USF Football: 5 breakout candidates for the Bulls in 2017

USF football hopes to become the next Group of Five powerhouse in 2017. Here are five breakout candidates that could get the Bulls to the top of the AAC.

South Florida is in a unique situation. The Bulls return the most veteran team in the AAC East. Seven starters are back on offense, including senior quarterback Quinton Flowers. The defense returns just as many starters from 2016, including top-tackling linebacker Auggie Sanchez. A lot of talent returns to Tampa from a team that won 11 games last season.

But South Florida also has a completely new coaching staff in 2017. The architect of USF’s resurgence, Willie Taggart, took over the Oregon job after Mark Helfrich was fired in Eugene. Now the task falls to Charlie Strong to try to take the Bulls the next step toward a first-ever league championship.

The Bulls also have bigger goals in mind, though. Because the American Athletic Conference rates as the deepest Group of Five league, its top team automatically has a good shot at making a New Year’s Six bowl game. And with a manageable schedule this year, South Florida could end the season with a perfect record.

That would put them in line not just to reach a major bowl game but to dream bigger. Last year Houston threatened to upset the established order of things in the College Football Playoff era before fading in AAC play. Here are five candidates to break out for South Florida in 2017.