Offensive Line
Starting tackles: William Atterbury (LT), Marcus Norman (RT)
Backups: Eric Mayes, Grant Polk
The offensive line lost two starters from last season. Left tackle Kofi Amichia among the biggest losses on the team. The competition should be fierce between junior Eric Mayes and redshirt sophomore William Atterbury for the starting position. Atterbury is returning from injury, while Mayes is a converted defensive lineman who was a backup at right tackle last year.
Marcus Norman will hold down the other tackle spot after starting nine games last season as a redshirt freshman. He will most likely be backed up by Grant Polk, the former Virginia recruit who becomes eligible to take the field this year after sitting out 2016 due to NCAA transfer rules.
Starting center: Cameron Ruff
Backup: Michael Galati
Cameron Ruff started all 13 games last season for South Florida at center, and he enters 2017 as a Rimington Award candidate at the position. The redshirt senior enters his final year of eligibility as the anchor of the line. He will once again be called upon for the bulk of the snaps, but should Ruff go down the Bulls have a competent backup in redshirt junior Michael Galati.
Starting guards: Jeremi Hall (LG), Brooks Larkin (RG)
Backups: Glen Bethel, Michael Wiggs
Jeremi Hall stepped into the starting role at left guard last year after two seasons as an understudy at the position. He started every game, and is expected to do so once again in 2017. The other guard position will probably be filled by Brooks Larkin, who saw action in two games last year as a backup.
Glen Bethel, a junior-college transfer who saw no action in 2016, will also be in the mix at the guard positions. Redshirt freshman Michael Wiggs, a left tackle in high school, has transitioned inside and could also earn playing time at the right guard position.