TAMPA, FL— Charlie Strong is entering his third year as the South Florida Bulls’ head coach looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2018 season. Finishing 7-6, a 38-20 loss in the Gasparilla Bowl to Marshall didn’t make things any much easier. Strong and the Bulls got off to a very promising start at 7-0, but it all went downhill as they lost their remaining six games. The Bulls have hired their second offensive coordinator under Strong in Kerwin Bell, and he comes in with quite a resume from Division II FCS Valdosta State Blazers.
Bell led Valdosta State to the 2018 NCAA Division II championship and did it by assembling the number one ranked scoring offense. The Blazers had a 27-7 record under Bell and made their mark in the record books along the way. They scored 728 points, which is the most ever in NCAA Division II history, and amassed over 7000 total yards on offense. Bell also led FCS Jacksonville University as the head coach for nine years and posted a 66-35 record with three Pioneer League Championships.
The Bulls are looking to fix an offense that took a step back after the departure of Quinton Flowers, D’Ernest Johnson, Marques Valdes-Scantling and other notables in the 2018 NFL Draft. After averaging 513 yards of offense in 2017, the Bulls decreased that number by 100 and also dropped in the rushing column by an average of 70 yards in 2018. They improved in the passing game but not by much. Quarterback Blake Barnett is entering his last year of eligibility and is looking to end his college career on a high note.
Barnett tallied up some pedestrian numbers after taking over for Flowers, passing for 2700 yards with 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Their leading receiver had just under 700 yards, and neither one had more than four touchdown catches. Running back Jordan Cronkrite is back after rushing for 1100 yards and nine touchdowns and will be looking to start off big against a Wisconsin defense that had their fair share of struggles last year. The Bulls’ defense was also a major letdown last year. They failed drastically in stopping the run, allowing over 240 yards per game which is over 100 more than the previous year. They are going to have a long night if they let Wisconsin’s star running back take advantage of any early miscues.
In just two years, it’s very possible that Jonathan Taylor put up the quietest 4000 yards ever. As a freshman, he was only 23 yards short of 2000 yards and one-upped that the following year by finishing with over 2100. He has a total of 29 rushing touchdowns so far and it should amaze people how he isn’t a high favorite in the Heisman rankings. The Badgers have all that Taylor needs in creating his lanes. Tyler Beach, Logan Bruss, and David Moorman are all some of the top guys that return and give the Badgers a load of depth. While they did lose some key starters that have anchored this line for the past three years in Michael Deiter and David Edwards, they have a future to look forward to with a couple of incoming freshman in Logan Brown and Joe Tippmann. Bruss and Jason Erdmann will start at the tackle and guard positions, respectively.
Paul Chryst is in his fifth year as the Badgers head coach and has led them to a bowl victory in his first four. With an 8-5 record last season, it was a bit of a let down considering they won consecutive New Years Six bowl games in 2016 and 2017. They are confident in their improvements on the defensive side of the ball to make up for the shortcomings of an inconsistent year. They maintained their opponents to under 200 yards a game in rushing and passing, but couldn’t get to the quarterback if their life depended on it. They ranked 114th in the nation in sacks last year, and are trying to find the rhythm that led them to a number three ranking in total defense back in 2017.
“We need to bring that attitude of Wisconsin defense back”, states linebacker Chris Orr. “Wisconsin defense is a stingy, physical defense. Like I said before, you’re going to remember when you played us, you’re going to feel it… it’s bringing that attitude back,”
Another story to watch as the season goes on is the selection of this season’s starting quarterback. Freshman Graham Mertz was the number one rated pocket-passer in the class of 2019, but Chryst made the decision to go with Jack Coan, possibly because of experience. Coan took most of the first-team reps throughout camp, and Chryst is counting on him to get the season started off right for the Badgers. Coan started four games last year after backing up Alex Hornibrook, who has now transferred to Florida State. Coan was 56-93 with 515 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions while leading the team to a 35-3 victory in the Pinstripe Bowl against Miami.
When asked who would he decide to go with at QB in case something happens to Coan, Chryst is confident in his backups Mertz and Chase Wolf.
“They’ll both be ready,”
Written by Ernie Casanova
