Colleges

Banks must fill big shoes as Bulls' new quarterback

Sophomore's friendship with Marquel Blackwell has helped ease the pressure on him.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 12, 2003

TAMPA -- There are tough acts to follow -- such as Tony Dungy preceding Jon Gruden -- and then there's what South Florida's Ronnie Banks is up against.

All the sophomore from New Orleans must do is replace the school's greatest player, quarterback Marquel Blackwell.

Banks could be forgiven if he felt stressed entering today's 1 p.m. spring game, his first as the Bulls No.1 quarterback. But he doesn't, perhaps because he sees Blackwell as more of a friend than an icon.

"No, not at all," Banks said when asked if he feels extra pressure. "Marquel did what he did, and I'll do what I have to do. Hopefully, when I'm done at USF, I'll be up to that level.

"We talk a lot. He's been giving me advice since I've been here, and he's been coming to the scrimmages and talking to me. He's done it already, so I will take his advice."

In four seasons as a starter, Blackwell spearheaded USF's stunning rise from infancy to a 17-5 record in two Division I seasons. Last season he was ESPN.com's independent player of the year.

Banks entered the spring as the No.1 quarterback more or less by default, and his play has cemented his status.

"He's really stepped up. He's not being challenged right now," coach Jim Leavitt said. "I'm not concerned about Ronnie Banks. He's doing just fine. I'm more concerned with (backups Pat Julmiste and David Mullins, both freshmen)."

The eloquent Banks has been the heir apparent for two seasons, and his apprenticeship should serve him well. He has been impressive during mop-up duty, especially two seasons ago at Utah and last season at Oklahoma, and is 23-of-40 for 278 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

"At Oklahoma, 78,000 screaming, especially when we were about to score -- those games definitely helped," Banks said. "(The opening game this fall at) Alabama, it won't be any different except it'll be at the start of the game."

Banks' right arm is his main asset.

"Marquel could do both (run and pass). He was more of a runner, and I just pass the ball all the time," Banks said. "I can throw it deep."

"We won't change that much," Leavitt said. "Ronnie's got a pretty good arm, throws well and he'll run the ball when he needs to."

His primary task this spring has been getting in synch with his receivers and establishing that, after four seasons, there's a new man leading the Bulls.

"Gradually during the spring we've all gotten on the same page," Banks said. "It's been a lot of hard work to get to this point."

Several other Bulls have improved their profiles this spring. Sophomore defensive tackle Craig Kobel (6 feet 2, 265 pounds), who scarcely played his first two seasons, has added 10 pounds and soared up the depth chart. Leavitt said if the season began today, Kobel would start alongside Lee Roy Selmon Jr.

Junior linebacker Maurice Jones has moved from outside to the middle in place of graduated Kawika Mitchell. Freshmen Devon Davis and Stephen Nicholas are vying for Jones' old spot.

On offense, Leavitt said outside receivers Huey Whittaker and Chris Iskra and inside receiver Brian Fisher have had excellent springs.

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