One of the nation’s premier football magazines is bullish on the University of South Florida.
Athlon Magazine has picked USF to win the Eastern Division of the American Athletic Conference. The magazine picks USF to play against Houston for the league title.
USF returns 93 percent of its offense and seven of its top nine tacklers from its defense. The magazine noted USF’s “exciting options at the skill positions” as it surmised, “USF could very well become one of the nation’s most dangerous teams.” The Bulls, which return program record-setting players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, led all American Athletic Conference teams with 10 players selected to Athlon’s preseason all-conference first and second teams. Houston was the next closest program with eight selections.
Marlon Mack, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards two years in a row, made the all-conference first team. He was joined by tackle Kofi Amichia, linebacker Auggie Sanchez and safety Tajee Fullwood.
Quarterback Quinton Flowers was joined on the second team by receiver Rodney Adams, guard Dominique Threatt, safety Nate Godwin, defensive tackle Deadrin Senat and cornerback Deatrick Nichols.
USF’s running back unit, which includes Mack, Darius Tice (Miami) and D’Ernest Johnson (Immokalee), was selected the best in The American, while USF’s quarterbacks, linebackers and defensive backs were selected as the second-best units in the league.
