'09 Football Opponent Preview: USF
September 03, 2009 | Football
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As college football fans across the country gear up for another exciting season of action on the gridiron, UofLSports.com will give Louisville fans breakdown, analysis and things to watch for on each of the Cardinals' 2009 opponents leading up to the start of the season.
The staff of UofLSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at the Cards' final road game against BIG EAST member USF.
 | Game Buildup |
Louisville will travel to Tampa, Fla. for their final road game against BIG EAST member USF on Nov. 21. The series is knotted at three apiece with neither team having one on the opposition's home field. UofL knocked off a then no. 14 ranked Bulls team last season, 24-20. USF will be looking to avenge that loss which sent them on a three-game losing streak and out of the BIG EAST Championship picture.
| Season Outlook |
USF is rising fast on the national football scene as the last four years have ended in a bowl game, including a win over Memphis in the MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl in 2008. The Bulls will be looking to extend the nation's 12th longest bowl streak in 2009. USF finished 8-5 (2-5 BIG EAST) last year.
Entering the season head coach Jim Levitt has his work cut out for him. Many consider this one of the youngest teams that he has coached while at USF. The Bulls return 11 starters from last year but lose a total of 13; including four on the offense line, two middle linebackers, and two in the secondary.
Quarterback Matt Grothe, who many consider the face of USF football over the last three years, is back at the helm, while on the defensive side of the ball All-American defensive end George Selive returns to anchor a Bulls squad that finished 10th in the FBS in total defense. Joining Grothe and Selive will be the 29th best recruiting class in the nation. Together they will try to improve upon last season's record as well as keep the bowl streak alive. The Bulls are projected to finish fourth in the Big East, according to BigEast.org.
| Players to Watch |
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Matt Grothe | QB| No. 8 | Senior
Matt Grothe, a dual-threat quarterback and four-year starter for USF, will attempt to lead the Bulls to their fifth straight bowl appearance. Last year was Grothe's best as a starter in which he set career bests in completions (240), passing yards (2,911) and passing touchdowns (18). He also led the team in rushing with 146 carries for 591 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers earned Grothe All-Big East Third Team accolades. Grothe led the Bulls to a bowl victory over Memphis in the MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl, where he garnered MVP honors. Entering the 2009 football season, he needs only 287 yards to break the Big East career record for total offense. Grothe was selected as a preseason candidate for the Manning, Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards.
Other Key Players
| Scouting Opponent's Offense |
Senior quarterback Matt Grothe returns as arguably the biggest offensive star in the BIG EAST. He has amassed a boatload of yards, touchdowns and accolades. Now he wants a BIG EAST Championship. Redshirt-freshman B.J. Daniels was named the No. 2 quarterback at the end of the spring, despite the fact that he was coming off an offseason with the basketball team. Daniels has a cannon for an arm - easily the strongest on the team - and may be a more pure runner than Grothe. Evan Landi went from unknown prospect to a fan favorite in the matter of a few spring practices. The 6-3, 220 redshirt-freshman earned the nickname of "Slash" from the USF staff after he worked at wide receiver, holder, kicker and defensive back during the spring. His future is at quarterback, but in the meantime USF will likely use this physical and heady specimen in multiple spots this fall.
USF can throw experienced and diverse backs Mike Ford, Mo Plancher, Jamar Taylor, Richard Kelly and Aston Samuels at opposing defenses. All five backs have had breakout games during their careers and each one will be battling all fall for the role of featured back.
Ford and Plancher were the top two backs during the spring. Ford put on 10 pounds of muscle during the winter and was the physical and imposing back that has tantalized fans the last two seasons. Plancher may be one of the most efficient and slippery backs in the league. His ability to gain multiple yards off holes that most backs miss will guarantee a heavy load in '09.
Kelly is built like a fullback and could very well take over as the trusted blocking back on passing downs and the bruiser in short yardage situations. Taylor, like Ford, has a wealth of talent and the ability to be a dominating back. He finished 2008 as the best back (according to the offensive staff) on the team and hopes to pick back up at the same spot in the fall.
Samuels was out last season with a shoulder injury and worked some at wide receiver in spring. The high-level speedster adds another dimension to the Bulls' backfield.
Receiver may be USF's deepest position. The top two returning receivers A.J. Love and Jessie Hester were out this spring with injuries. While that is never the ideal situation, both are fully established contributors and are expected to be at full strength for the start of the season.
Junior Carlton Mitchell came on strong late in 2008 after leading the team in receiving yards as a freshman in 2007. Mitchell has battled nagging injuries since the latter portion of 2007, but is fully healthy this offseason and could establish himself as an elite level deep threat this season. Next to Mitchell racing down the sidelines and up the field on kickoff returns is Dontavia Bogan. Bogan may have the best hands on the team and is polished at exposing safeties deep. His top level speed is one notch below Mitchell, but translated into USF records for return yards (770) last season.
Senior Theo Wilson will fill a number of roles, including on wide receiver passes, and may be the most elusive on the unit. Young backups Patrick Richardson and Daniel Bryant have the talent and drive to be regular factors in the offense this fall. Newcomers Sterling Griffin and Derrick Hopkins will get a look, primarily because of the speed they could add to the USF attack.
Senior tight end Ben Busbee should hold down starting duties after pulling in a pair of touchdowns last season, but he is in a heated competition with Andrew Ketchel for the top spot. They will be backed up by Jeff Hawkins and Andreas Shields.
The Bulls' o-line will be built around returning starter Jake Sims and Zach Hermann, who started the first 16 games of his career until a foot injury sidelined him for six games in 2008. Sims will likely start at either center or right tackle, while fellow junior Hermann will hold down the right guard position for the third consecutive season.
While no other starting spots are secure heading into the fall, eight offensive lineman pushed for and will likely earn significant minutes this fall. Jeremiah Warren earned the nod at left tackle but will be pushed by juco-transfer Jamar Bass. Sophomore Chaz Hine and redshirt-freshman Damien Edwards both made major strides in spring camp and are currently listed as the top two options at left guard. At center Sampson Genus will get the nod, while Kevin McCaskill, who played center all spring (literally) and probably snapped 95 percent of the balls during the off-season workouts, will back him up. At right guard, sophomore Danous Estenor, who started one game in 2008 is penciled in behind Hermann. Finally at right tackle, redshirt-freshman Mark Popek has pulled away from the group.
| Scouting Opponent's Defense |
The beast of the BIG EAST George Selvie anchors the most experienced line in the BIG EAST. The conference's most recognizable defensive player turned down the NFL and returned to USF to complete unfinished business. At the top of his agenda is completing his collegiate career on his terms with a BIG EAST Championship. Competing for time opposite Selvie at defensive end will be former juco All-Americans David Bedford and Jason Pierre-Paul along with blue-chip product Ryne Giddins.
Rising-junior Terrell McClain is a returning starter in the middle and has the potential to become a dominant force. Alongside him as an expected starter is Aaron Harris. Harris has worked at every d-line spot during his career but he has mostly been inside to this point. He'll have heavy competition from junior Craig Marshall, who racked up 5.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries in backup duty in 2008. Sophomore Cory Grissom will provide depth as he has the best feet and athletic ability among the interior lineman. Sophomore Keith McCaskill had two sacks, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups in very limited duty last season.
Kion Wilson came in last spring from community college and immediately earned a starting spot at middle linebacker. His ability to adjust quickly speaks largely to his maturity. Wilson was third on the team with 66 tackles in 2008.
Chris Robinson and Sabbath Joseph both have played secondary roles the last two seasons. This year they have the opportunity to start in the Bulls 4-3 defensive scheme. Joseph is adept in pass coverage but needs more grooming on the idiosyncrasies of run defense. Robinson creates big plays but needs to convert that into consistent production this fall.
Redshirt-freshmen Mike Lanaris and Armando Sanchez earned valuable reps, but are probably a season away from front-line duty. Senior Donte Spires took last season off and focused on academics. Two newcomers that will get very close looks will be junior college transfer Jaquian Williams and highly-touted product Sam Barrington.
Senior awards candidate Nate Allen became the vocal leader in the secondary this offseason. Allen is among the smartest players on the roster, which will help as he organizes the unit for defensive coordinator and secondary coach Joe Tresey. Allen has shown a flare for the dramatic turnover the last two seasons. Tresey has a reputation for ball-hawking defenses.
On the outside of Allen will be sophomore Quenton Washington, who played a ton last season. Washington earned valuable time last season, but has several fast-rising corners biding for his top spot at corner. Among those are Tyson Butler and George Baker.
Newcomer Kayvon Webster will get the opportunity to hold down the position opposite of Washington. Also potentially in the mix at corner is Ricardo Dixon. At strong safety, sophomore Jerrell Young has locked down the top spot after a strong 2008 season where he starred on special teams and in the St. Pete Bowl. Senior Jerome Murphy, who has NFL-level speed and talent, will see open the season as the starting nickel back. Tresey believes he can turn Murphy into a shutdown corner and standout in the BIG EAST. Redshirt-freshman Jon Lejiste will get looks at strong safety and nickel back.
| Scouting Opponent's Special Teams |
Even with the unfortunate off the field injury to Maikon Bonani, USF has the luxury of returning an experienced kicker and punter, but now it will have to be the same person, Delbert Alvarado. With Bonani's status up in the air, Alvarado may have to take on the load of kicking and punting again in 2009. Alvarado entered 2008 with the fourth-best career field goal percentage in USF history (61.1 percent) and has the full confidence of the coaching staff.
While Mike Walsh will be a new face at long snapper, there should not be many changes in the return game. After taking one punt return back for a TD in a part-time role in 2008, Theo Wilson is the incumbant on punt returns and the most electrifying option.
Leading kickoff return man Dontavia Bogan is coming off a record year in which he nearly missed taking three returns to the house. Aside him on kickoff returns is Jerome Murphy, who was kicked away from all of 2008.
| Game Implications |
This late season BIG EAST matchup could be a determining factor in the conference title race and is certain to impact the bowl landscape. The Cardinals need to improve on a 1-3 road record from a year ago to reach the post-season.
The countdown to the start of the season marches on as UofLSports.com provides and in-depth look at the Cards' regular season finale against Rutgers in its next installment.
