Colleges

Bulls backs audition for more carries

Fans should get their first look at team's effort to re-establish a reliable running game in tonight's spring game at Raymond James Stadium.

By GREG AUMAN
Published April 14, 2007

TAMPA - USF wants to re-establish a reliable running game as part of a balanced offense in the fall, and fans should get their first look at that effort in tonight's spring game at Raymond James Stadium.

But as far as changes under first-year offensive coordinator Greg Gregory? Nothing you'll likely notice Saturday.

"We're trying to be a little more physical football team in the running game," said Gregory, promoted from tight ends coach after Rod Smith left to coach quarterbacks at West Virginia. "Nothing else has changed."

And while the split is likely unintended, fans will see last year's top backs, juniors Ricky Ponton and Ben Williams, leading the Green team while the top challengers, redshirt freshman Aston Samuels and freshman Mike Ford, run for the White squad.

Ponton and Williams each had one 100-yard game last season. But even together, they failed to gain as many yards or score as many touchdowns as quarterback Matt Grothe.

The Bulls have been encouraged by Ford, a former five-star recruit who rushed for 2,836 yards as a high school senior in Sarasota in 2004, and the emergence of Samuels, who redshirted last season but now sits atop the depth chart.

"They're really having a good spring. They're really coming around," coach Jim Leavitt said. "They've all had really good moments, and we're very happy with the running backs. All those guys are going to play (this fall)."

Gregory hopes an improved running game will help USF's red zone offense, which ranked last in the Big East with 25 touchdowns and five field goals in 43 trips inside opponents' 20.

"When you can't pound the football, it really limits you because not only do you not have a powerful run game, you don't have play-action pass," Gregory said.

For all the excitement surrounding Ford, USF's coaches have been cautious in their praise of him, reminding that he is not only a freshman, but one who hasn't played football in a year and a half.

"He's way behind," Gregory said. "I think he's going to end up being a good football player, but he's got a long way to go. The expectations by everybody outside the program were so high, and we have high expectations for him, too. But it takes time.

"You just don't jump in, just because you rushed for 3,000 yards in high school. It doesn't mean you're going to do anything in college. You've got to prove it at this level. You can see there's a lot of ability there, and as long as he keeps learning and proving, he'll be fine."

NOTES: Two second-team players, receiver Carlton Mitchell and cornerback Ryan Gilliam, will miss tonight's game to compete with the track team in California. ... Grothe (White) and Grant Gregory (Green) won't be tackled as a precaution. Grothe is recovering from a hairline fracture in his lower leg while Gregory had offseason surgery on the thumb in his throwing hand.

[Last modified April 13, 2007, 23:35:20]