Although USF returns seven defensive starters, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said Monday there are really only two starting positions up for grabs – both interior line positions.

“Honestly, that’s about it,” Burnham said. “The two inside guys.”

Added USF coach Jim Leavitt: “Our defensive front will be interesting, because we have a lot of talent there. That will be interesting.”

Burnham said the coaches are “still evaluating” junior college transfer David Bedford. “He does everything you want him to do, we just have to teach him,” Burnham said.

Burnham also said junior Chris Robinson, listed as the starting strongside linebacker in the USF media guide (that I didn’t edit), is now third team on the depth chart.

“Chris and I talked,” Burnham said. “He realizes what the deal is. We issued him a challenge, so we’ll see how he responds and where it goes from there. He’s got a lot of potential, so that just means ‘you haven’t done it yet.’ ”

By George, can I have your autograph? When the University of South Florida went through Monday’s first practice, it was like no other season-opening workout in program history. For the first time the Bulls began fall drills with a number before their name - No. 21-ranked USF.

Another first from Day One: autograph seekers waiting afterward in the parking lot.

“That’s never happened before,” said USF junior defensive end George Selvie, who patiently and politely autographed some photos on the hood of a car after the 2 1/2-hour practice.

Leavitt said seven rookies could play: Leavitt said as many as seven freshmen could play this season.

“We have a number of guys that are very, very talented,” Leavitt said. “A number of freshmen are very talented. It’s interesting to see if they can handle the effort level, that’s hard. That difficult for them to see that. We have a lot of young guys that definitely will play.”

Leavitt singled out Plant City freshman OT Mark Popek. “We need to get him ready, he did some real good things,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt also was impressed with the play at cornerback, where the Bulls must replace NFL draft picks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams.

“Jerome Murphy and Tyller Roberts did a great job,” Leavitt said. “There’s some real competition behind there.”

Leavitt mentioned junior Theo Wilson and freshmen Quenton Washington, Tyson Butler and George Baker as being in the mix behind Murphy and Roberts.

In non-football news: Michele Baxter, who was Monmouth’s coach the past three seasons before being fired in April, and Andrea Williams, an assistant at Jacksonville University the past four seasons and a former University of Tampa assistant, were hired as USF women’s basketball assistants.