Behind Enemy Lines: Breaking down the South Florida Bulls
BamaOnLine caught up with USF Athletics senior writer and radio sideline reporter Joey Johnston for a breakdown of Alabama’s Week 3 opponent. The Crimson Tide will travel to Tampa to take on the Bulls at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Saturday, Sept. 16. The road game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT (ABC).
BamaOnLine: South Florida lost 11 games last year and made a coaching change, moving on from Jeff Scott and bringing in Alex Golesh, who was last the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. What do you think about the hire? How is Golesh trying to turn things around?
Joey Johnston: Alex Golesh seems to be the right fit for South Florida’s program, which always had a blue-collar, hard-working identity during its most prosperous times. Golesh knows what he has inherited — a full rebuild — but he also knows about the program’s positives. You’re in Tampa, in the middle of one of the nation’s most fertile recruiting territories. You have an on-campus stadium coming in 2026. You have a great academic school, which was just granted AAU status. And you have a long leash. The administration knows the football program has fallen from grace (incredibly, losses in 35 of its last 36 FBS games). But the natural resources are there. Golesh is recruiting like a madman and that’s a big part of what is required. USF hasn’t had an NFL draft pick since 2018 and that’s a pretty good gauge of talent level. It’s going to take time, but Golesh seems to know that a foundation must be laid.
BOL: Every team is affected by the transfer portal, but when there’s a coaching change, those teams are typically the most impacted. What were USF’s biggest losses? Gains?
JJ: USF had some big-time losses in the transfer portal. The biggest? No question, it’s wide receivers Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr., who have been in the middle of Coach Prime’s two-game turnaround at Colorado. These are big-time playmakers. Running back Brian Battie, an All-American kick returner in 2021, has surfaced at Auburn after a 1,000-yard rushing effort last season. Place-kicker Spencer Shrader, an NFL-level talent, just kicked a program-record 54-yard field goal for Notre Dame and he’s great at kickoff touchbacks. Linebacker Antonio Grier just had a pick-six for Arkansas. That’s … a lot. USF fans definitely are playing the what-might-have-been game.
Meanwhile, Golesh has orchestrated one of the biggest roster turnarounds this side of Colorado, bringing in 38 new scholarship players. That includes primary running back Nay’Quan Wright (Florida), defensive end Lloyd Summerall (Florida), offensive tackle RJ Perry (Tennessee), offensive guard Zane Herring (Florida State), tight end Weston Wolff (Maryland), cornerback Braxton Clark (Nebraska), defensive tackle Manny Hickman (East Carolina), defensive tackle Doug Blue-Eli (TCU), along with receivers Naiem Simmons (Wagner), Jaden Alexis (Texas) and Michael Brown-Stephens (Minnesota).
The biggest impact so far? I’ll go: 1. Braxton Clark, 2. Nay’Quan Wright and 3. Naiem Simmons.
BOL: Who is a player on both sides of the ball that could give the Crimson Tide trouble?
JJ: Here are two players who have stood out to me. Quarterback Byrum Brown, who turns 19 on Sept. 29, is a playmaker and a tough guy. Last season, as a true freshman, Brown was technically No. 4 in training camp. Due to injuries and defections, he was No. 1 for last season’s final two games. He completed his FIRST 21 PASSES on a freezing night at Tulsa, then nearly led an upset of UCF. He looks like the real thing. On defense, watch Daquan Evans, who has found a new life at nickel back. He has played plenty since arriving at USF, but in his final season, through two games, he has been a menacing presence and an especially hard-hitter.
BOL: This is an unusual game with Alabama playing at USF rather than the other way around. Is there a sense of excitement among the team/fans for the Tide coming to Tampa?
JJ: There is definite excitement. Obviously, everyone is familiar with Alabama’s brand. There are tons of SEC fans — and a large Alabama alumni presence — in the Tampa Bay area. Alabama coming to town is something akin to the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees or Los Angeles Lakers showing up. It will be a sellout in Raymond James Stadium, home to the NFL’s Buccaneers and host to three Super Bowls, so I think Alabama fans will enjoy their trip.
(Friday night dinner tips: The Columbia for Spanish food, Ulele is a relatively new hot place and Tampa standard Bern’s Steak House, of course, if you can get in). We are looking forward to Alabama’s visit and I am particularly excited about USF’s trips to Tuscaloosa in 2024 and 2026 (hello, Dreamland!).
BOL: Vegas likes Alabama by a lot in this matchup, and the Crimson Tide usually responds well after a loss. So what does a successful home game against UA look like for the Bulls?
JJ: Obviously, on paper, this is a mismatch. There was a time when USF’s program was considered one of the nation’s top giant-killlers (wins against Pittsburgh, Louisville, West Virginia, North Carolina, NC State, Auburn, Kansas, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame and Clemson) … but THIS is not that time. USF is rebuilding after hitting rock bottom as a program. USF success means competing, executing, staying away from mistakes and getting off the field on defense. USF success means somehow taking this game to the second half — and fourth quarter — with the outcome still in doubt. Realistically, it’s difficult to see that happening. But the larger goal is using this game as a measuring stick and gaining some positives before beginning the American Athletic Conference schedule, which is really the bigger goal. USF has tons of flashy victories in its 27-season history, but no conference titles. That is clearly the next step for this program.
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