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FOOTBALL New Coaching Staff for Syracuse

Syracuse opens as a 3 point favorite in Boca Raton.
52% of Syracuse fans voted for Florida as their destination of choice in going bowling.

Coaching: Brand new head coach in Fran Brown along with a first year DC in Elijah Robinson. Robinson will not start coaching until January. Devin Redd, most recently the wide receivers coach at Delaware State, is also joining SU as an assistant WR coach.

Brown, deemed by many national experts as one of the top recruiters in college football, if not the best recruiter out there in the sport, has never been a head coach before at the collegiate level. He’s never been a coordinator, either. So for SU Athletics officials to hire Brown, given his recruiting prowess but lack of head-coach/coordinator experience, to me is a tad bold and out of the box, and it even could be considered a bit of a “gamble,” if that’s the right word to use here. Actually, how some national pundits are describing this decision by SU Athletics is high-risk, yet high-reward. I agree with this kind of prognostication.

Interim head coach Nunzio Campanile said during a press conference call for the Boca Raton Bowl on Monday that he has “not yet” heard from any Orange players about plans to opt out of the game later this month. He also said the plan is to finish out the season with the complete 2023 SU staff, and that the program will use “a lot of the same schedules that we had built under coach (Dino) Babers” in its bowl preparations.

Robinson coached the defensive line at Baylor when Brown was coaching defensive backs. He also coached at Temple with Brown. Prior to that, he spent time on the Penn State staff as a graduate assistant. Robinson has spent the last six seasons at Texas A&M as defensive line coach, co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
A Camden, New Jersey native, Robinson played defensive and offensive line at Penn State from 2004 to 2007.

So far there is no OC yet. The are looking to the NFL to bring in someone. Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown is targeting New York Giants running backs coach Jeff Nixon to be his offensive coordinator.

As of today there have been 5 players, all defensive, to hit the transfer portal. There are more players de-committing (3) over the last few days.

CFP Committee

Right now the committee are all pulling super hard and are major Louisville fans! If I didn’t dislike FSU so much I would love to see them win just to see the committee stuck with this shit storm decision! Do you leave out an undefeated FSU, 1 loss SEC champ Alabama who lost to 1 loss Texas or leave out 1 loss Big 12 Champ Texas that lost a close one to OU but beat Alabama on the ROAD by 2 scores! I think they screw FSU and blame it on the Jordan Travis injury not to mention screwing them has less of a backlash than screwing Alabama or Texas. Again, this is why there shouldn’t be a selection committee. It should be computers. A committee of all the conference commissioners should be placed into room with top flight programmers and tell them what they value in ranking teams. Based on the feedback it fine tuned and voted on for weighting importance. The programmers then create the model and beta test on past results over the past 10 years and tweak. Then once fully tweaked implement. Computers don’t have bias or preferences. They follow their programming.
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FOOTBALL Golesh Presser Quotes 12/3

It will be a really cool experience and we haven’t announced an opponent yet, but most importantly we get to play another one and we get to practice more too. The guys are geeked up and there is a renewed sense of energy. We are fired up. The women’s Basketball team will be down there playing Baylor. Before Christmas I’ll push our fans to be down there, playing football in December is how it should be.

On playing in-state, the ease for our fan base to get there. We have fans and alumni all over the state and it makes it easier for them to travel. For someone who has lived in the Midwest, how cool is it to be in a state with Bowl Games. There were no bowl games in Ohio!

For our students to go and not spend an arm and leg to see us play, how awesome. It will be in the 70s or 80s what else can you ask for.

We just had our team meetings at 5 o’clock, bowl games are a reward for a season. We are at a point in our program this is the bare minimum foundation of where we are to play in December. I’m going to make it as much fun as humanly possible and when it is time to work it is time to work. Every bowl there is a team that is there to win the game and usually one there to just be there. We want to win game seven and be there to win the game. We better be ready to roll and whoever we play will be ready to punch us in the face. Most of these guys haven’t been to a bowl, it will be on us to guide them and it has been that way since we got here and it is about setting the standard.



On in-helmet communications, not in this game, but there is a video on the sideline component and the AAC already has and I’ve agreed to it, we can use sideline video replay in whatever capacity, but no in-helmet communication.



On mission accomplished this year, there wasn’t one for this year and we are setting the foundation of what we are building, I would feel like it if we played yesterday, but right now our mission is to get as good as we can as fast as we can, but until we are holding a trophy on championships Saturday it is not mission accomplished.

On the extra practices, absolutely priceless. The last two days we were on the practice field we scrimmaged the young guys and got indy time with all of the guys and rebreak it down and the Izzy Carter’s of the world are able to get reps. A bunch of guys like Tawfiq Byard are getting priceless reps.

On the number of bowls, I have no idea. This is a great chance to make great memories (this is his 13th bowl game)

FOOTBALL No Longer on Roster

Derrell Bailey was mentioned earlier and I found a few that aren’t on the 2023 roster anymore:

- Javohn Thomas
- T. Edmonds (DT that signed with the program before the summer?)
- J. Sanders (CB that signed late as well)

Curious if the last two were given a scholly this year and the staff didn’t plan on renewing it after this year…
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING Bull Scoop 11/30

OL target Braeden Carter will be in town for an OV, this is turning into a quick romance after an unofficial visit and offer last weekend.

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USF made a push for CB Andrew Brinson and things will get interesting as the DC at Oregon State got the job, but the HC is now at Michigan State and both are still recruiting him. USF tried to get him on campus this week. No one knows why he wants to leave Florida either. It's kind of a weird deal that he went as far as he could away from here.



New offers out recent:

2025 QB Grady Adamson from Oklahoma on Wednesday.
2025 OL Taren Hendrick from Columbia, MO.

Some portal guys to keep an eye on

Indiana WR Donaven McCullen who is a converted QB.
New Mexico OL Collin James starting center and an excellent pass blocker
Southern Miss OL Gerquan Scott who has starting experience at LG and C solid both as a run blocker and pass blocker, 4-year starter
UTEP OL Justin Mayers starting LG for UTEP the last two years
Texas Tech OL Landon Peterson starting RG last year for the Red Raiders, only played in two games this season.
Iowa State TE Deshawn Hanika backup TE who played 294 snaps this year 17 catches on 26 targets with 4 TDs.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING December OV weekend 1 recruit reactions

#USF hosted top targets and commits like Hasaan Sykes pictured below who all gave rave reviews to the OV experience in Tampa this weekend.



Sykes, Haasan USF OV.jpg

FOOTBALL Final Bowl Projections Saturday night

Kyle Bonagura ESPN- Fenway Bowl 12/28 USF vs Boston College

Brett McMurphy- Military Bowl 12/27 USF vs Syracuse

Fox Sports- Gasparilla Bowl 12/22 USF vs South Alabama

Bleacher Report- Gasparilla Bowl 12/22 USF vs James Madison

Mark Schlabach ESPN- Boca Raton Bowl 12/21 USF vs Georgia Southern

The Athletic- Boca Raton Bowl 12/21 USF vs Marshall

Jerry Palm CBS- Boca Raton Bowl 12/21 USF vs Marshall

FOOTBALL USF Football to Make 11th Bowl Appearance in Boca Raton Bowl

Bulls to play in FAU Stadium on Dec. 21 in first bowl appearance since 2018



TAMPA, DEC. 3, 2023 – First-year head coach Alex Golesh and the Bulls will continue one of the top turnarounds in college football when South Florida (6-6; 4-4 American) makes the program’s 11th bowl appearance, and first since 2018, in the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl on Thur., Dec. 21 at FAU Stadium (30,000) in Boca Raton, Fla.



The game kicks off at 8 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. USF’s bowl opponent will be announced soon.



The USF Women’s basketball team will be playing in the West Palm Classic – approximately 30 minutes from the bowl site – on Dec. 20-21, with the Bulls taking on national power Baylor at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 prior to the bowl game.



USF football’s five-win improvement over 2022 ranks as the greatest turnaround in program history and is tied with Liberty (13-0) for the second-best in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2023 behind only Northwestern’s six-win improvement.



USF is 6-4 all-time in bowl games, with notable victories over Clemson, South Carolina and Texas Tech. This will mark the Bulls’ fourth bowl game appearance in the state of Florida, having previously played in the St. Petersburg Bowl (2008), Miami Beach Bowl (2015) and Gasparilla Bowl (2018).



USF will be making the program’s first-ever appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl, which will be played for the 10th time in 2023. Toledo defeated Liberty, 21-19, in the 2022 game. Fans can take part in the Dual Team Pep Rally on Dec. 20 (6 p.m.) at the Mizner Park Amphitheater and the Fan Fest (4-7 p.m.) on Dec. 21.



For further Boca Raton Bowl information and schedules click HERE.



NOTING USF: South Florida (6-6; 4-4 American)

• USF is making its 11th bowl appearance and made six straight bowl appearances from 2005-10 and four straight from 2015-18. The Bulls are 6-4 in bowl games.

• USF’s last bowl win came with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech in the 2017 Birmingham Bowl to complete a 10-2 season and finish ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll. The Bulls have bowl games wins over Tech, South Carolina (2016 Birmingham Bowl), Clemson (2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl), Northern Illinois (2009 International Bowl), Memphis (2008 St. Petersburg Bowl) and East Carolina (2006 Papajohns.com Bowl).

• The Bulls’ five-win improvement over 2022 ranks as the greatest turnaround in program history and tied with Liberty for the second-best in FBS football in 2023 behind only Northwestern’s six-win improvement.

• Five Bulls were named to AAC All-Conference teams: wide receiver Sean Atkins’ (Viera) was a Second Team selection, while offensive guard Zane Herring (Madison), cornerback Aamaris Brown-Bunkley (Tampa), defensive tackle Rashad Cheney (Atlanta) and linebacker Jhalyn Shuler (Abbeville, S.C.) earned honorable-mention.

• Head coach Alex Golesh was named one of 15 finalists for College Football News’ Coach of the Year. The former Tennessee offensive coordinator has installed an explosive offense that has registered just the sixth 5,000-yard season in program history and is on pace for a top-three program mark while producing the program’s first 3,000-yard passer and potentially first 1,000-yard receiver.

• QB Byrum Brown (Raleigh, N.C.) leads the AAC and ranks No. 7 nationally in total offense (318.6 ypg) and set the USF season passing record with 3,078 yards. He is one of two players nationally with 3,000+ yards passing and 700+ rushing, joining Heisman favorite Jayden Daniels of LSU. His 34 touchdowns accounted for are tied for the third-best mark in program history and he ranks No. 12 nationally in points responsible for per game (17.3 ppg). His 23 passing touchdowns on the year are just two short of the USF season record.

• WR Sean Atkins has set program season records for receptions (86) and receiving yards (961), as the former walk-on is on track to become the first 1,000-yard receiver in a season in program history.

• The USF offense ranks No. 17 nationally producing 455 yards per game and is the fastest offense in the nation averaging 82 plays a game, the only team to post over 80 in the nation. The Bulls have produced 114 explosive plays on the season.

FOOTBALL PFF Grades from Charlotte

I'll do this on here just to get it up since it was asked about.

QB- Byrum Brown 72.7 PFF score, 69.0 run grade, 69.4 pass grade, Brown had a 124 NFL Passer Rating, his fourth highest score of the season. Played 66 snaps

QB- Bryce Archie 6 snaps 59.2 PFF

O Skill high to low

WR- Yusuf Terry 86.7 PFF (11 snaps)
RB- Kelley Joiner Jr. 75.9 PFF (18 snaps)
WR- Jaden Alexis 73.1 PFF (27 snaps)
WR- Naiem Simmons 71.1 PFF (38 snaps)
TE- Gunnar Greenwald 68.9 PFF (23 snaps)
WR- Khafre Brown 67.9 PFF (33 snaps)
RB- Michel Dukes 67.6 (21 snaps) got a 0.0 for pass blocking!
SLT- Sean Atkins 67.0 (60 snaps)
TE- Weston Wolff 61.0 (49 snaps) got killed for pass pro 20.9
SLT- Christian Helms 60.5 (6 snaps)
WR- Damon Smith 60.5 (5 snaps)
WR- Cade Roberts 60.1 (3 snaps)
WR- Tyree Kelly 58.4 (11 snaps)
RB- Nay'quan Wright 57.5 (30 snaps)
RB- Yasias Young 56.8 (3 snaps)
WR- Michael Brown Stephens 53.9 (14 snaps)
TE- Jayson Littlejohn 47.8 (7 snaps)

Offensive Line
LT- Donovan Jennings 67.5 PFF (66 snaps) 61.1 Run Blk, 79.5 Pass Blk
C- MIke Lofton 64.1 PFF (66 snaps) 60.4 run blk, 73.5 Pass Blk
LG- Cole Skinner 60.3 PFF (66 snaps) 54.7 run blk, 87.6 Pass Blk!
LG- Zach Perkins 59.6 6 snaps
LT- Gannon Lanning 58.7 6 snaps
RG- Gabriel Hahn 58.0 3 snaps
RT- RJ Perry 53.3 4 snaps
RG- Cole Best 53.1 (66 snaps) 45.9 run blk, 87.6 pass blk!
RT- Derek Bowman 52.5 (66 snaps) 52.3 run blk, 50.6 pass blk
RG- Zane Herring 51.3 (7 snaps) 50.3 run blk, 72.7 pass blk
RG- Nikola Milovac 50.0 6

Defense:

Defensive Line:
DT- Jacquez Williams 75.7 PFF (16 snaps)
NT- Immanuel Hickman 72.4 PFF (25 snaps)
NT- Michael Williams II 69.8 PFF (21 snaps)
DT- Danny Gonzalez 68.4 PFF (3 snaps)
DE- Jonathan Ross 67.9 PFF (36 snaps)
NT- Doug Blue Eli 64.9 PFF (22 snaps)
NT- De'Juan Sease 63.0 PFF (6 snaps)
NT- Stantavious Smith 62.2 PFF (3 snaps)
DE- Tramel Logan 61.3 PFF (39 snaps)
DT- Rashad Cheney Jr. 54.6 PFF (39 snaps)

Linebackers:
WLB- Jhalyn Shuler 80.9 PFF (48 snaps)
OLB- D.J. Harris 74.7 PFF (46 snaps)
MLB- D.J. Gordon IV 73.2 (23 snaps)
WLB- Jamie Pettway 72.8 (22 snaps)
OLB- Brian Norris 67.7 (24 snaps)
MLB- Mac Harris 58.1 (39 snaps)
MLB- Andrew Mata'Afa 48.3 (8 snaps)

Defensive Backs:
SS- Daquan Evans 86.1 PFF (46 snaps)
FS- Logan Berryhill 72.9 (49 snaps)
FS- Timarcus Simpson 72.7 (11 snaps)
CB- Aamaris Brown 66.0 (61 snaps)
SS- Jaelen Stokes 65.7 (12 snaps)
NB- Jarvis Lee Jr. 64.6 (18 snaps)
CB- Braxton Clark 64.4 (40 snaps)
CB- Kendall Dennis 64.1 (9 snaps)
SS- Tawfiq Byard 63.1 (6 snaps)
CB- Matthew Hill 63 (6 snaps)
FS- Christopher Townsel 62.6 (15 snaps)
SS- Lewai Mitchell 61.9 (6 snaps)
SS- Will Jones II 61.1 (41 snaps)
CB- Tavin Ward 59.2 (24 snaps)
SS- Jayden Curry 54.5 (6 snaps)
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