Buoyed by quarterback’s return, USF ready to take on daunting early schedule

It’s either a gargantuan opportunity for the South Florida Bulls … or a cavernous hole that they will have to dig out of after the first three weeks of the 2025 football season.

Here’s why: USF’s first three games are at home against Boise State, which went 12-2 last year and made the College Football Playoffs; and then on the road against Florida and Miami, who combined to go 18-8.

But the Bulls aren’t backing down.

Alex Golesh, who has gone 7-6 with a bowl win in each of his first two years as USF’s coach, said he is aiming much higher this year.

“Sometimes the progress made doesn’t immediately show up in the record,” Golesh said at the American Athletic Conference Media Day news conference. “But I’m proud of what we’ve built at USF, and I think we’re ready to take the next step.”

Golesh is thrilled by the return of quarterback Byrum Brown, who played just five games last season before he was lost to a leg injury.

However, in 12 games in 2023, Brown completed 64.6% of his passes for a program-record 3,292 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

But what makes Brown even more dynamic is his elite running ability. In 2023, he led USF in rushing yards (809) and touchdowns (11).

As for the rest of the team, USF’s top running back is Cartevious Norton, a 5-11, 225-pound battering ram who has played two years at Iowa State (where he started seven games) and one at Charlotte. For his career, he has rushed for 1,180 yards, a 3.9 average and 12 touchdowns.

USF’s offensive line returns four starters, including pro prospect Zane Herring at right guard. The Bulls also added two experienced transfers.

Keshaun Singleton — who came on late last season and finished with 26 catches — is USF’s top wide receiver, and he gets high grades for his hands and his playmaking ability.

Receiver, though, could be an area of concern overall.

On defense, the Bulls are aggressive. They were solid against the run last year, but they were the second-worst AAC defense against the pass (279 yards per game).

This year’s defense will be led by veteran lineman Josh Celiscar, 23, a sixth-year player who is married with a daughter. In other words, he’s a grown man, and he previously played for UCF and Texas A&M.

Linebacker is the strength of the defense, including Mac Harris, who is ranked the fourth-best pro prospect in the AAC. In 2024, he led USF in tackles (82) and stops for losses (12).

Other experienced linebackers are Jhalyn Singer; Rico Watson III; and North Texas transfer Chavez Brown.

The kicker is Nico Gramatica, the son of Martin Gramatica, who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay and also made the Pro Bowl in 2000.

Nico, ranked the top kicking recruit in the Class of 2024, went 3 for 5 on field goals as a freshman last season. He will be the full-time starter this year.

In total, the Bulls return six starters on offense and six on defense.

“It’s all about developing players, building a team and finding a way to win,” Golesh said. “We’ve put USF in a really good position.”

This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 10:48 AM.