Game 2 Player to Watch: Nico Sawtelle
USF GAME NOTES
GAME DAY CENTRAL
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 1, 2017 – USF's
Nico Sawtelle is the prime example of a player getting rewarded for patiently putting in the work.
Just a redshirt sophomore, Sawtelle has steadily gone from the scout team, to a reserve player mainly on special teams, to being the Bulls' starting weak-side linebacker that seized his opportunity in the 2017 season opener. Sawtelle made his first-career start count with a momentum-swinging interception in the second quarter and tied for second on the team with six tackles in 19
th-ranked USF's 42-22 road win on Aug. 26.
"For a first-time starter, I thought he did some good things," defensive coordinator
Brian Jean-Mary said. "The thing with Nico is he's a very athletic kid. If he's playing fast and he's confident in what he's doing, he's going to always make plays."
Confidence is growing for a player that's just scratching the surface when it comes to his college football potential.
Two years ago, the all-state selection out of Jensen Beach High School got acclimated to USF's winning ways while serving on the scout team.
"Everyone has to work their way up the totem pole," Sawtelle said.
Scout team duties helped Sawtelle become USF's backup at weak-side linebacker last season behind current L.A. Charger
Nigel Harris. Mainly playing on special teams, Sawtelle posted 16 tackles in 11 games and recovered his first fumble in the season opener.
Harris signing as an undrafted free agent with the Chargers opened the door for someone else to step up at linebacker and Sawtelle moved quickly. After tying for the team lead with seven stops in the spring game, Sawtelle became the clear-cut starter at the WILL position coming out of camp because of his consistent play.
"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," said Jean-Mary during camp. "He's been a pleasant surprise."
Sawtelle didn't let his coordinator down last Saturday and delivered just what USF needed early in the second quarter. Sawtelle's high school experience as a tight end paid off, when he used his soft hands to snag a tipped pass for an interception at USF's 31-yard line with the Bulls trailing, 16-7.
USF's offense scored on the next drive in what proved to be the middle of a 28-point run that flipped the script on San Jose State's hot start.
"I went for it and ended up coming up with the ball to help the team," Sawtelle said. "We had momentum from the interception and ended up winning the game, so it felt good."
Now Jean-Mary is looking for that kind of game out of Sawtelle the remainder of the season, which is a totally different situation than his initial year on the practice field.
"I don't think most, if any, freshmen are ready to play when they first get here. Scout team helps them," Jean-Mary said. "First of all, it humbles them. Secondly, I think they get a chance to learn the game and that's showing for him. I hope that's an example for all the freshmen, even the ones traveling but not playing a lot. It's still going to take hard work to become a starter and get on the field."
Let's see what USF's man in the middle, wearing No. 54, can do in game 2 on Saturday afternoon.
"We have an opportunity to be a great team here. I'm proud I can be part of it," Sawtelle said.
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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