USF Football: 3 bold predictions for road trip to East Carolina
By Zach Bigalke
2. Darius Tice, D’Ernest Johson will each score twice
Running back Darius Tice, and his backfield counterpart D’Ernest Johnson, spent years in the long shadow cast by workhorse back Marlon Mack. Now that Mack is in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, Tice is emerging as a new star running the ball for the Bulls. At this point of the year, Tice is averaging nearly 100 yards per game on the ground. Tice already has a half-dozen touchdowns for USF on the ground in the first four games.
Johnson has been almost as good. He hasn’t reached the endzone as frequently, scoring just twice so far, but the other USF tailback also has over 300 yards rushing at this point of the year. Both running backs will be licking their chops for their chance to take on one of the most generous front sevens in the country.
The Pirates are giving up nearly 275 yards per game to opponents on the ground. USF will get plenty of push along the offensive line, opening up gaping holes for Tice and Johnson to run through all day. Along with Flowers, both backs will go off for at least 100 yards in the contest. More importantly, the duo will notch a pair of touchdowns apiece as USF open up a big gap in the score on the road.