South Florida Football: Two-deep 2017 depth chart projection
By Zach Bigalke
Defensive Line
Starting tackles: Deadrin Senat, Bruce Hector
Backups: Marlon Gonzalez, Kevin Bronson
The defense is going to be shifting toward a 3-3-5 alignment for the majority of its defensive plays. That means a look that includes two defensive tackles and one end with a hand in the dirt. The leaders to man the two tackle spots are seniors Deadrin Senat and Bruce Hector. Both have been mainstays on the defensive line the past few seasons, and filled the starting spots last season as well. Senat was also last year’s defensive MVP.
The veteran duo is backed up by redshirt sophomore Marlon Gonzalez and redshirt junior Kevin Bronson. Bronson has four career starts in the past two seasons and has appeared in 23 total games. Gonzalez has more limited experience, having played a minor role in his first season on the field in 2016.
Starting ends: Kirk Livingstone
Backups: Juwuan Brown
As a redshirt freshman, Kirk Livingstone started all 13 games last season at South Florida. He is slated to remain in that role in new defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary’s scheme. Livingstone presents a disruptive option that also opens up more room for linebackers to operate through the gaps. He is backed up by Juwuan Brown, the junior who served in the same role last season and earned snaps in all 13 games.