First-year coach, future on-campus stadium bring hope, but growing pains are likely for USF
The South Florida Bulls, coming off a 1-11 season, have a new coach on board and a possible on-campus stadium in the works.
Alex Golesh, the former offensive coordinator at Tennessee, has been tasked with turning around a program that has slipped to 4-29 during the past three years. During that span, USF beat just one FBS team — Temple.
That’s in contrast to a 21-4 record between 2016 and 2017.
The Bulls, who share 69,000-seat Raymond James Stadium with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are planning a 35,000-seat on-campus stadium scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. The $240-million facility was recently approved by USF’s Board of Trustees.
On the field, 2023 figures to be a struggle.
Golesh inherits a defense that ranked last in the American Athletic Conference last year in points (41.2) and yards allowed (516.6).
USF’s top defenders are linebacker DJ Gordon IV (6½ tackles for losses) and cornerback Aamaris Brown (team-high five passes defended), both of whom made preseason All-AAC second team. Defensive end Jason Vaughn, who led USF with five sacks last year, also returns.
Offensively, the big question is at quarterback, where Golesh has declined to name a starter prior to the Sept. 2 season opener at Western Kentucky.
Gerry Bohanon, a 23-year-old senior. is in his sixth college season, including a prior stop at Baylor. However, he has only been a starter for two years, and last season he got just seven games in before he sustained a serious shoulder injury.
For his career, Bohanon has completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Byrum Brown, an 18-year-old who is entering his second college season, could beat out the veteran. Brown completed an impressive 72.0 percent of his 50 passes last year for 404 yards, five TDs and one pick.
At running back, Brian Battie led USF with 1,185 yards, a 6.8 average and eight touchdowns before transferring to Auburn.
Running back Nay’Quan Wright, who was mostly buried on the Florida Gators depth chart (753 career yards, 4.0 average), is now USF’s starter.
USF also lost its top two receivers to transfers as Xavier Weaver bolted to Colorado and Jimmy Horn fled to rival UCF. They combined last year for 90 catches, 1,269 yards and nine touchdowns.
All those departures, coupled with all those recent losses paint what could be a depressing picture for USF football.
Not for Golesh.
He has a plan.
“We’re going to outwork everyone in college football,” Golesh said on the USF website, “both as a team and as a coaching staff.”
