Breit battles for fullback job

Posted Aug 19, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Aug 19, 2011 at 08:53 PM

Here is Friday’s practice report from Tribune correspondent Michael Manganello:

Coming back from a severe back injury during his senior year at Plant High taught Chris Breit to love the game, not take any moment for granted and make the most of each opportunity.

Breit is hoping to cash in on arguably his best opportunity for playing time with USF, as the redshirt junior walk-on is battling true freshman Tye Turner for the starting fullback job.

Breit, a standout linebacker at Plant, converted from linebacker to fullback in the spring along with Armando Sanchez, who came out of spring drills as USF’s first-team option at the position.

However, when Sanchez moved back to linebacker during fall practice after suffering a broken hand, it left Breit battling with newcomer Turner, who has earned praise from coaches for how quickly he has come along.

Breit said the fullback position “has come natural for the most part,” though he admits he’s learned much more in fall camp than he did in the spring.

“I still think I’ve got a lot to learn, definitely got a lot to learn,” said Breit, who appeared in three games last season on special teams and has been working on a few of the Bulls’ special teams units in fall practice as well. “It’s a competition between me and Turner, but we’re just going to make each other better. Whoever wins it wins it. They’re going to put the best player on the field.”

DEPLETED SECONDARY: Five members of defensive backs coach Rick Smith’s secondary were unavailable for Friday’s practice, mostly because of injury, though reserve safety JaQuez Jenkins was excused from camp because of a death in the family.

We’ve got everybody hurt,” Smith said. “Today I had five guys out (of practice). I had a walk-on sophomore starting at one corner and a true freshman at the other.”

In the absence of upperclassmen, true freshman Kenneth Durden was a positive note on an otherwise difficult day for Smith.

“Kenneth has made tremendous progress,” Smith said. “He’s learned what to do, but he’s still thinking a little bit instead of reacting. He’s going to be a really good player this year before he’s over with and he’ll play this year as a freshman.”

LBs ALMOST SET: The linebacker corps has been very fluid in camp as defensive coordinator Mark Snyder attempts to build enough depth at middle linebacker to move Sam Barrington from the middle to the strong side.

While he won’t reveal his starters, Snyder says he’ll likely know who they’ll be after Saturday’s scrimmage.

“I’m making sure (Barrington) can go to (the strong side),” Snyder said.

“I know he can play strongside linebacker…we’ll probably know (the starters) after (Saturday).”

Tribune staff writer Adam Adkins contributed to this report.