USF Football: Bulls hoping to take small step forward in Jeff Scott’s first year
USF tasked with filling some key positions
There were plenty of positive signs that the Bulls were going to be productive on the offensive side of the ball. Throughout the season, they encountered significant injuries to their key players as well as inefficiencies at those same positions.
Last season, the Bulls were ranked 115th in the nation (11th in the AAC) in points per game (20.8) and 116th in the nation (11th in the AAC) in passing yards per game (169.6). They were also 112th in the country (last in the AAC) in total yards per game (330.8).
USF returns seven starters from last season including all the receivers and three from the offensive line. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. expects multiple position battles to take place through the remainder of the offseason. He turned the Florida Atlantic Owls into a top-20 total offense and scoring offense.
There are areas where the offensive schemes were the downfall of the Bulls’ productivity last season.
Last season, redshirt freshman dual-threat Jordan McCloud stepped in for the injured Blake Barnett (former Alabama quarterback) in Week 3 of the season. While McCloud played well as a dynamic running quarterback, he did not beat opponents often with his arm. He also faced a string of small injuries that made him ineffective.
Weis expects a quarterback battle with McCloud and former North Carolina Tar Heel in redshirt sophomore Cade Fortin. McCloud has shown to be a great playmaker, but Fortin has the potential to be a high-volume passer as a pro-style quarterback.
The good news for the Bulls is that they return seven of their top receiving playmakers from last season. Unfortunately, none of the receivers have accounted for at least 300 receiving yards. The top returning receiver from last season is junior Randall St. Felix, who caught 22 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Bryce Miller and senior Eddie McDoom are back as the other two starting wide receivers. Senior Jacob Mathis returns to be the full-time starting tight end after catching 13 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns last season.
The backfield is in good shape despite losing their top rusher in running back Jordan Cronkrite. The Bulls have between Johnny Ford and Kelley Joiner, who are both quick and elusive running backs. Ford rushed for 787 yards and eight touchdowns on 115 carries in 2018 and only played in four games this past season. Last year, Joiner rushed for 364 yards on 71 carries.
On the offensive line, the Bulls return three starters from last year’s team with all of them on the left side of the line. Left guard Demetris Harris is returning to potentially start his third full-season for the Bulls, center Brad Cecil has played in 22 games in his young career with the Bulls as he started 19 of them and left tackle Donavan Jennings has been in-and-out of the starting lineup.
Last season, the offensive line gave up 45 total sacks from the opposing defenses and 32 of those sacks came against McCloud. There will no doubt be position battles at the right side and the left side of the offensive line.
If the Bulls want to have a more productive offense next season, they need to have a more stable offensive line.