Big things await if USF bears down late

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A preseason look at the University of South Florida.The Bulls return 10 starters on offense, including dual-threat quarterback Matt Grothe, from an offense that averaged 34.7 points and 414 yards per game.Grothe led the Bulls in rushing (872 yards) and passing (2,670 yards). He enters his junior season with 29 career passing touchdowns and 19 rushing scores.Grothe is joined in the backfield by sophomore Mike Ford, who ran for 672 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns last season. He is a load to bring down at 6-2, 225, and his role likely will increase as the coaches try to ease the burden on Grothe.The top five receivers, headed by sophomore Carlton Mitchell, junior Jessie Hester Jr. and senior Taurus Johnson, all return. That trio combined for 106 catches and 12 touchdowns last season. Running back Benjamin Williams and tight end Cedric Hill combined for 48 receptions. Junior Colby Erskin, who won the starting job in the preseason a year go but injured his knee and didn't play, helps make wideout a deep and talented position.Four starters return on the line, headed by All- Big East candidate Ryan Schmidt, a senior guard.Three key losses are cause for concern on defense. Linebacker Ben Moffitt and cornerback Mike Jenkins were All-Big East first-team selections, and cornerback Trae Williams earned second-team honors. Jenkins was an NFL first-round pick.Coordinator Wally Burnham experimented with the linebacking corps in the spring and ended up with senior Tyrone McKenzie in the middle, flanked by veteran Brouce Mompremier, also a senior, and junior Chris Robinson.McKenzie, who received a hardship waiver to play in 2007 after transferring from Iowa State, set a team record with 121 tackles last season on the strong side.The leading candidates for the cornerback jobs are Tyller Roberts, a senior, and junior Jerome Murphy, who played in nickel packages and came up with two interceptions last year. Much is yet to be determined at the position.The safeties are both veterans -- senior Carlton Williams has 33 career starts while junior Nate Allen stepped into the starting role as a sophomore, intercepting four passes. Declared ineligible early last season, Danny Verpaele also is back.Junior defensive end George Selvie, the reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Year, leading the league with 14-1/2 sacks (second in the nation) and also topped the nation with 31-1/2 tackles for loss. Even at 240 pounds or so he's as adept as a run stuffer as he is as a pass rusher.Senior Jarriett Buie started nine games at the other end, and junior Aaron Harris is a returning starter at tackle. Harris was second on the team with 5-1/2 sacks.Junior Delbert Alvarado returns after going 19 of 29 on field goal attempts and averaging better than 41 yards on 58 punts. Senior Justin Teachey handled kickoffs last year and is available for field goal duty. He also is the backup punter.Marcus Edwards returns as the primary punt returner, and Jerome Murphy and Taurus Johnson are back as kick returners.OVERVIEWSouth Florida reached No. 2 in the nation last season, but faded away when the spotlight was the brightest, dropping four of its final six games. They are back for more in 2008 with stars and experience on both sides of the ball. The Bulls should be in the thick of the Big East race, perhaps all the way to a Dec. 6 showdown at West Virginia.SCHEDULEAug. 30 TENNESSEE-MARTINSept. 6 at Central FloridaSept. 12 KANSASSept. 20 at Florida InternationalSept. 27 at NC StateOct. 2 PITTSBURGHOct. 18 SYRACUSEOct. 25 at LouisvilleOct. 30 at CincinnatiNov. 15 RUTGERSNov. 22 CONNECTICUTDec. 6 at West Virginia(For more college football coverage, visit www.lindysports.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)