USF Bulls Preview 2025: American Championship Contenders?

USF Bulls Preview 2025: Offense

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- The offense moves fast, but it has to control games more to help a defense that had a whole slew of issues - USF was dead last in time of possession.

Everything starts with getting back star quarterback Byrum Brown from a broken leg suffered in the middle of last year. When he’s right, USF has one of the most dangerous all-around playmakers in the AAC. Bryce Archie was a solid fill-in - he threw too many picks, but he’s a good No. 2.

- Keshaun Singleton is a good deep threat to rely on as the main man to go along with veteran Jaden Alexis - he's coming off a knee injury - and a nice pair of transfers in Mudia Reuben (Stanford) and Chas Nimrod (Tennessee).

- The offensive line has to be better in pass protection, but there’s plenty of experience up front helped by the addition of Thomas Shrader (App State) and Connor McLaughlin (Stanford) to play around with the rotation.

Brown should be the most dangerous rushing option, but Cartevious Norton (Charlotte) is a terrific back to take the heat off.

USF Bulls Preview 2025: Defense

- The defense was miserable at times last season - it finished 118th in the nation in total D and allowed almost 30 points per game.

There will be a pass rush, and it should be okay on third down stops, but the secondary has to be stronger. It got lit up way too easily - more on that in a moment. On the plus side, the defense is loaded with veterans.

- There’s a little help from the portal, but as is the secondary has several nice parts around safety Tavin Ward and corner De’Shawn Rucker. Now the pass rush has to help more and that starts with Texas A&M transfer tackle Josh Celiscar - he needs to get back to the form he started to show over four years at UCF - and with a rotation of ends to play around with the front three.

- The linebackers are the stars of the D. Mac Harris should be a tackling force on the inside, Jhalyn Shuler will be an all-star as a force behind the line, and the overall depth is as good as it’s been in a long while.

USF Bulls Key to the Season

Stop teams from throwing well.
Doing anything to control the clock a little more would be a plus, and it starts with keeping quarterbacks from hitting the midrange throws. USF was 6-1 last season when allowing teams to connect on fewer than 60% of their passes, and 0-5 when offenses went over that.

USF Bulls Key Player

Michael Williams, EDGE Sr.
New transfer Josh Celiscar is really more of a tackle working as a 3-4 end, and the outside linebackers take care of most of the pass rushing work. It would be nice, though, if the Bulls could find the true blend of talents to be a dangerous all-around end.

Williams has been fine - he came up with two sacks and seven tackles for loss last year with 30 stops. Even if he’s just a pass rushing specialist, he has to change games.

USF Bulls Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Connor McLaughlin, OT Sr.
The 6-7, 295-pound Tampa native started out at Stanford over the last three years, growing into a decent starter at both tackle spots by last season. Now he’s back home as a good get through the portal as an upgrade for one of the tackle jobs.

Top Transfer Out: Bernard Gooden, EDGE Sr.
After starting out at Wake Forest, Gooden grew into a good part of the USF defensive front. He only made 35 tackles with 1.5 sacks last season, but the ten tackles for loss mattered. Now he’s part of the LSU rotation.

USF Bulls Key Game

Boise State, Aug. 28
You want to make an early statement, USF? You want to be on the Group of Five College Football Playoff radar? Take out the team that got where you want to be.

Boise State has to play in Tampa in late August - it’ll be hot. It’s also a must win for the Bulls to possible avoid an 0-3 start with road games at Florida and Miami to follow.
- 2025 USF Bulls Schedule Breakdown

USF Bulls Top 10 Players

1. Byrum Brown, QB Jr.
2. Jhalyn Shuler, LB Sr.
3. Mac Harris, LB Sr.
4. Tavin Ward, S Jr.
5. De’Shawn Rucker, CB Sr.
6. Cartevious Norton, RB Sr.
7. Josh Celiscar, DT Sr.
8. Thomas Shrader, OG Sr.
9. Keshaun Singleton, WR Soph.
10. Cole Best, C Sr.

USF Bulls 2024 Fun Stats

- Time of Possession: Opponents 34:52, USF 25:08

- Two Point Conversions: Opponents 5-of-8 (63%), USF 3-of-6 (50%)

 - 3rd Quarter Scoring: USF 123, Opponents 56

USF Bulls 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

It’ll be a rocky start, but for what it's worth with those road games at Florida and Miami, USF doesn’t leave the state until mid-October, and it’s only gone twice until mid-November.

USF won’t exactly be off the radar, but it’ll slowly start to creep into the College Football Playoff discussion if - and it’s a giant if - it can beat Boise State in the opener.

No Tulane, no Army - outside of the trips to Memphis and Navy, the conference schedule couldn’t be much easier.

The Bulls will go to a third straight bowl game, only this time, it might be coming off a trip to the American Athletic Conference Championship game.

Set The USF Bulls Win Total At … 7.5

Likely Wins: Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Rice, South Carolina State, at UAB

50/50 Games: Boise State, at Memphis, at Navy, at North Texas, UTSA

Likely Losses: at Florida, at Miami