By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JULY 27, 2017 – National awards candidate Quinton Flowers and six other starters return to an explosive USF offense that wants to go faster than last season's record-breaking pace.

"It's a great feeling when we look after the game and we realize how fast we were going," senior running back Darius Tice said Thursday. "Each week, we try to get better at it, each practice try to get better, to see how fast we can go."

USF's up-tempo offense sure did go last season, setting nearly 40 individual and team records, including total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714) and touchdowns (77). Flowers and other returners who produced 63 percent of last year's eye-popping numbers, along with promising newcomers, get to work with a new offensive coordinator that knows all about going fast.

Sterlin Gilbert has had the keys to USF's ever-accelerating attack since the spring after averaging 505.3 yards and 36.8 points per game with his last four offenses at Texas (2016), Tulsa (2015), Bowling Green (2014) and Eastern Illinois (2012-13).

Gilbert looks forward to what USF can accomplish while coaching Flowers, the 2016 conference offensive player of the year, who set school records last season with 4,342 yards (1,530 rushing) and 42 total touchdowns. Flowers already made more history this preseason by becoming the first Bull named to four national awards watch lists.

"He's dynamic," Gilbert said. "He can do things with his arm, he can do things with his feet, which makes him hard to defend. I'm just excited I get the opportunity to coach him on our football team. He's a quality kid."

Through three practices, USF's offense has had no problem hitting the gas pedal and players say it's a credit to the summer work they put in under the watchful eye of new head strength and conditioning coach Pat Moorer.

"The offseason was a big success, in my opinion, because we're able to come out here and go fast," Tice said. "Nobody is really tired because we've been training the whole offseason."

USF's offense as a whole also has benefited from staying in the playbook since first working with Gilbert in the spring.

"A lot of things have rolled on from spring to now and we're not really taking steps back," senior center Cameron Ruff said. "Running backs are getting the calls quicker, wide receivers are lining up quicker. The offensive line knows what they are doing and (Flowers) is just being a phenomenal leader on the field. With his leadership and the way the offense is going, I think the sky is the limit for us."

Rimington Trophy Candidate and O-Line Ready to Roll
Full pads won't go on until Saturday, but USF's offensive line has looked really impressive keeping up with the skill players down the field during team work.

"Your mind has to be running 24-7," center Cameron Ruff said. "You really don't have time to be tired and take that extra breath."

After starting all 13 games as a junior last year, Ruff continues to lead the Bulls' big guys up front well this fall with the Tampa native in national award contention. Ruff, one of 21 Bay Area players on USF's spring depth chart, landed a spot on the Rimington Trophy watch list this preseason.

Bulls Seeing How the Pieces Fit Up Front
Ruff remains a fixture at center while USF's offensive line is finding out how other pieces fit together the best this fall.

One of the most notable players working in a different spot is sophomore William Atterbury. The Clearwater native started four games at right tackle before a season-ending injury in 2016 but has been getting reps at right guard. USF also is seeing how newcomer Grant Polk, a transfer from Virginia, can handle first-team reps at left tackle.

"We want the best five up there. However those guys have to fit, or however those guys have to play, we're willing to do it and they are as well," offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said. "Guys are unselfish about being moved and making possible moves. We've just got to get the pads on, be physical, get in some heat in competition and then let those guys play out how those five are going to be."

Bulls Bits

• Following Thursday's practice, head coach Charlie Strong jumped on a plane to Bristol, Conn., for what will be a Friday filled with numerous appearances on ESPN's TV, radio and online platforms. Get Strong's show schedule HERE.
• Cornerback Mazzi Wilkins (Tampa) shined from the start of Thursday's practice with three pass breakups during one-on-one work before knocking down another pass later in seven-on-seven action.
• Linebacker Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.) snagged his second interception of fall camp by grabbing a screen pass. Senior cornerback Deatrick Nichols (Miami) also showed great anticipating, stepping in front of a receiver and intercepting a pass that would have been a pick-6.
• Returning starter Tyre McCants (Niceville, Fla.) made one of the offense's top plays of the day by catching a jump ball in traffic from Brett Kean (Lakewood, Ohio) at the end of a 40-yard TD connection.
• A representative of the Denver Broncos was at practice Thursday to scout the Bulls.

Up Next
USF is off the field Friday to rest up for the fourth practice session of the week Saturday morning on campus. Practices are closed to the public.
 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, will return in 2017. 

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