GAINESVILLE -- SELVIE IN STANDS

The best defender inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday night might not have even been on the field.

University of South Florida junior defensive end George Selvie, an All-American in 2007, watched the game from the stands as a guest of UF defensive line coach Dan McCarney, who coached defensive line at USF last season. Selvie was his star pupil. USF was idle Saturday.

''I have a real close relationship with Coach McCarney, and he just got me the ticket to come up and watch the game,'' Selvie said.

Selvie and McCarney speak to each other nearly every week, according to Selvie, who in two years went from an afterthought offensive line recruit from Pensacola Pine Forest High to an NFL prospect. Selvie said USF was the only school to offer him a scholarship, and the Bulls recruited him as an offensive lineman. Selvie moved to defensive line before his freshman season.

Selvie had 5.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2006, and was named a freshman all-American by Sporting News. In 2007, he finished the season with 14.5 sacks and 31.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Selvie credits McCarney for much of his success.

''He's a great motivator,'' Selvie said. ``He taught me a lot of stuff, taught me how to watch film. . . . I credit him for the skills I have now.''

RECRUITING

Four high school recruits were on official NCAA visits Saturday and many more attended the game unofficially. The four on official visits were defensive end Nick Kasa of Broomfield (Colo.) Legacy, offensive lineman Kyle Koehne of Indianapolis Cathedral, cornerback Branden Smith of Atlanta Washington and athlete Marsalis Teague of Paris (Tenn.) Henry County.

-- JOSEPH GOODMAN

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