that in a while.
In 2007, it was really just George Selvie, Jarriett Buie and Woody George. This year, obviously Selvie and Buie, and after that, look at the tackles: Craig Marshall had 19, Chris Robinson had 16 (but many were on special teams) and then it drops clear down to Patrick Hampton with five.
Buie's gone, and you can figure Selvie and Marshall will open the season as starters. I think Robinson will move full-time to linebacker, given the losses there, so you have three spots open in a five-man rotation.
Returning players would include just Hampton and David Bedford, who coaches remain extremely high on. So it's reasonable to think Giddins and/or Forte plays as a true freshman, but you could easily see one of them redshirting rather than waste a year playing sparingly.
As far as last year's recruiting class, you had Marshall and Bedford as DEs, but that's it -- Donnell Engram wound up at Pearl River, where he redshirted. So it makes sense that it's a priority in this year's class.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 12, 2009 at 06:16 PM
Wow, the BE is gonna be really strong next year...... NOT!
Posted by: Chalko | January 12, 2009 at 06:10 PM
Thanks for the update, Greg. Any word on the Marve situation?
An impressive class so far for team that has only been in existence a little more than a decade.
Posted by: Mike in Tally | January 12, 2009 at 06:09 PM
Nice update. Forte is a solid prospect.
Posted by: Tom | January 12, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Greg,
What is USF's plan for all these DE's their recruiting? Didn't they have like four in last year's class?
Posted by: Tad | January 12, 2009 at 05:44 PM
"McCarthy" ... nice post.
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 12, 2009 at 05:23 PM
Maybe Dungy will become the new OC! He'll do for the offense what McCarthy did for the D-line!
Posted by: Sam | January 12, 2009 at 05:16 PM