By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - It's spring training time for the Bulls and
it didn't take them long to get into the full swing of things on Day 1.
The USF football team logged in its first spring practice
Wednesday with a morning schedule - much to players' enjoyment - and the Bulls
got after it at the Frank Morsani Football Complex.
"I think since I've been here at USF, since the summer of
2009, this is probably the best first day we've had. It was high energy," senior
linebacker Sam Barrington said. "The guys look like they knew what they were
doing. It's a great feeling. That's why I have a smile on my face right now,
I'm happy."
Head coach Skip Holtz has said numerous times that this is
the deepest, most talented group of seniors he's had yet at USF and the amount
of veterans out there has allowed the team to really take off early on.
"It's nice when we're in the same offense and defense now
for three years in a row. You step out there and everybody can execute," Holtz
said. "It's not like square one where you're trying to get base formations and
all those things. I feel really good about the amount of experience that's out
on the field right now."
DANIELS THE SENIOR
Suddenly quarterback B.J. Daniels is a senior, but he's well
aware of his role with the Bulls this year.
"It's just a little more added pressure from your teammates
and things like that," he said. "You're a senior. It's your last go-round."
Daniels became a vocal leader for the Bulls last offseason,
but perhaps the best example he set was on the field in 2011. The Tallahassee
native reached new single-season career highs in completion percentage as a
starter (58.9) and passing yards (2,585) while limiting his interceptions to
only seven in 365 attempts.
Daniels has already been hard at work in an attempt to keep
the progression rolling, calling the offseason "a grind," and he'll have a
new primary teacher to guide the process. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch's focus on the
running backs has switched to the quarterbacks after Peter Vaas mentored USF's
signal-callers the past two seasons.
"I feel like I made a great improvement with (Vaas) and I'm
excited to see what I can do with coach Fitch," said Daniels, who is focusing
on his footwork this spring.
OPEN CORNER SPOT
Kenneth Durden was working with the first team at cornerback
opposite of Kayvon Webster, but don't expect that to be concrete just yet.
"Today it was Durden. Tomorrow it may be Fidel Montgomery and
the next day it may be Josh Brown," Holtz said. "We're going to roll those guys
around."
The answer to the question of who will be the starter is far
off at this point because of the depth at cornerback - a luxury for a USF team
that was banged up at the position all of last season.
"We're going to let it play out," Holtz said. "We're going
to practice until the first scrimmage and then we'll start to make the
decisions on who will be the first, second and third team."
Durden already has left a big impression on Holtz after the
6-foot redshirt freshman packed on about 15 pounds in the offseason to get up
to 176 pounds.
"He's really made a commitment off the field," Holtz said.
Montgomery and Brown, both JUCO transfers, certainly won't
make it easy for Durden and bring impressive resumes to Tampa.
Miami native Montgomery, a junior, racked up 177 tackles in
two seasons at Southwest Mississippi Community College. Brown, also a junior, posted
46 tackles and 23 pass breakups in two seasons at Arizona Western Community
College.
All three of the players vying for the starting spot are 6
feet tall and are at least 180 pounds.
TALKING ABOUT COSH
A hot topic Wednesday was new defensive coordinator Chris
Cosh, who has already earned rave reviews from coaches and players.
"From my standpoint, I felt really comfortable that it was
going to work because I know so much about Chris," said Holtz, who coached with
Cosh at South Carolina for four seasons. "I just have great respect for him as
a coach, as a coordinator and as a person."
One thing that stands out quickly about Cosh is the 28th-year
college coach doesn't let an ego get in the way of business. He gladly accepted
Holtz's request to learn USF's installed defense and has made players feel
comfortable in the process after Mark Snyder's exit.
"He's energetic, he's straight to the point and you
appreciate him," Barrington said. "Any time you have a new coach coming in
you're kind of eerie because you don't know how it's going to be but I greatly
appreciate coach Cosh and everything he's doing. I'm glad he's here."
A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HAWKINS
The Bulls started the spring with only six players on the
injury report - knock on wood - which is a far cry from what the team had to
deal with last season.
"It's great to see so many of those guys back out there,"
Holtz said.
One face Holtz is really happy to see is tight end Jeff
Hawkins, who has been sidelined for nearly two years. The fifth-year senior from
Ocala missed all of 2011 after having offseason knee surgery.
"To see the attitude that he's got and the way that he's
working, it's just great to see him out there with a smile on his face," Holtz
said.
EDWARDS MOVES TO GUARD
Damien Edwards is set to settle in at a new primary
position. The 6-foot-5, 329-pounder has moved over from tackle to fill one of
USF's guard spots.
"When a fifth-year senior steps into that spot it makes you
feel really comfortable," Holtz said.
Edwards played in five games last season and has given the
Bulls needed depth along the line since 2009 at both guard and tackle.
