USF Athletics

Bulls Have Their Eyes on the Prize During Game Week

December 18, 2017

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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, DEC. 18, 2017 – It's finally game week once again for a motivated USF team that wants to make more program history at the Birmingham Bowl.

Ranked No. 23/24 nationally and ready for action, head coach Charlie Strong's Bulls want to reach another new program milestone by posting double-digit win totals for the first time in school history. USF (9-2) will get that chance Saturday at noon (EST), when it clashes with Big 12 foe Texas Tech (6-6) at historic Legion Field in Alabama.

"You get a chance to go play a Power 5 from the Big 12 Conference," Strong said after practice Monday. "You're going to get national exposure again and we need to go out and play well. It's a good way to end the season."

Before showcasing their skills on ESPN, USF is putting the finishing touches on a very beneficial bowl season that's given the Bulls three extra weeks of practice. After letting up-and-coming players audition for valuable roles early on, USF is now deep into game preparation for an explosive opponent that ranks 17^th nationally in total offense (468.4 ypg) and 26^th in scoring offense (34.3 ppg).

"We know this, our hands are going to be full because they can throw the ball and they can score at any moment," Strong said. "We've just got to play within ourselves." 

USF's defense will carry confidence on the trip to Birmingham after making steady improvement in its debut season with Strong, a defensive guru, and coordinator Brian Jean-Mary. Leading The American in total defense (342.5 ypc) and scoring defense (22.5 ppg), USF looks to impress its popular head coach one more time before 2018.

"Coach Strong has meant a lot," said emerging star sophomore defensive end Greg Reaves (Bradenton, Fla.).  "On defense, he makes us want to be better. With his reputation as a defensive coach, he just goes and pushes us each and every day to be better players, better men. You can't beat that."

One More Before the Bulls Hit the Road
USF brought the intensity in Monday's practice at the Morsani Complex with one more session to go before the Bulls fly up to Alabama on Tuesday afternoon.

"We're going to come out tomorrow morning before we leave and get us another good practice in," Strong said. "It lets us move around and get a good sweat, and (we'll) get there tomorrow night."

Before Saturday's showdown with the Red Raiders, USF will continue to sharpen its skills during Birmingham practices on top of enjoying a full schedule of fun bowl events. Learn more about the program's action-packed bowl schedule Tuesday on GoUSFBulls.com.
 
Reaves Enjoying Breakout Season as a Bull
With several proven players returning, Strong is excited about the future of USF football that includes a dynamic defensive end.

Just a sophomore, Greg Reaves owns a share of the team lead with 13.0 tackles for loss and he's tied for fourth on the squad with 48 tackles. The Bradenton, Fla., native also leads the Bulls with six QB hurries on top of 4.0 sacks in his first season as a starter.

"I'm extremely thankful to be here," he said. "Every time I come down the ramp (at practice), I make sure I pray, thank God for every opportunity I get and take full advantage of it."

Reaves has definitely seized his opportunity that started with his all-out effort earning him a scholarship at the end of fall camp.

"Coming in, especially as a walk-on, I kind of had a chip on my shoulder," he said. "(I wasn't) highly recruited coming out of high school. I was passed over a lot, so it's something I carry with me."

Reaves' name now carries a lot of weight in USF fan circles after he registered tackles for loss in at least eight games this season. Reaves wants to do much more in the Birmingham Bowl while honoring seniors that helped give him a grand stage to play on.

"Mike Love, Deadrin Senat and Bruce Hector, those are my D-line brothers. It's my last game I'll probably ever play with them," he said. "For me, it's sending them out the right way. I'm going to go out and give everything for them."

Salomon Hitting His Stride Heading to Birmingham
While Greg Reaves has shined on defense, USF has another sophomore doing big things on the other side of the ball.

Darnell Salomon is looking to stretch the field even more in Birmingham after ranking second on the team with 16.61 yards per reception this regular season. After seeing eight games of action as a freshman, the Miami native has made the most of his time as a starter, catching 28 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns.

Bulls fans might still be cheering about Salomon's last touchdown snag, an 83-yarder that helped tie things up with UCF late in the War on I-4 thriller back on Nov. 24.

"I was just like, 'I'm hoping to do this for the team,' and then just made a big play," he said with a smile.

Salomon ended up setting new career highs with five catches for 139 yards against the Knights and contributes some of his season success to learning from past USF greats at receiver.

"It really started from freshman year, learning from all the veterans like Rodney Adams," he said. "I ended up putting into my craft, improving and improving all season, and improving in the summer. It helped me out during the season."

Bulls Bits

• BUSY WEDNESDAY FOR BULLS: It's going to be a whirlwind Wednesday for USF, which will be in Birmingham for bowl preparation on top of inking future Bulls during Early Signing Period. Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for updates all the way up to the end of Early Signing Period on Friday. "I don't exactly the number that we're going to sign, but we're going to get us a good group," Strong said.
• BOWL SUCCESS: Eyeing back-to-back bowl wins, USF has fared well in past postseasons with four bowl victories in the last five outings. The Bulls are 5-3 overall heading into the program's ninth bowl game appearance (third straight).
• BULLS IN THE NFL: Sunday was special time for former USF standout Eric Lee, who started and helped AFC East champion New England strengthen its playoff position. Find out how former Bulls fared in week 15 of the NFL season HERE.

 
About USF Football
USF has won nine or more games for the second straight season and will make its third straight bowl appearance and ninth in program history. The Bulls spent the entire 2017 season ranked in the top 25 and climbed as high as No. 13 in the polls. USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins (11-2) following a Birmingham Bowl victory over South Carolina. The Bulls have posted 13 winning seasons in 21 years of playing football and have five bowl victories. The Bulls have seen 28 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 28 earn first-team all-conference selection.
 
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.