USF Football: 5 breakout freshmen to watch in 2018

There’s a lot of room for playing time for newcomers along USF’s defensive line, as the Bulls lost three starters from their excellent 2017 line, all of whom are in NFL camps.

There are a handful of options at defensive end – junior Greg Reaves is the standout returner, but he’s more of a hybrid edge rusher. The Bulls could use a traditional three-technique end to complement Reaves on the other side of the line.

Good luck figuring out the frontrunner for that position. Junior Kirk Livingstone could rebound after an injury-plagued 2017 season, or perhaps seniors Josh Black and Juwuan Brown could have something to say in the race.

All that uncertainty bodes well for Stacy Kirby, one of the biggest gets of Strong’s recruiting class. A high three-star recruit, Kirby endeared himself to Bulls fans everywhere by flipping from rival UCF during the early signing period. He enrolled early, and while he had a quiet spring, he’ll have every chance to enter the defensive rotation once fall practices begin.