Former University of South Florida WR Amarri Jackson said trying to make the Bucs roster is “just another hurdle.”

Bucs coach Jon Gruden had this to say about Jackson’s chances.

“Well obviously we’re looking for a young guy that can make plays, number one,” Gruden said. “Number two, a guy that has some versatility to help us on special teams and be a guy that can play split end or flanker, a guy that can learn a couple positions. That’s what most guys, backups or young guys, have to do. Along the way, we’d like to see a guy that can reach up, grab the ball and make some plays.”

In Saturday’s Tampa Tribune, Jackson is among three former Bulls - OT Walter Walker and OT Jared Carnes - participating in Bucs minicamp this weekend. Also, Ronnie McCullough, who signed with USF before transferring to Bethune-Cookman, is trying out.

Prime Time lesson: Former USF CB Mike Jenkins has one of the best NFL cornerbacks of all-time to assist him in Dallas. Jenkins has been getting advice from former Cowboys CB Deion Sanders, the Dallas Morning News reported.

“He’s a Florida guy and he likes helping out Florida kids,” Jenkins said of Deion Sanders between Cowboys minicamp practices Friday. “He’s been a great mentor to me, and through the whole [draft] process.”

Sanders said he mentors about 50 players.

“When you have a guy with a lot of talent and he wants to be a student of the game, you want to help him,” Sanders said. “He’s [Jenkins] a bright intelligent kid who wants to be the best.”

Jenkins also talked about competing with - and possibly taking a starting position away from - former USF CB Anthony Henry.

“To me, it’s a job,” Jenkins said. “Everybody is coming out here and trying to help the team. Anthony’s been here a long time. We all know that, and if I do beat him out, he will understand that. He’s still going to help me out and he’s not going to stop doing that.”

Around the Big East: West Virginia hoops coach Bob Huggins received an 11-year extension Friday that will pay him about $1.5 million a year with a $4 million buyout clause. The 54-year-old Huggins turns 65 in 2019, so he’ll basically end his career with his alma mater. Huggins was asked how the University of Cincinnati president couldn’t wait to get rid of him, while the West Virginia president wants him to stay forever? “We have a much more intelligent president,” he said. … How important is the quarterback position? Bill Koch of the Cincinnati Enquirer said the Bearcats will be picked to finish fifth by the college football magazine he does the Cincinnati preview for if QB Ben Mauk can not return. If Mauk somehow gets a sixth year, though, the magazine editor said UC would move up. Based on the early dot.com predictions, USF will be picked to finish probably between third and sixth in most Big East polls. If QB Matt Grothe wasn’t returning, I wonder how low USF would drop in the preseason rankings? Perhaps the Bulls would only be ranked ahead of Syracuse.