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Seventh straight year program sees increase

TAMPA, FEB. 25, 2014 – Coach Willie Taggart's first University of South Florida football team placed a program record 23 student-athletes on the 2013 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Football team announced by the conference on Tuesday.

USF, which had 20 student-athletes earn all-academic recognition in its final season in the Big East last year, saw its number of conference all-academic honorees in football rise for the seventh straight season and set a program record for the most in a season in its first year in The American.

All-Academic honorees earned a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 through the Fall term of the 2013-14 academic year and completed a minimum of two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters of academic work with a total of 18 semester of 27 quarter credits.

The Bulls had four seniors honored, all of whom have earned their degrees, and 13 of the Bulls' honorees have earned multiple conference all-academic honors. Leading the way was senior guard Steven Jacques (Hollywood), who earned academic all-conference honors for the fourth year after posting a 3.66 grade-point average through the fall in the master's program in entrepreneurship. Senior defensive tackle Luke Sager (Niceville) earned his third academic all-conference honor after posting a 3.54 GPA in the entrepreneurship master's program. Sager was also a second team All-American Conference selection on the field in 2013.

Bulls who earned academic all-conference selection for the second time included Brandon Salinas (Orlando) and Demi Thompson (Longwood), who have both earned their degrees, as well as Mattias Ciabatti (Tampa), Mak Djulbegovic (Tampa), Jordan Duval (Tampa, Fla.), David Burdetsky (Jacksonville), Matt Floyd (Milton), Ruben Garcia (Plant City), Alex Mut (Port Charlotte), Kyle Peck (Lakeland), and Grant White (Watertown, N.Y.).

December graduate Stephen Bravo-Brown (Jacksonville) was among USF's first time academic all-conference honorees that included Daniel Awoleke (North Fort Lauderdale), Tim Finklea (Bradenton), Derek Glenn (New Port Richey), Michael Hill (Tarpon Springs), Mark Oliver (St. Petersburg), Daniel Perry (Fort Lauderdale), Tyler Robb (Tampa) Torrel Saffold (Kansas City, Kan.) and Rodney Watson (Lakeland).

USF begins spring practice on Feb. 26 and will hold 15 spring practices leading up to the annual Spring Game on March 29 at Raymond James Stadium. That game is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff.

The Bulls return 17 starters (10 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists) for coach Willie Taggart's second season at the helm, which kicks off on Aug. 30 vs. Western Carolina at Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls 2014 schedule will feature six teams that reached a bowl game last season, with four of those coming to Raymond James. The 2014 non-conference schedule features home clashes vs. Big Ten foe Maryland (Sept. 6) and ACC opponent N.C. State (Sept. 13) as well as a road game at perennial Big Ten power Wisconsin (Sept. 27). In American Conference action the Bulls will host UCF, Houston and East Carolina, which all competed in bowl games last season, as well as UConn.

Season Ticket Members may renew their tickets today online, by calling 1-800-GoBulls, or in person at the Ticket Sales and Service Center in the Sun Dome administrative offices (Gate B).

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