South Florida 2005 Season | Team Page	Select Conference ACC Big East Big Ten Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC Select Team

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Jim Leavitt (10th season, 61-39) 2005 record: 6-6 (Lost to NC State in Meineke Car Care Bowl) Big East finish: 4-3 (t-3rd) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 18th (203.0 ypg) Passing: 107th (144.6 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 55th (146.5 ypg) Passing: 6th (165.4 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 McNeese State Sept. 9 Florida International Sept. 16 at UCF Sept. 23 at Kansas Sept. 30 Rutgers Oct. 7 Connecticut Oct. 14 at North Carolina Oct. 21 at Cincinnati Nov. 4 Pittsburgh Nov. 11 Syracuse Nov. 18 at Louisville Nov. 25 at West Virginia Depth Chart: Offense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 18 Amarri Jackson Jr. 89 Taurus Johnson So. WR 17 Marcus Edwards So. 87 Jessie Hester So. WR 81 S.J. Green Sr. 80 Ean Randolph Fr. WR 83 Jackie Chambers Jr. 9 Cedric Hill So. LT 55 Thed Watson Sr. 72 Jerome Springfield Jr. LG 77 Jake Griffin So. 71 Matt Huners So. C 69 Nick Capogna Jr. 62 Jason Fox Fr. RG 75 Walter Walker Jr. 73 Danny Tolley Fr. RT 78 Marc Dile So. 70 Jared Carnes Jr. QB 3 Pat Julmiste Sr. 13 Matt Grothe Fr. RB 5 Ricky Ponton So. 1 Moise Plancher Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 90 Jarriett Buie Jr. 95 George Selvie Fr. NT 76 Richard Clebert Jr. 94 Allen Cray Jr. DT 46 Tavarious Robinson Sr. - Leslie Stirrups Fr. DE 91 Josh Julmiste So. - James Jackson Jr. SLB 51 Stephen Nicholas Sr. 49 Chris Robinson Fr. MLB 59 Ben Moffitt Jr. 53 Brouce Mompremier So. WLB 54 Patrick St. Louis Sr. 56 Sam Miller Jr. CB 21 Trae Williams Jr. 26 Tyller Roberts So. CB 4 Mike Jenkins Jr. 26 Ryan Gilliam Jr. SS 17 Danny Verpaele So. 32 Carlton Williams So. FS 7 Louis Gachette So. 34 Jerome Murphy Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 28 Mike Benzer So. P - Delbert Alvarado Fr. KR 21 Trae Williams Jr. PR 83 Jackie Chambers Jr.

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South Florida heads into its 10th football season with a remarkable list of accomplishments. The Bulls, who were a Division I-A independent in 2002, made waves during their initial Big East Conference season, contending for the league's Bowl Championship Series bid until late November. They still qualified for the school's first-ever postseason appearance -- a 14-0 defeat to N.C. State at the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Clearly, the Bulls have come a long way. But there's a long way to go.

Had South Florida's offense just been average last season, the Bulls might have played in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulls ranked 79th in the nation in total offense and 107th in passing offense.

Defensively, the Bulls should be fine. They ranked 17th nationally (allowing 311.9 yards per game), and they return an exceptional group of linebackers, plus a standout secondary.

"We got a taste of it," says South Florida coach Jim Leavitt, referring to the bowl trip. "We'd like to do more. We want to win a (Big East) championship."

OFFENSE

The Bulls were intent on handing the quarterback reins to sophomore Carlton Hill, who became arguably the school's best-ever prospect when he signed in 2005. But Hill had an inconsistent spring, then was arrested on June 26 for marijuana possession -- and has been effectively demoted to wide receiver. Leavitt now has the option of turning to holdover starter Pat Julmiste or fast-improving freshman Matt Grothe.

Before the spring, Leavitt and offensive coordinator Rod Smith took offseason trips to Missouri and Texas to learn how those offenses had been built around athletic quarterbacks Brad Smith and Vince Young. But it appears all bets are off regarding Hill, an elusive runner who must also solve some academic issues.

At running back, Andre Hall (1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns) must be replaced. The Bulls are counting on sophomore Ricky Ponton (373 yards in 2005) and redshirt freshman Moise Plancher.

The Bulls, who often employ a four-receiver set, return five of their top seven pass-catchers from last season, including junior Amarri Jackson, a former junior college basketball player who scored two touchdowns on reverses and threw for one off a reverse in the Bulls' upset victory over Louisville.

Three starters were lost on the offensive line, but there's a potential star in senior left tackle Thed Watson, who held Louisville All-America Elvis Dumervil, the nation's leading sack artist, to zero sacks in a straight-up competition.

DEFENSE

South Florida has an elite corps of linebackers. Stephen Nicholas briefly considered entering the NFL Draft, but his return boosted optimism. He led the Bulls with 15.5 tackles for a loss and has started 32 consecutive games. Middle linebacker Ben Moffitt led the Bulls in tackles (96) and had 14 against Louisville. Patrick St. Louis returns on the weak side.

The Bulls must replace three starters on the defensive line, including standout end Terrence Royal (10 sacks to set the program's single-season record). The holdover is junior nose tackle Richard Clebert. The Bulls are counting on defensive ends Josh Julmiste (brother of quarterback Pat) and Jarriett Buie, a junior who has missed two full seasons - one with an injury, another for academics.

South Florida's secondary should be strong, with the return of sophomore strong safety Danny Verpaele, a freshman All-America who missed all of last season with a broken foot. Few Big East teams have the athleticism and experience that junior cornerbacks Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins display.

SPECIALISTS

Big losses here. Punter Brandon Baker, placekicker Kyle Bronson and primary kickoff returner Chad Simpson must be replaced. Sophomore Mike Benzer, who booted a 55-yard field goal in high school, gets his shot at placekicker. The punter is likely to be freshman prospect Delbert Alvarado.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The Bulls could have challenged West Virginia or Louisville for the Big East title if Hill had lived up to his potential at QB, but now, they'll be forced to use a caretaker at quarterback, and the road will be much harder.

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