By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JULY 29, 2017 – Sweet sounds of football season continue to get louder with the pads cracking at USF's fourth practice of fall camp Saturday morning.

Action started with grueling, head-to-head drills and the intensity continued through rainy conditions of a physical practice that pleased head coach Charlie Strong.

"It's good we got the shoulder pads on. We were able to do a lot of one-on-one situations," Strong said. "The guys came out on Saturday morning and just competed well."

Despite lots of national attention surrounding the program, the focus has been right where it needs to be all week for a veteran USF squad that's poised to produce. Picked to win The American, USF is loaded with an experienced roster that features 24 seniors and 56 upperclassmen.

"With that large number, they know how to work and they come out here with the right mindset," Strong said. "… They understand they need to come out each and every day, and just go to work and not worry about anything. If you're a leader, you lead and let everyone else follow you."

Young talent has had no problem following USF's plethora of proven players, including 15 Bulls with 10 or more career starts and 31 upperclassmen on the depth chart.

"We want to come out here, do our best and compete with each other," said senior running back D'Ernest Johnson, who has 38 games of experience. "We want to come out here and win the day, like Coach Strong says."


Seniors Getting National Respect
Preparing to be the featured back, D'Ernest Johnson (Immokalee, Fla.) is one of USF's many veterans being recognized for their hard work this preseason.

Johnson, a Hornung Award candidate, is one of eight Bulls on 13 national watch lists a season after USF won the most games in program history and finished in the top 25. 

Senior cornerback Deatrick Nichols (Miami) has landed on three different watch lists (Bednarik, Nagurski, Thorpe) and credits his teammates for making it possible.

"It's good to be there," Nichols said. "I thank all the players around me for helping me get that far. Whatever happens, happens."

Senior quarterback Quinton Flowers (Miami) made history as the first Bull named to four national award watch lists. The conference's 2016 offensive player of the year stayed on target Saturday with touchdown passes to senior receiver Ryeshene Bronson (Fort Myers) and junior tight end Elkanah Dillon (Ocala, Fla.).

"He's one of the best college football players out there," said Johnson of Flowers after practice.


Bulls Make Plays in Front of Press
USF welcomed the media out Saturday morning to watch the entire practice that saw new and veteran Bulls both make plays.

Freshman receiver Randall St. Felix (Miami) made the play of the day in full layout mode, diving for a 40-yard pass from Brett Kean (Lakewood, Ohio) at the sideline near the end of practice. Kean capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to newcomer Temi Alaka, a graduate receiver who previously played at Rice.

D'Ernest Johnson kept up his dynamic ways with a 20-yard touchdown run through traffic, while Duran Bell Jr. (Tampa) made the most of his increased snaps. The freshman running back showcased his speed on several runs for first downs before getting reps in punt return drills.


Up Next
USF begins its second week of fall camp with its fifth practice Sunday 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. 

Purchase tickets for the upcoming season by following the USFBullsTix.com link HERE.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.