TAMPA, Fla. – A USF defense that ranked 130th and next-to-last nationally in allowing 516 yards per game and was last in allowing 41.1 points got a makeover in the off-season, including the hiring of coordinator Todd Orlando.
It is not as though last season was a blip on screen. Indeed, the Bulls have been downright poor on the defensive side of scrimmage for a few years. It is something first-year coach Alex Golesh went to work on with emphasis on adjusting the mindset. After all, scars can run deep when a unit is repeatedly at or near the bottom nationally in key categories.
“You are trying to fix a culture that was last in the country and that’s all they’ve heard, that’s all they’ve seen, that’s all they’ve read,” said Golesh. “For a unit that has heard nothing but negativity, they came out (against WKU) heads on fire trying to kill everybody. I will take it every day of the week.”
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Against high-powered Western Kentucky last week, a unit with six new starters and six transfers on the two-deep looked strong at times and looked like 2022 at others. Overall, there was definitely progress for a group that allowed 465 yards in a 41-24 loss. While the defense did not record a sack, it forced six three-and-outs and had a fourth-down stop.
“I thought Todd had a real good plan and that it was executed relatively well,” said Golesh.
Golesh cited the effort of defensive back Logan Berryhill and linebacker Jhalyn Shuler. Both were a part of the team last season, but had little-to-no opportunity at making an impact. That has changed.
“You talk about a guy like Logan Berryhill, holy smokes, he’s never played meaningful snaps and he goes out and, like, that guy is special,” Golesh said of the fifth-year player who arrived in 2019 to play for Charlie Strong, and recorded four tackles and broke up two passes last week after recording all of six tackles in a career that included a move to receiver (no catches) last season.
Golesh mentioned Shuler, who arrived at USF ahead of the 2022 season after two years at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, as somebody who was barely visible on the field last year, but served as one of the captains against the Hilltoppers. Shuler recorded four tackles, half as many as he had last year when he also performed on special teams.
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“I asked him how many snaps he played last year on defense, and it was like 23,” said Golesh, stunned by Shuler’s lack of playing time.
Berryhill and Shuler will likely see the field plenty Saturday night (7:00, ESPN+) when Florida A&M visits Raymond James Stadium for the second time in three years. The Bulls won in 2021, 38-17, and have won all four meetings.
The Rattlers, No. 21 in the FCS coaches poll, are coming off a 28-10 win over Jackson State in the Orange Blossom Classic played in Miami last Sunday for their tenth straight victory. They opened last season 0-2 before winning nine in a row.
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