NCAA FB

Defensive players head USF recruiting class

Share This Story

Updated Feb 6, 2013 7:21 PM ET
     
 

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)

Willie Taggart relishes the challenge of trying to make South Florida more competitive in the Big East.

The former Western Kentucky finished a busy first two months on the job Wednesday when he announced a recruiting class of 23 prospects that he's counting on helping the Bulls contend for championships in a new-look conference that's been in decline because of the departure of several members to other leagues.

Taggard replaced Skip Holtz on Dec. 8 and wound up landing a promising group headed by highly regarded defensive tackles Derrick Calloway and Deadrin Senat and defensive back Lamar Robbins despite not having most of his coaching staff in place until well after New Year's Day.

''I think it's a class that can help us. ... We have some real good talent. And more importantly, we've got guys who want to be here and want to be part of building this program into what we want it to be,'' Taggard said.

Holtz was fired after dropping nine of 10 games following a 2-0 start last season. The 3-9 finish was the worst in USF's relatively brief football history, and the Bulls leaped at the opportunity to bring in Taggart, a former Stanford assistant who turned a struggling program around at Western Kentucky.

The Hilltoppers lost 20 consecutive games before Taggart, who grew up in the Tampa Bay area, returned to his alma mater three seasons ago. He went 2-10 in his first year, then followed with consecutive 7-5 records that heightened his profile.

In USF, the 36-year-old coach inherited a team that's largely been perceived as underachievers since being ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in 2007.

The Bulls have lost 14 of their last 16 games against Big East opponents and finished last in the conference the past two seasons.

Taggart's first recruiting class consists of 21 high school prospects and two junior college transfers. The new coach is known for running a high-octane offense, but 14 of the newcomers are defensive players.

Calloway is a 6-foot, 300-pound tackle who helped Taggart's high school alma mater, Bradenton Manatee, win a state championship in 2011. Senat is a 6-1, 311-pound tackle from Immokalee, and Robbins is a 6-foot-3 cornerback out of Miami Southridge who figures to get a chance to compete for playing time in a secondary that was one of USF's biggest weaknesses last season.

The Bulls finished with just two interceptions in 2012, one of them by a defensive tackle.

''Defense wins championships,'' Taggard said. ''If we want to build this program the way we want to, we have to play great defense.''

Taggard also landed one quarterback. Mike White completed 69 percent of his passes for 2,201 yards, 22 touchdowns and two interceptions while leading unbeaten Fort Lauderdale University School to the Florida Class 3A state title.

The Bulls were happy to sign running backs Sta'fon McCray of Kissimmee Osceola and Darius Tice of Miami Northwestern, too. Over their last two seasons in high school, McCray rushed for 3,248 yards and 42 TDs and Tice gained 1,587 and scored 25 TDs.

Taggart expects plenty of competition for jobs.

`''They're all going to have the opportunity to come in and take somebody's job,'' the coach said. ''It's going to be highly competitive.''

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by
FOX Fantasy Football


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NCAA FB Videos

Horrow: College Football Business Report Posted: May 20, 2013
Rick Horrow has the latest college football business news.

Horrow: CFB Business Report Posted: May 13, 2013
Rick Horrow has the latest college football business news, including a TV deal b...

Horrow: College Football Business Report Posted: Mar 04, 2013
Rick Horrow has the latest college football business news, including Johnny Foot...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Florida Gators Gridiron 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - Royal Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/759777/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_759000/ff_759777_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Florida Gators Gridiron 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Michigan State Spartans Football 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - White http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Michigan_State_Spartans/browse/featuredproduct/760171/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_760000/ff_760171_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Michigan State Spartans Football 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - White
    Nike USC Trojans Fight On My School T-Shirt - Cardinal http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_USC_Trojans/browse/featuredproduct/761373/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_761000/ff_761373_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike USC Trojans Fight On My School T-Shirt - Cardinal
    Nike Alabama Crimson Tide Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Crimson http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/829709/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_829000/ff_829709_xl.jpg&w=100 64.95 Nike Alabama Crimson Tide Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Crimso..
    Nike LSU Tigers Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Purple http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_LSU_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/829740/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_829000/ff_829740_xl.jpg&w=100 49.99 Nike LSU Tigers Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Purple
    Nike Oklahoma Sooners Legacy 91 Dri-FIT Adjustable Coaches Cap - Crimson http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_Sooners/browse/featuredproduct/830935/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830935_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 Nike Oklahoma Sooners Legacy 91 Dri-FIT Adjustable Coaches Cap - Crimson
    adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hot Sideline Jacket - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish/browse/featuredproduct/861243/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_861000/ff_861243_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hot Sideline Jacket - Navy Blue
    adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers Sideline Hot Quarter Zip Jacket - Scarlet http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Nebraska_Cornhuskers/browse/featuredproduct/861247/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_861000/ff_861247_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers Sideline Hot Quarter Zip Jacket - Scarlet
    Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Players Locker Room Snapback Hat - Charcoal/Black http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/1087345/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1087000/ff_1087345_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Players Locker Room Snapba..
    Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Ash http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/1093431/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1093000/ff_1093431_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Ash
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft