TAMPA, Fla. – During his opening remarks following the 15th and final spring practice session at Corbett Stadium on Saturday evening, Alex Golesh noted the training staff did not have to make many appearances on the field. That, of course, was a very good thing.
“You really want to get out of it healthy and get a bunch of clean work on both sides of the ball,” said the third-year USF coach, whose team wrapped up spring drills in front of a few thousand fans, including recruits and their families.
The Bulls took the field without nine players who had surgery since the end of last season, plus a handful of others who were dinged up during the first 14 practices. Byrum Brown was among the latter due to what Golesh said was a “tweaked” hamstring.
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“We were super, super guarded,” he said. “I think if it was the (regular) season, he could go if he had to. (Having Brown play) was the last thing I wanted to do.”
Given the injuries and precautions, it was an evening when the depth chart got a workout.
“There were some young guys that got to play a ton of reps, and that was really good to see,” said Golesh.
One of them was Locklan Hewlett, who has not disappointed since arriving at USF in January. The true freshman quarterback is among those Golesh commented on Saturday night.
Archie, Hewlett Impress
Golesh and a number of players made available to the media this spring noted how impressive Brown was this spring. That was until the last couple of practices when his hamstring acted it up. So, Bryce Archie, who now can focus entirely on baseball, and Hewlett got the bulk of the work Saturday.
“Bryce had his best four days of practice in terms of attention to detail and the growth he has made,” said Golesh, referring to how the senior-to-be wrapped up the spring.
Instead of looking forward to high school graduation, Hewlett did yeoman’s work in running the Bulls’ offense. That included throwing three touchdown passes Saturday. What might have been his best pass was on the second play of the evening, a deep ball that Tennessee transfer receiver Chas Nimrod could not haul in. That was one of only two incompletions in 15 attempts.
“He continues to be really, really special in a lot of ways,” said Golesh. “He is a little baller, is fun to coach and we will see how his progression goes. I think he has a really bright future here.”
READ: Seminole’s Corey Braun Enjoying The Culture At USF While Earning Accolades On The Mound
Tavin Ward back deep?
Sean Atkins was the primary punt return specialist last season. Ta’ Ron Keith, Kelley Joiner and Nay’Quan Wright combined for the bulk of the kick returns. All four have graduated. Hence, there was an entirely new look this spring, though with a few familiar faces. One of them was safety Tavin Ward, who led the team with three interceptions and was the second-leading tackler (62) last season. He has not returned a punt or kick since he starred at North Fort Myers High, though he looked good on punt returns this spring.
“He came to me and said, ‘Coach, you know I can return,” said Golesh. “I said, ‘Man, here is a shot at it.’ He has been solid as there is, and ‘Tav’ has been excited about it.”
Receiver Josh Porter is also in the mix to return punts while there are several options when it comes to kick returns.
“We are kind of there by committee and I think it will continue to be that way,” he said of a situation that was similar last spring and through preseason camp.
Receivers Nimrod and JeyQuan Smith, running backs Alvon Isaac and Charlotte transfer Cartevious Norton, and safety Fred Gaskin are all candidates to return kicks. So is a player not yet on campus.
“If we can close here in recruiting, I think we have a chance to have a real special returner in the kick return game,” Golesh said of a potential transfer.
READ: Dunedin’s Marcus Brodil ‘Grateful” For His Four Years At USF
Singleton, Koger among WRs who shined
Golesh had plenty of good things to say about a young group of receivers, and two in particular. One was Keshaun Singleton, who made quite an impression the second half of last season after getting his feet wet on special teams.
Singleton, who sat out his freshman year of 2023 with a broken ankle, caught 26 passes in his final six games last season and averaged 15.7 yards per catch with three TDs. No reception was bigger than his 17-yarder on third-and-10 at the San Jose State 23-yard line with 19 seconds remaining in the Hawaii Bowl. The catch set up a game-tying field goal that forced overtime, where the Bulls pulled out the win thanks in part to Singleton’s catch on a two-point conversion in the fifth and decisive OT.
“He finished last year really, really strong,” said Golesh, noting a broken finger limited Singleton early this spring. “You wanted to see him take a giant jump this winter and he was able to take it. I think he is going to be really, really special in what we do.”
The other receiver Golesh praised was true freshman Jeremiah Koger, an early enrollee out of Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy, which former Charlotte head coach and current Michigan assistant, Biff Poggi, built into a power.
“We have very high hopes for Jeremiah,” said Golesh, noting how Koger has worked his way up the depth chart while lining up outside. “The moment is never too big for him. You can tell he got coached well and played big time football (at St. Frances).”
READ :USF Defensive Lineman Josh Celiscar A Married Father Who Reconnected With Alex Golesh
Defense loses Gooden, Austin
Coordinator Todd Orlando’s unit lost a couple of productive players late in the spring. Lineman Bernard Gooden transferred to LSU and defensive back Brent Austin remains in the portal.
Gooden arrived at USF from Wake Forest in 2023 and emerged last season when he played all 13 games and was third in tackles for loss with 10 and recovered a pair of fumbles. Austin, who transferred from James Madison ahead of last season, intercepted a pair of passes and led the unit with 10 pass breakups.
“If you feel like you have an opportunity somewhere else that is better, and you want to go, great,” said Golesh. “Both those guys, I know what I poured into them and what our staff poured into them. I know we gave both those guys an incredible opportunity to grow. I was super grateful for the time that they put in here.”
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