South Florida Football: 2017 Bulls season preview, predictions
By Zach Bigalke
Offense
The linchpin of South Florida’s offense, quarterback Quinton Flowers, returns to lead the Bulls once again in 2017. As a junior he threw for 2,800 yards and rushed for another 1,500 yards, leading the Bulls to 11 wins. Even in defeat Flowers was impressive, rushing for over 150 yards against Florida State (but throwing two interceptions) as well as scoring three touchdowns without any turnovers in the loss to Temple.
South Florida also brings back all of their main receiving threats except Rodney Adams. Flowers could top 3,000 yards through the air and 1,500 rushing yards this season as long as new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert doesn’t try to change things too much from what worked so well last season.
Related Story: South Florida Football: Two-deep 2017 depth chart projection
The offensive line has to be retooled a bit after losing two starters from last year’s unit. Redshirt sophomore William Atterbury seems like the likeliest player to plug the hole on the edge left by the departure of left tackle Kofi Amichia. At least Gilbert and Charlie Strong can depend on center Cameron Ruff, a holdover who enters 2017 on the Rimington Award watch list.
How will Strong replace Marlon Mack?
Gilbert might actually benefit from having never worked with Marlon Mack, the three-year starter with the Bulls who is now turning heads in training camp as a fourth-round draft pick entering his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts.
D’Ernest Johnson looks like the primary candidate to fill the spot in the backfield vacated by Mack. Johnson has done a little bit of everything for the Bulls over the past three seasons as Mack’s understudy, scoring 22 total touchdowns by rush, reception, return and pass. Redshirt senior Darius Tice could also see more carries after returning from an ankle injury that ruined a promising season in 2016.
Flowers will also carry plenty of the rushing load, and the new coaching staff might look to use both backs as much as possible. The short answer, though, is that nobody can replace Mack.