A QB ‘steal’ ignited USF’s turnaround. How much further can the Bulls rise this season?
What a recruiting steal.
The South Florida Bulls went into Raleigh – North Carolina State’s backyard – and signed quarterback Byrum Brown to their Class of 2022.
Listed as a three-star recruit, all Brown has done is ignite a nearly-miraculous program turnaround.
Brown, who entered the USF program at 195 pounds, has hit the weight room over the past two years. At 6-foot-3, he now weighs 229.
“He looks the part,” said Alex Golesh, who is entering his second year as the USF coach. “Now he has to throw the part.”
That has never been a problem for Brown.
In fact, the Bulls had lost 16 straight games -- from 2021 to 2023 -- when Brown led them to a 38-24 win over Florida A&M last September. It was just Brown’s third collegiate start.
Brown, who started every game last year as a redshirt freshman, went on to lead the Bulls to a 7-6 record, including a 45-0 win over Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl.
It was USF’s first bowl win since 2017. It was also USF’s first winning record since 2018, and the Bulls aren’t done yet, according to Brown.
“My biggest goal is to go 12-0,” he said. “Our sights are set on a national championship.”
That’s a tall task. However, USF’s six-win improvement from 2022 to last year was the largest in Bulls history.
Meanwhile, Brown last year set several single-season USF records, including most passing yards (3,292), completion percentage (64.6) and passing touchdowns (26).
The Bulls ground game is led by Brown and former Miami Carol City star Nay’Quan Wright.
Brown, regarded as the best scrambler in the American Athletic Conference, rushed for a team-high 809 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Wright, who got limited playing time for the Florida Gators in four years there, made his USF debut last season, rushing for a career-high 797 yards. He also scored a career-high eight touchdowns.
At wide receiver, the Bulls are led by former walk-on Sean Atkins, who set school single-season records for catches (92) and yards (1,054).
Naiem Simmons is another returning starter at wide receiver. He caught 39 passes for 637 yards, a 16.3 average and five touchdowns.
USF has also added Purdue transfer Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, who had 25 catches in just six games for the Boilermakers last year.
The Bulls return four starters on the offensive line. They also bring back two more blockers who combined to make nine starts last year.
Defensively, the Bulls have work to do after finishing last in a 14-team league in terms of passing yards allowed per game (301.3). The Bulls also finished 13th in total yards and 11th in points allowed (34.9).
The Bulls did have positive games on defense last year, holding Alabama to 17 points and posting the aforementioned bowl-game shutout against Syracuse. It was USF’s first shutout since 2009.
Still, reinforcements were clearly needed, and the Bulls have brought in several transfers including nickel back De’Shawn Rucker from Tennessee; cornerback Brent Austin (James Madison); and safety D’Marco Augustin (Youngstown State). All three are projected starters.
“We had a lot of ups and downs on defense last year,” said defensive tackle Rashad Cheney, one of eight returning starters. “We flashed at times, but we also got lax.
“This fall, we’ve been flying around, and I think this defense will step up.”