USF 2009 Preview
(August 29, 2009)

It is hard to predict the 2009 University of South Florida Bulls. High expectations have been dashed by late season collapse the past two seasons. A team that was 6-0 and ranked second in the nation fell completely out the top 25 in 2007. The team started 5-0 last year, then went 2-5 in Big East play. With no obvious favorite in the conference this year, no Big East team was ranked in the AP preseason poll, USF has as good a shot as anybody to win the league title and a BCS bowl berth. Or, they could struggle and see an end to a streak of four straight bowl games.

USF has two of the Big East's most recognizable names. Quarterback Matt Grothe should shatter the league's total yardage record and defensive end George Selvie has been a sack machine in three seasons. The two senior stars know what is at steak.

	USF 2009 Schedule
Date	Opponent	Site
Sat Sep 5	Wofford	Tampa
Sat Sep 12	Western Kentucky	Bowling Green
Sat Sep 19	Charleston Southern	Tampa
Sat Sep 26	Florida State	Tallahassee
Sat Oct 3	Syracuse	Syracuse
Thr Oct 15	Cincinnati	Tampa
Sat Oct 24	Pittsnurgh	Pittsburgh
Fri Oct 30	West Virginia	Tampa
Thr Nov 12	Rutgers	Piscataway, NJ
Sat Nov 21	Louisville	Tampa
Sat Nov 28	Miami, FL	Tampa
Sat Dec 5	Connecticut	East Hartford

Grothe speaking of the team's inconsistency admitted, "It's been frustrating. If we come out and win it, all that frustration goes away. If we win it, then you don't have to worry about the past. It's going to be different, because I'm going to make it different. It's my last year. I can't settle for anything less than first. I won't let us."

Selvie also has lofty goals. "We want the Big East championship. That's our first goal: win the Big East. We have to go out there and win. There's a lot riding on this season. I feel we have the best chance to do it this season and I feel like we'll get it done."

The schedule has good elements to it, such as, no Thursday games after playing Saturday. There is also a chance to defeat one of the state's "big three" with games at Florida State and a home game with Miami. Opening the season with Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern is sort of like a preseason where USF can work in the new players. However, it also means the Bulls will untested when they travel to Tallahassee to play the Seminoles. USF will not only have extra time to prepare for Thursday night games against Cincinnati and Rutgers, but the following games against Pittsburgh and Louisville too. The only short week is a Friday night home game against West Virginia. The Thanksgiving weekend game at RJS with Miami will be huge and it could be a bit chilly at Connecticut for the regular season finale.

Much of the fate of the 2009 season rests on arm of quarterback Matt Grothe. When Grothe plays well the Bulls typically win, when he struggles USF usually loses. Grothe will set a new Big East total yards mark this season, however, more consistent play is must at the QB spot. Redshirt freshmen B.J. Daniels is extremely athletic and should see plenty of mop-up action early in the season. Another redshirt freshman, Evan Landi, is third on the depth chart.

The Bulls will continue the running back by committee approach. Senior Mo Plancher will likely take the early lead, since junior Mike Ford is sitting out the first two games on suspension and junior Jamar Taylor is out for the first half of the season with an injury. Junior Richard Kelly is a big back who could be used in a number of positions and Aston Samuels is in the mix. Freshman Lindsey Lamar has been getting plenty of praise this fall and should see playing time. On having a feature back Jim Leavitt commented, "We'd love to have one of them step up and be the guy, if we ever find a back that'll step up and be like Andre Hall."

Senior Jesse Hester, Jr, while slowed by injury, is the top returning receiver. Juniors Carlton Mitchell, Dontavia Bogan, A.J. Love and Ed Alcin will catch plenty of balls in a deep group of receivers. Junior Andrew Ketchel and senior Ben Busbee will play tight end. Freshman WR Sterling Griffin has impressed the head coach. "Griffin is tearing it up right now," Leavitt remarked. "He's made it clear, he's going to challenge for the rotation."

Having to replace four starters makes the offensive line the biggest unknown heading into the season. Junior guard Zach Hermann and junior tackle Jacob Sims have the most experience of the bunch. The rest of the starting o-line looks like sophomore Chaz Hine, junior Sampson Genus and junior college transfer Jamar Bass. If this group does not jell, sophomore Kevin McCaskill, sophomore Jeremiah Warren, and redshirt freshmen Jatavious Jackson and Mark Popek will be waiting in the wings. Jim Leavitt said, "The offensive line has about ten guys really competing for starting positions."

Big East Pre-Season Poll

1) Pittsburgh 161 (8)

2) West Virginia 151 (5)

3) Cincinnati 144 (8)

4) USF 130 (3)

5) Rutgers 126

6) Connecticut 74

7) Louisville 51

8) Syracuse 27

Poll of media members covering the Big East, three from each school. First place votes in parentheses.

An extremely deep defensive line will be anchored by two-time all-american George Selvie. Senior Aaron Harris may end up sitting in favor of sophomore Patrick Hampton. Juniors Terrell McClain and Craig Marshall, along with sophomore Keith McCaskill will see plenty of snaps. There is also pressure from redshirt freshman Cory Grissom and freshman Ryne Giddins. Toss in junior college transfers Jason Pierre-Paul and Leslie Stirrups and this is a very deep and talented defensive line.

Senior Kion Wilson, senior Chris Robinson and junior Sabbath Joseph should be the starting linebackers. Senior Donte Spires will get into the action, as will redshirt freshman Mike Lanaris. Freshman Jaquain Williams could play and Jim Leavitt has been high on freshman Sam Barrington. On Barrington the head coach remarked, "He's got a lot to learn, but he can play at a high level. He can flat play."

The secondary is lead by senior cornerback Jerome Murphy and senior safety Nate Allen. Sophomores Quenton Washington and Jerrell Young were expected to fill out this group, but there has been a lot of competition. Freshman Kayvon Webster, sophomore Tyson Butler and redshirt freshman Jon Lejiste could each end up starting this season.

Special teams took a hit when place kicker Maikon Bonani was injured while working at Busch Gardens this summer. With Bonani out for the year, senior Delbert Alvarado will handle both the place kicking and punting duties. Walk- on Eric Schwartz may kickoff to give Alvarado a bit of break, but the team is still looking for anither kicker and will hold an open tryout.

There are also changes on the coaching staff for 2009. Mike Canales, the offensive coordinator on the University of South Florida's first team back in 1997, is back directing the offense. Canales was promoted from wide receivers coach in the off-season. Joe Tresey is the new defensive coordinator. He spent the past two seasons in that position at Cincinnati.

There is an interesting mix of familiar and new names on 2009 USF team. Jim Leavitt had some thoughts on training camp. "It's wild, a number of freshmen pushing older guys. A lot of talent in this freshman class. I know this sounds crazy, I've never had this much competition since I've been here."

Perhaps a late season collapse will be avoided? Leavitt commented, "I think this team will improve more than any team we've had, probably in a while, because we're so young and growing."