Two major knee injuries over two years put the career of South Florida's Lee Roy Selmon Jr. in jeopardy.
He had spent nearly two years rehabilitating and had one season left entering this fall. He didn't know if he would be a consistent factor on the defensive line, as he was in 1999 and 2000. Plus, the pressure was on. The Bulls needed him to perform after graduating starting tackles Greg Walls and Tavares Jurineack.
After three games, Selmon has evolved from a question mark to an exclamation point. He has been USF's best defensive tackle.
Selmon (5 feet 11, 280 pounds) has 15 tackles, second most among defensive linemen behind end Tim Jones' 17. He has three tackles for loss, a sack, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
"I feel like I'm better than I was before," Selmon said. "In the time I was out rehabilitating, I was training and lifting weights, so I got in good shape, and my knees are doing fine.
"My first two years, I was playing 100 percent all the time, but I didn't really know what I was doing. After being around college football (two more years) and having a chance to watch, it has helped me with my fundamentals and responsibilities."
Best of all, Selmon likely will gain another season of eligibility. Two weeks ago he was granted medical hardships for 2001 and 2002, paving the way for a sixth season of eligibility in 2004, which can be requested from the NCAA after this season.
LOWBALL: Men's basketball won't be burdened with high expectations from outside the program. The Bulls are picked 11th in Conference USA by Lindy's and last, 14th, by Athlon (C-USA has switched from two seven-team divisions to one this season). The lack of respect is surprising considering USF graduated just two players, Reggie Kohn and Will McDonald, from last season's 15-14 team.
Still, the snub could provide motivation in coach Robert McCullum's first season. The first practice is Oct.18, with a Midnight Madness session planned the night before.
SURPRISE: The women's soccer team could inspire the men's basketball team. Picked to finish 10th in C-USA after going 4-13-2 in 2001 and 8-8-2 in 2002, the Bulls are 3-0-1, good for second place, after sweeping Cincinnati and Louisville last weekend. USF is 4-4-1 overall and plays host to Jacksonville at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
MISLEADING?: USF leads the nation in pass efficiency defense (79.67 rating), which seems impossible after the way Brodie Croyle carved up the cramping Bulls in the second half vs. Alabama. USF since has held run-oriented Nicholls State and Army to a combined 26-of-63 (42.8 percent) for 207 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns.
RECRUITING: Men's basketball received its first commitment for 2004 last month from 6-2 combination guard Collin Dennis of Richland High, near Fort Worth, Texas.
Rivals.com lists several players who are considering the Bulls, including Jermaine Griffin, a 6-7 power forward from Houston Sterling; Marcus Johnson, a 6-7 power forward from Schoolcraft (Junior) College in Michigan; Steve Cherry, a 6-4 guard from Tallahassee C.C.; Cliff Clinkscales, a 6-1 guard from Ocala Shores Christian; and Montavius Waters, a 6-3 guard from Smithville (Ga.) Westover.
PACKED HOUSE: USF's record attendance at Raymond James Stadium, 32,770 vs. Memphis last season, should fall if the weather cooperates for Saturday's game vs. Louisville, the Bulls' first C-USA home game. USF has sold about 15,550 season tickets, nearly 1,800 more than last season.
- Pete Young covers USF sports. He can be reached at 813 226-3346 or via e-mail at young@sptimes.com
