Sanchez Showing USF's Promising Linebackers the Way
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 11, 2017 – With healthy senior
Auggie Sanchez leading the way, USF's group of linebackers continue to grow in fall camp under the guidance of new defensive coordinator
Brian Jean-Mary.
"I've been pleased with the progress," said Jean-Mary after USF's 14
th fall practice Friday morning. "We're into our third week of camp. We kind of know their tendencies and they know ours, which is great for us."
Jean-Mary knows he's going to get steady production from Sanchez, a two-time all-conference pick on Nagurski and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists this preseason. One of the team's top leaders, Sanchez has posted 100-plus tackles the past two seasons and his 120 stops in 2016 rank second on USF's single-season chart.
"He was the leader of the defense as a junior last year and now he's a year older," Jean-Mary said. "I know he's hungry to get the defense on the level a lot of those seniors feel like it should be."
With 303 career tackles, Sanchez needs 65 more stops to grab USF's career record from Kawika Mitchell (367, 1999-2002). Sanchez will begin his pursuit of the milestone the healthiest he's ever been at USF after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Last Saturday's scrimmage saw the QB of USF's defense showing off his aggressiveness while making tackles in full-contact situations.
"In the spring, I missed out on all of it and it felt good. My shoulder held up," he said.
With
Nigel Harris now playing for the Chargers in the NFL, Sanchez gets to work with an emerging weak-side linebacker on the first team this fall. Sophomore
Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.) picked off numerous passes early in camp and continues to grab his position coach's attention.
"He shows up on the productivity charts a lot," Jean-Mary said. "He does a great job in blitzing and he does a really good job in coverage, which is what we ask, especially that weak-side linebacker to do. He's been a pleasant surprise."
Behind Sanchez and Sawtelle, USF is making strides in an effort to build more depth in the middle of the defense.
Junior
Danny Thomas (Fort Lauderdale) backed up Sanchez at the MIKE spot last season and brings 23 games of experience to the table. Redshirt freshman
Andre Polk, Jr. (Fort Myers, Fla.) has looked promising in camp, while junior
Jimmy Bayes (Immokalee, Fla.) made game-changing plays in practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Sophomore
Trent Shaw (Lutz, Fla.) is making the most of his reps and
Devon Jones-Stewart is earning praise from Jean-Mary at a new position. The senior from Lake Mary, Fla., has made the move from safety after playing four different positions in two seasons at Stetson (2013-14).
"He's come in and done some good things," Jean-Mary said.
Former USF Star Adams Shines in NFL Debut
Much like when he was a Bull, former USF star receiver
Rodney Adams did a little bit of everything in his NFL preseason debut Thursday night.
It all started with the Minnesota Vikings' draft pick returning the opening kickoff 19 yards against the Bills on a play that ended with former Bull Sam Barrington making the tackle. Adams averaged 21 yards on three kick returns, returned two punts and scored a touchdown on offense.
After catching a 10-yard pass for a first down, Adams made a play near the goal line and leaped into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown reception that wound up being the winning score in the Vikings' 17-10 victory in Buffalo.
Strong to Speak at Bulls Block Party
Head coach
Charlie Strong is set to appear at the second annual GTAC Bulls Block Party held Saturday, Aug. 19 in Ybor City.
Registration takes place at the Italian Club from noon to 1:30 p.m., where Strong will speak along with other guests from 1:30-2 p.m.
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the party continues with stops at Tequilas, Bad Monkey, Big Easy, Brass Tap, Coyote Ugly, Gaspar's Grotto, Prana, Kelly Day's Firehouse and Buffalo Wild Wings.
Early bird registration is $10 (through Aug. 14). General admission tickets are $15 (Aug. 15-17) and day of event tickets cost $20 (Aug. 18-19). Fans can register online
HERE.
Bulls Bits
- Linebacker Jimmy Bayes has bulked up to 230 pounds after weighing in at 175-180 when he first arrived on campus in 2014.
- Scouts from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were at practice Friday. Representatives from the Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets also have checked out the Bulls this week.
- Former USF safety Jamie Byrd, a standout for the Bulls from 2014-15, was welcomed back to watch practice Friday.
- Junior receiver Chris Barr (Jacksonville) shined early in Friday's action with two touchdown catches.
- Chris Oladokun (Tampa) threw 10-yard TD passes to USF's two monster tight ends, Mitchell Wilcox and Elkanah Dillon, on consecutive drives during red zone work.
- Freshman defensive back Nick Roberts (Orange Park, Fla.) showed his awareness during seven-on-seven action by jumping a route and intercepting a pass.
Quote of the Day
"You always want your defense to marry the mentality of your head coach. Coach Strong, that's how he was as a coordinator and that's what he wants his team to embody, not just defensively but on offense and special teams. That's been the goal and all we do is preach effort, toughness and aggressiveness. If you make a mistake, make it at full speed. I feel like we're going in that direction."
- Defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary on the Bulls embracing Strong's aggressive, physical and fast mentality.
Up Next
Supporters are welcome to watch the Bulls practice Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Morsani Complex during USF Fan Day. After practice, events will move to the Sun Dome, where fans can take photos with Coach Strong and meet student-athletes playing on USF teams that include football, men's and women's soccer, cross country and volleyball. Get the full rundown of Fan Day events
HERE.
"It's awesome, especially when you're giving the fans something to talk about, something to look forward to and something to be excited about," linebacker
Jimmy Bayes said. "To see the excitement on our fans' faces, it gives us an extra boost for the season and that really pushes us."
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.
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- #GoBulls -
