Question No. 7 for USF Bulls: Is there another Pierre-Paul around?

Posted Jul 31, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jul 31, 2010 at 11:29 AM

Around this time last year, a little-known defensive end named Jason Pierre-Paul arrived on USF’s campus and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Pierre-Paul’s surprise addition to the roster right before the season came after he played the previous two seasons at a pair of junior colleges. By the end of September, Pierre-Paul was no longer unknown, especially after his dominating performance in USF’s win at Florida State.

On a steamy afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium, Pierre-Paul made FSU quarterback Christian Ponder sweat all day, recording three tackles for loss and a sack.

By April’s NFL draft, Pierre-Paul heard his named called when he was selected by the New York Giants with the 15th overall pick of the first round, making him USF’s highest-drafted player in school history.

Now, a year after Pierre-Paul showed up, USF’s defense could use another player like him.

To serve as an official countdown to the start of football season here in our little corner of the blogosphere, I’m throwing out the 10 most important questions the Bulls face heading into the season.

USF opens practice Aug. 6. You can check out the blog each day for the latest question. After I give my take, I’d like to hear what your take is on the question of the day.

With that said, let’s take a look today at Question No. 7: Do the Bulls have another sleeping Giant on defense?

When taking a hard look at USF’s key questions entering the season, none appear more alarming than having to replace six starters on defense. Those weren’t just any normal six starters.

Four of them – Pierre-Paul, S Nate Allen, CB Jerome Murphy and DE George Selvie – were selected in the NFL draft. Another, LB Kion Wilson, signed with San Diego as an undrafted free agent and appears to have a chance to make the team. Former LB Chris Robinson wasn’t too bad either, garnering interest from CFL teams.

Still, Pierre-Paul’s performance was the most unexpected, and most good teams have a player or two who shatter all preseason expectations and truly make a difference.

When looking at this season’s roster – and he is not nearly the unknown as Pierre-Paul was last season – but local product Ryne Giddins appears to have the skill-set to become an elite player.
“He is a bright young star,’’ USF coach Skip Holtz said during spring practice. “But he still has a lot to prove.’’

Giddins redshirted last season after playing briefly early as a true freshman, and if he comes close to matching the hyperbole attached to him coming out of Armwood High – FSU, Florida and Miami all wanted him, too – Giddins could quickly shoot up the depth chart.

There are other potential players on defense who haven’t played much and remain somewhat of a mystery: junior-college transfer DE Claude Davis, redshirt DE Julius Forte and LBs Jacquian Williams, Sam Barrington and Dede Lattimore are players who will have every chance to become playmakers.

Giddins may not be ready to produce at that level yet, so Williams is the player I’m picking to make the biggest leap on the field this season. Defensive back Mistral Raymond Raymond is another.

What’s your take? Who is the sleeper on defense that could really make a difference for USF this season?