USF Football: 5 breakout candidates for the Bulls in 2017
By Zach Bigalke
The Bulls started last season with Elkanah Dillon as the starter at tight end. Before the midway point of 2016, though, Dillon had ceded the starting role to redshirt freshman Mitchell Wilcox. The youngster started eight games, largely offering additional blocking for quarterback Quinton Flowers.
This season the 6-foot-4, 248-pound Wilcox will get the nod out of the gate. He will become an invaluable part of D’Ernest Johnson’s transition to lead ball-carrying duties. Look for the redshirt sophomore to help plow the way for another 1,000 yards South Florida rusher as the Bulls contend for league and national honors.
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Wilcox isn’t just a blocker, though. He was also involved in the passing game, catching a dozen passes for 278 yards and two scores. Averaging over 23 yards a catch, Wilcox offered a dynamic weapon for Flowers to trip up defenses. He could emerge more as a pass-catching threat this season as Strong sends him out on more routes in 2017.
Wilcox will break out as the undisputed starter at tight end this year for the Bulls. His emergence will help the team maintain its offensive dominance for another season, and will help him develop into a leader as well for 2018 and beyond.