Colleges

Transfer's waiver deepens backfield talent pool

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Published August 29, 2007

TAMPA - Running back already looked to be USF's most improved position, and that was before Tuesday's news that freshman Jamar Taylor was granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA, allowing him to play this fall.

"You'll see him play this Saturday night. We're awfully excited about that," coach Jim Leavitt said at his weekly news conference.

Last fall, the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Taylor helped Lakeland High to a state championship, then enrolled at Alabama in January, leading the Crimson Tide with 44 rushing yards in its spring game. He decided late this summer to transfer closer to home, and due to a family illness, the NCAA won't make him sit out a year as most Division I transfers must do.

Despite playing in three offenses in the past year, Taylor has left a strong impression on his teammates by picking up USF's system quickly.

"Extremely impressive," junior quarterback Grant Gregory said. "He came in and learned the offense really quick. He's a very bright football player, works really hard. His hands out of the backfield are very good, his power, explosiveness, good speed. He looks like an all-around complete football player."

He joins an already deep backfield. Junior Ben Williams, the 5-foot-7 former walk-on who earned MVP honors in USF's bowl victory last year, is the only back with more than a quarter of college game experience. He'll be challenged by sophomore Moise Plancher, redshirt freshman Aston Samuels and two true freshmen, Taylor and Sarasota's Mike Ford.

"It looks better with Jamar Taylor, because it just gives us another guy to work with," Leavitt said. "We've got a number of running backs that we really trust, that we feel can play. They all bring something to the table."

That wasn't the case last year, when USF's running backs had less than 3 yards per carry over the final six games, totaling 336 yards. The Bulls could get that Saturday alone, against an Elon defense that gave up 225 or more yards five times in 2006.

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW: If all goes well against Elon, backup quarterback Gregory will get to throw his first pass in a game since July 2004, when he helped Ohio beat Pennsylvania in an all-star matchup between high school seniors.

How long ago was that? His first pass was an 82-yard touchdown to Ted Ginn Jr., who spent three seasons at Ohio State and is now an NFL rookie with the Miami Dolphins.

"Longest pass of my career," Gregory said. "The rules were all man-to-man coverage. He ran a post, I threw it well and he caught it."

Gregory should be able to show fans his running abilities. When the team ran its timed shuttle runs this fall - five 60-yard sprints - Gregory had the fourth-fastest time on the team, trailing only three receivers.

REACHING OUT: USF has added three radio affiliates on Florida's east coast, with live football broadcasts available on AM stations WFLL 1400 in Fort Lauderdale, WPSL 1590 in Port St. Lucie and WTSU 1590 in Stuart. The Bulls are on locally with 970-AM, and the pregame show has been expanded to 90 minutes.

THIS AND THAT: After going 1-15 as Big East rookies in 2005, USF's volleyball team went 7-7 last season, and fourth-year coach Claire Lessinger hopes to continue that rise with a deep lineup. "We're going to be competitive," said Lessinger, who already has big things ahead. Her first child is due in late February. ... USF has a "Bulls Bash" planned for Channelside Bay Harbor from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, built around Leavitt's first Bull Session call-in show on 1010-AM. Some players will be on hand and available for autographs.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com or 813 226-3346. Check out his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/usf.

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 01:28:37]