By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 4, 2005
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Twenty-two players made their USF debut Saturday, a season opener that saw a lineup so new that six Bulls debuted on the opening kickoff.
"We had a couple freshman whose eyes were so big they looked like moons," coach Jim Leavitt said. "We had a guy run in on punt team who's never worked on punt team in his life. I said, "What are you doing?' "I don't know, coach.' He'd never played a college football game in his life, and he may not for a little while again."
Five players - cornerback Carlton Williams, quarterback Courtney Denson, tackles Marc Dile and Walter Walker and receiver Amarri Jackson - made their first college starts. Six freshmen - cornerback Tyller Roberts, receivers Cedric Hill, Taurus Johnson, Jessie Hester and Carlton Hill and kicker Mike Benzer - saw action in their first game.
Part of that is talent, but part is necessity. The Bulls brought only 56 scholarship players, with 12 walk-ons making the trip. Among those staying home were four scholarship defensive backs with injuries: Danny Verpaele, D'Juan Brown, Drametrice Smith and Sam Miller.
Some debuts weren't promising at all, like Denson failing to complete a pass and getting pulled after three series, or Benzer mistiming his approach and badly botching a 32-yard field-goal attempt.
Others were the first glimpses at young players who could be key factors. Carlton Hill, the touted quarterback from Monticello, played sparingly at receiver and caught an 8-yard pass. Leavitt said he wanted to get him playing time at quarterback but wasn't able late in the game.
Roberts saw significant time at cornerback, breaking up a touchdown pass in the end zone and knocking down another attempt.
Redshirt freshman Dile and sophomore Walker made their first starts at left and right tackle, respectively, though junior Thed Watson took over at left tackle in the second quarter, with Dile moving to the right side.
The new Bulls included six from the Tampa Bay area: running back Ricky Ponton (Hillsborough), Jackson (Hillsborough Community College), kicker Kyle Bronson (Wharton), defensive back Chris Ellick (Wharton), tackle Thed Watson (Lakewood), and guard Jake Griffin (Armwood).
IN THE HUDDLE: For years the Bulls have run a no-huddle spread offense, but USF worked out of the huddle Saturday, an adjustment that factored in one delay-of-game penalty and burnt an unnecessary timeout to avoid another.
BOOMING: Senior punter Brandon Baker had a career day, averaging 45.3 yards on his eight punts, including a 68-yarder that was his career longest and the second-longest in USF history. He also had punts of 55, 54 and 53 yards.
MORE FIRSTS: Tight end Will Bleakley of Crystal River made his first reception on a 13-yard pass deflected off a teammate's hands. Carlton Hill and Cedric Hill also had their first catches, as did Ponton. ... Sophomore defensive tackle Eric Thomas had his first sack, sharing it with defensive end Terrence Royal.
THIS AND THAT: USF's offensive line, despite two new starters, held Penn State without a sack, something that happened to the Lions only once last season. ... Nobody said USF's new uniforms were perfect: The back of fullback Siaosi Uhatafe's jersey butchered his name as "Uthatfe." He did not play.
