South Florida Football: 5 reasons why Bulls will stink in 2017

4. Marlon Mack will not be easily replaced in the backfield

For three straight years, South Florida could rely on Marlon Mack to do the heavy lifting in the ground game. Mack rushed for at least a thousand yards all three years he played for the Bulls. He started right out of the gate as a true freshman, and never gave up his stranglehold on the bulk of the carries.

That production won’t be easily replaced. The best that can be said is that Sterlin Gilbert never got to work with Mack and thus does not know what he is missing. But all of the offensive starters who are back for the Bulls know what they are missing. They all will feel the pressure of trying to step up and take on the responsibility of replacing that productivity.

South Florida is hoping that D’Ernest Johnson and Darius Tice can combine to paper over the loss of Mack. But even if they manage to match his raw numbers, they will not individually be able to present the same threat in one package.

Ultimately, quarterback Quinton Flowers could be called upon to do even more in both the running and passing games. That could lead to a lack of dimensionality and a downswing in offensive productivity. The departure of Mack immediately makes the Bulls’ rushing attack stink a bit until further notice.