No. 20 South Florida Bulls

Editor’s Note: Beginning every May 1, Athlon Sports counts toward the release of its College Football Annuals by releasing one spot in its Top 25 every weekday for five weeks. The No. 1 team will be revealed June 4. Check AthlonSports.com every day to see who’s next in the countdown. The 2008 College Football Annuals hit newsstands June 3rd.

USF began playing intercollegiate football in 1997. It joined Division I-A (now FBS) in 2001, and by the seventh game of the 2007 season, the Bulls were the No. 2-ranked team in the country. The school’s entire meteoric rise has been overseen by coach Jim Leavitt, who was hired as head coach on Dec. 12, 1995, before the program even existed. Of course, as the No. 2 team in the country, the Bulls lost. Their six-game winning streak to start the season ended with a 30–27 loss at Rutgers, but their 9–4 record in 2007 and the return of most of last year’s cast point to more success in ’08.

The main weapon in Leavitt’s arsenal is quarterback Matt Grothe, who paced the team in both passing and rushing last fall. He ran for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns, and completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,670 yards and 14 more scores. Grothe shared ball-carrying responsibilities with Mike Ford, who ran for 645 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman last year. Ford, a former five-star recruit from Sarasota, should begin to shoulder more of the rushing load now that he has a year’s experience under his belt. He was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week following his 140-yard, two-touchdown game against Louisville. The top four receivers are back to help Grothe become an even more proficient passer. Wide receivers Carlton Mitchell, Jessie Hester Jr. and Taurus Johnson teamed up for 106 receptions last fall and had four touchdown catches apiece. In the offensive line, only one starter needs to be replaced.

Linebacker Tyron McKenzie, the leading tackler on last year’s team, leads seven returning defensive starters. End George Selvie, who can usually be found wreaking havoc in the opponent’s backfield, is the centerpiece of the unit. Nate Allen returns at safety after picking off four passes last year and returning one for a score.

The Bulls will host resurgent Kansas in a Sept. 12 matchup. Pitt and Rutgers also must visit Raymond James Stadium in 2008. The regular-season finale is a trip to Morgantown.

Ball hawks USF tied for first in the nation (with Cincinnati) in takeaways last season with 42.

Behind the lines Selvie led the nation in 2007 with 31.5 tackles for a loss, and finished second in sacks with 14.5.

Efficient The 2007 Bulls ranked eighth in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

South Florida superlatives:

DE George Selvie is named First-Team All-America and First-Team All Big East.

LB Tyrone McKenzie and S Nate Allen are named First-Team All-Big East

QB Matt Grothe, RB Mike Ford, OL Ryan Schmidt, KR Jerome Murphy and PR Marcus Edwards are named Second-Team All-Big East.

WR Carlton Mitchell, LB Brouce Mompremier and S Carlton Williams join the All-Big East Third-Team.

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You can read the entire South Florida preview in the 2008 Athlon Sports College Football magazine, available for purchase now at the Athlon Sports store.

Also coming to AthlonSports.com this summer:
— Top 25 Heisman Hopefuls
— Live chats with Athlon editors
— Conference-preview videocasts
— Launch of the 2009 Athlon Consensus 100
— Athlon's college fantasy football draft kit

Other in-season offerings:
— Previews for every college football game
— Fantasy games
— Sideline Spirit voting
— Scenes From Saturday
— Updated Athlon 119
— Much more

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