USF scrimmage notes: Offense shows life; Raymond shines in secondary

Posted Aug 21, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Aug 21, 2010 at 08:52 PM

By Phil Neary
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA – The USF football team scrimmaged for the second time of fall camp on Saturday, and based on his initial review, Bulls offensive coordinator Todd Fitch sounded more optimistic than following the offense’s lackluster performance in the first scrimmage.

“We were able to stay with the chains and convert first downs and stay on the field,’’ Fitch said. “I thought there was a little more communication and a better awareness of where everybody was.’’

Fitch said the offense was more efficient on third down and making big plays down field.

Senior receiver Dontavia Bogan, who has had an inconsistent fall camp until the last couple of days, impressed the coaching staff Saturday.

“He’s got to be our feature guy obviously with the injuries we’ve had,’’ Fitch said, adding Bogan had two really tough touchdown receptions on Saturday. “The last four days he’s really stepped it up. I just want to see him have fun and I want him to lead the receiving group.

“That was fun to see.’’

Head coach Skip Holtz said there were several positions still unsettled heading into the scrimmage, and evaluating the film will determine his likely starters for the season.

“I put the depth chart up in front of the whole team (before the scrimmage) and we talked about it as whole team and said this is where everybody is right now,’’ Holtz said Saturday. “If you don’t like where you are, change it. This is a depth-chart scrimmage; next week will be more of a dress rehearsal than it will be where jobs are open. At some point, we have to turn and pull off of them an awful lot more and start to get them ready to play the season.’’

USF will practice at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday morning, then hang around for FanFest from 1 to 4 p.m. The Bulls’ final scrimmage of fall camp is on Friday.

FRESHMAN FEVER: Deonte Welch isn’t the only freshman receiver stealing headlines this fall. Along with Welch, Fitch said freshman walk-on receiver Steven Bravo-Brown had a good scrimmage and is starting to come on.

“I tell you what, he’s going to be a good football player,’’ Fitch said. “He’ showed us flashes that he could help us down the road. If he continues to come on, I think he could make the two-deep down the road and be a contributor. He has a little bit of electricity to him when he touches the ball and is a very good route runner.’’

MR. VERSATILE: DB Mistral Raymond, listed as a first-team strong safety on the post spring depth chart and who played there for most of the fall, is likely to start at cornerback in the first game this season, according to defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

Snyder said after Saturday’s scrimmage that there is a big difference when he’s not at corner.

If Raymond, a former walk-on, plays corner, USF still has experience at safety in junior Jerrell Young and sophomore Jon Lejiste.

“And I tell you what, (redshirt freshman safety) JaQuez Jenkins has had a great camp,’’ Snyder said.

EMOTIONAL UPSWING: Snyder said he didn’t see much emotion in the first scrimmage, but he said Saturday’s effort was more lively and physical.
“It was a lot better this time,’’ said Snyder. “Good, crisp, hard-hitting. We still have a ways to go.’’

BULL BITS: Freshman QB Jamius Gunsby left the scrimmage with a hip flexor, an injury that has plagued him on and off during camp … Holtz said junior DB Tyson Butler got a look at safety Saturday, a change from his cornerback position.