Inarguably the most disappointing Big East team in 2011, South Florida needs a big 2012 to restore faith in head coach Skip Holtz.
2012 Program Preview - South Florida
Prior to the season, many were pegging the Bulls as the likely conference champions. A narrow victory over then-ranked #16 Notre Dame started the season off on the proper footing. They handled business thereafter facing their Big East football schedule with a clean 4-0 record. Then it all went downhill.
Pittsburgh humiliated USF, sending them spiraling into a four-game losing streak. Three consecutive losses to end the season ensured that South Florida would miss out on a bowl game for the first time since they joined the BIg East in 2005. Sure, five of their seven losses were decided by six points or less. That doesn’t reassure the program’s detractors.
There are enough returning starters (B.J. Daniels is still the South Florida QB...) and enough depth to identify USF as a legitimate bounceback candidate. Then again, 2012 could be 2011 redux. Tread lightly with your predictions, folks.
After the jump, the prospects worth noting as well as some games and matchups to pencil into your calendar.
References
Voodoo Five (SBN South Florida community), SB Nation team page, official team site, Bill Connelly’s preview for SBN, CBS Sports preview
Notable offensive prospects
| Name | POS | Yr. | Early projected Rd (notes) |
| B.J. Daniels | QB | RS Sr. | UD |
| Mark Popek | OT | RS Sr. | UD |
| Evan Landi | TE | RS Sr. | UD |
| Sterling Griffin | WR | RS Jr. | 7 |
| Quinterrius Eatmon | OT | RS Soph. | 5 |
| Deonte Welch | WR | RS Soph. | UD |
Notable defensive prospects
| Name | POS | Yr. | Early projected Rd (notes) |
| Sam Barrington | LB | Sr. | 6 |
| Michael Lanaris | ILB | RS Sr. | 6 |
Cory Grissom  | DT | RS Sr. | 7 |
| Kayvon Webster | CB | Sr. | UD |
| Ryne Giddins | DE | RS Jr. | 4 |
| Devekeyan "DeDe" Lattimore | OLB | RS Jr. | 5 |
| Jon Lejiste | SS | RS Jr. | UD |
| Aaron Lynch | DE | Soph. | N/A (Transferred from Notre Dame; will sit out 2012 season) |
Summary
There’s plenty of talent on both sides. The offense was balanced last year, and though inconsistent, the defense had its moments. As I said above, it’s a similar outlook for this year for the Bulls. They could take the conference, or things could bottom out again. With some key recruiting battles lying ahead (including the fight to hold on to Asiantii Woulard), this could well be a make or break year for Skip Holtz.
Key games
Rutgers (home) - Week 3 (Thu., Sep. 13 - 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
This was in my Rutgers preview as well for good reason - it opens Big East play for both teams with both conference champion contenders. This is a great way to open week 3.
Florida St. (home) - Week 5 (Sat., Sep. 29 - TBD)
Miami (away) - Week 12 (Sat., Nov. 17 - TBD)
These two ACC matchups will reverberate through the recruiting landscape. If Miami slides further down the totem pole, it could well open up opportunities for USF to continue to grow especially with a 2013 rematch coming next year.
Key matchups
OT Quinterrius Eatmon v. Florida St. DE Bjoern Werner, Week 5 - Sat., Sep. 29
This should be a great battle to watch in this game. Eatmon impressed in his RS freshman season last year, starting every game at RT. Werner presents a formidable challenge that will grind all the way to the final whistle.
LBs Sam Barrington, Michael Lanaris & DeDe Lattimore v. Connecticut RB Lyle McCombs, Week 10 - Sat., Nov. 3
McCombs proved to be a handful as a RS freshman in Storrs, topping 1,000 yards without a bowl game or conference championship to pad the stats. For USF to pick up a crucial late-season win, they’ll need to limit the Huskies’ running game. Barrington, Lanaris and Lattimore are talented, and experienced, enough to do so; the question is how much McCombs will improve in his second year.
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