Surprise: USF kicker Bonani back at practice

USF sophomore kicker Maikon Bonani, sidelined since he fractured a vertebra in an accident this summer, dressed and kicked at Monday's practice, a first step toward an eventual return to football.

Coach Jim Leavitt has previously said Bonani is not expected to play this season as his back fully recovers. The Bulls have found recent kicking success in junior walk-on Eric Schwartz, who went 3-for-3 in Friday's win against West Virginia and is now 6-for-9 on the season since taking over for senior Delbert Alvarado.

USF special-teams coach John Hendrick told Times correspondent Kerry Klecic on Monday that Bonani has been kicking for about two weeks, and ran sprints with the team for the first time Monday. "He looked good today," Hendrick said.

With Schwartz's success and only four regular-season games remaining, it remains unlikely the Bulls would rush Bonani back and use a year of eligibility for limited playing time this season.

Comments

[Steve O'Neal]

I think it's crazy that people think any coach would not play the ones that he thinks give the team the best chance to win. There is no logic in that line of thinking, period! The team loses too often and the coach is out of a job.

[Cindy P]

Glad to hear about Bonani. Schwartz performed very well last week versus WVa. With Bonani out practicing again, Schwartz has something to work for. (How convenient that dad went to school with Leavitt - remember it's not what you know but who?) There are other young men who are practicing hard week in and week out for a kicking spot on the team. Proia had a 46 yard punting average at his high school last year. There are also many other Kickers and/or Punters on the Roster. I hope everyone is getting an opportunity to show what they have.

[Rick]

After the FSU misses, Schwartz has proven to be the guy. I don't think many people would have done better thrown into the national stage from obscurity. Bonani take care of yourself and see you next year buddy, we'll need you. But for now Schwartz is the man. Go Bulls!

[Rick]

I think the Rutgers game is the (next) game of the year, with national implications. Beat them and climb higher on the BCS and then take care of Louisville at home. Lose and drop out of the BCS. Then regardless of what happens with Louisville the Miami game would only have regional implications.

[USFShep]

Schwartz was 3 for 3...its a beautiful thing! Bonani should not see the field this year.

[Turd Ferguson]

I was wondering when those two (Done and Turd) were gonna start going at it! Go Bulls!

Posted by: Harn007 | November 03, 2009 at 03:26 PM

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Welcome back, Harny baby!

Why do you go so long in between comments? It just isn't the same without your input.

Don't be a stranger!

[Norb]

GA, speaking of kicking, any word on kick-off time for Homecoming game (Louisville)?

[Bill B.]

Leg strength and kicking style/ability are two separate issues. Punting is generally a standard style kick, straight on. Kick offs and FG kicking a lot of times are soccer style. This difference may seem small but if you ever tried both you would understand it is very different. It was long ago that soccer style kickers came on the scene because of the distance they could get by that style. The technique is more important than leg strength. Let's hope the kickers and punters all concentrate on technique and not the weight room. More strength will help some.

[G.A.]

Brockhaus-Kann is a punter, and hasn't been mentioned in the kickoff discussions. It's not unusual for Leavitt to use a scholarship on a kicker -- he's done it five times on high school kids in past five years -- Benzer, Alvarado, Bonani, Brockhaus-Kann and Chris Veron, who's due in next fall.

I don't know that Leavitt and Brockhaus' father are that close. They were college teammates at Missouri, but I don't remember reading much to suggest they were in regular contact over the years.

Brockhaus-Kann's high school resume wasn't undeserving of a college scholarship. It's not like there's a 100 percent success rate at other positions -- show me a position where USF (and most schools) haven't had a miss in the last four years ...

[Harn007]

I was wondering when those two (Done and Turd) were gonna start going at it! Go Bulls!

[Turd Ferguson]

If you're going to question the Jim's judgment at least do a modicum of research.

Posted by: Done with the Jim | November 03, 2009 at 02:26 PM

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Have you not observed how many PUNTERS are used for kickoffs because of leg strength? And have you not observed how most kickers can punt, and how most punters can kick??

Justin Teachey?
Brandon Baker?
Tony Umholtz?
Delbert Alvarado? -- this one's debatable

And that's just the ones who have been Bulls.

If you're going to question another poster's assessment, at least do a modicum of research.

[David Weber]

If you're going to question another fan, read the entire post for content. Although the sentence might have read clearer if I mentioned that it was kickoff specific at the beginning, it certainly indicates the subject of the question related solely to kickoffs.

[David Weber]

Done with Jim- my post wasn't very specific, but I'm asking why Brockhaus-Kann isn't being used on kickoffs. I'm assuming he has a stronger leg than Schwartz.

[Done with the Jim]

If you're going to question the Jim's judgment at least do a modicum of research.

[Done with the Jim]

Brockhaus-Kann is listed on the Bulls roster as PUNTER, not a kicker...

"WINTER SPRING HIGH SCHOOL: One of the top punters in the state... 6A first team all-state, all-county as a tight end and punter, as well as all-conference ...Central Florida all star...One-on-One National Punting Champion ... Averaged 46 yards a punt, and 4.6 seconds of hang time ... Booted a 62-yard punt that had a hang time of 5.1 seconds in the Winter Springs All-Star game ... Started at four positions throughout high school (kicker, punter, offensive line and tight end) ... Coached by Mike Kintz ... Father is Jeff Brockhaus, a former professional kicker for the San Francisco 49ers, as well as USFL organizations Jacksonville Bulls and Orlando Limited ... His father was teammates with USF head coach Jim Leavitt at the University of Missouri and still holds the MU record for longest punt, which was an 82-yarder against Kansas State on October 25, 1980.

http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=37330&SPID=2981&DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=1383320&Q_SEASON=2008

[Turd Ferguson]

I'm just wondering what value Brockhaus-Kann has if he isn't better than Schwartz on kickoffs.

Posted by: David Weber | November 03, 2009 at 01:10 PM

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Exactly.

I've been asking this for weeks.

Here's my guess: If you'll remember, Brockhaus-Kann's father is a long-time friend and former teammate (if I remember correctly) of Leavitt's. So this is just another example of Leavitt's loyalty costing the program -- in this case, a valuable scholarship.

Let's face it...you don't typically give a scholarship to a punter / kicker unless you think they can actually contribute. Brockhaus-Kann was given one out of high school when a LOT of GOOD kickers aren't given one until they prove their worth.

Leavitt's act is getting old.

[Steve O'Neal]

That's a good question, David! The guy is on scholarship, isn't he? Seems he could have stepped in for Bonani instead of a walk-on. If not, why a scholly then. Glad to see Bonani doing better!

[David Weber]

That's good news, hopefully he'll be ready for next year. No need to use a year up if Schwartz is playing well.

I'm just wondering what value Brockhaus-Kann has if he isn't better than Schwartz on kickoffs.

[Jupiter Bull]

If anyone is interested, I have vouchers for 4 tickets to the Lville game. There was a special at a sporting goods store in Tampa, but you have a) go to the SunDome to get them or b) get them at Will Call on game day. I can't make a, since I live on the east coast, and may not be able to make it to Tampa that weekend. Hate to waste them.

"Subject to Availability", but I'm happy to mail them to a Bulls fan who otherwise couldn't go. If you want them, email me your address & I'll send them in the AM. Email is myexsux@comcast.net. First one gets them. No cost, of course. Might be best for someone who can get to the SunDome soon, before they run out (tho' the ticket agent told me the game isn't even close to sold out).

GO BULLS! GA, not trying to use this blog like craigslist, but I figured giving them away to a fellow fan would be OK.

[Jim]

Nice to see he can practice now and that he is going to be ok.

[G.A.]

GP's got it. Brett is now at AOL's Fanhouse.com, covering the Big East. The Trib's new beat writer, Scott Carter, started last week and is already actively blogging.

[Turd Ferguson]

Who here is going to Rutgers, and what section are you in?

[GP]

The subject of Brett not being with the Tribune anymore has been brought up here and it was pointed out that we should not being discussed in this particular forum. That question would be better asked of the editors of the Trib. You should be respectful of the guy regardless of his status or like/dislike of his coverage.

[abullinla]

Brett McMurphy had been so negative on the bulls and I think he eventually lost all the fans and probably got fired from the job...I guess.
Anyway he didn't really seem to be enthusiastic(or interested) about reporting Bulls news.

[matt]

Sorry to ask this here Greg, but what happened to Brett McMurphy's coverage of USF at tbo.com?? Did some internet searches but couldn't find any info.

[BC]

I'm pretty sure his 44 yarder against WVU was from the right hash, and he kicked one towards the south end zone from the left hash, so he made from all 3 spots in that game.

[Gobulls03]

Yeah but most of Shwartz's kicks he's made recently have been from the middle of the field. Everyone knows we can't kick from the hashes...glad Leavitt finally realized it too.

[Tyler]

If we were still in the running for the BE championship I would be more in favor of burning this year of eligibility to have Bonani, but I think we should just let him heal, not try to rush him back for a couple games. As you said, its not only the kicker, but the tackling on special teams needs work. In the WV game I saw 2 or 3 kicks go into the end zone.

[BC]

Ken, aside going 1-3 at FSU, Schwartz is actually now 5 for 6 on field goal attempts with a long of 50. He's not doing as terrifically bad as Alverado was, so there's no sense in wasting a year of eligibility for Bonani for 4 games (5 with a bowl game).

[Ken]

Our kickoffs and our kickoff coverage have been problems. Further, ES's record on FGs is still not all that good, except for the last game, and even then, we haven't seen any real distance.

Let's face it: If we thought a better kicker might get us wins in all four remaining games and the end of season ranking and bowl game that might go with that (and I mean better than Charlotte), wouldn't we all trade that for an additional year however many years from now that would be (we can recruit another kicker a lot more easily when we've had great success).

If he's ready, I'd consider bringing him back, but my guess is that running and kicking is one thing, but tackling something else, and I don't think that can be written off for a kicker.

[Will]

Alvarado was doing kickoffs well at the beginning I'm not sure why he isn't still doing it if he isn't kicking anymore. I saw Bonani kicking before the Cincy game, they should redshirt him no need to waste him now that Schwartz has some confidence.

[BC]

Good to hear the kid has recovered well enough to get back on the practice field already

[VOR]

If Bonani can kick into the end zone then he's needed now!
Kickoffs to the 10 yard line are killing us.

[Mr. Snrub]

Great to here that his able to start kicking!

[Taurean]

Schwartz starts nailing field goals and Bonani returns to practice. Coincidence? I think not.

[Gary S.]

I'm glad he's healing OK. Fractured vertebra? Ouch.

[Ken]

That's just great news, though, about his recovery. I'm so glad to know that he CAN do those things.

[Jupiter Bull]

Great to hear he's recovering nicely. Prefer to redshirt him, especially is Schwartz can play like he did v WVU.