Three Things To Know About BYU Football Opponents: USF Bulls
Jun 16, 2022, 12:37 AM | Updated: Jun 27, 2022, 2:49 pm
BYU football opens the 2022 season against Jeff Scott and his USF Bulls. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU football opens the 2022 season in Florida against the USF Bulls. The game will begin BYU’s final year as an FBS Independent before they move into the Big 12 Conference the following year.
Last year, BYU defeated USF in Provo, 35-27. Three years ago in Tampa, USF handed BYU a devastating loss in Jaren Hall’s first career start. So who comes away victorious in the rubber match?
To prepare for the Labor Day weekend clash at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, here are three things you need to know about the 2022 edition of the Bulls.
USF adds Big 12 champion QB
USF head coach Jeff Scott built up his quarterback room by adding Baylor transfer Gerry Bohanon. Bohanon started last season for Baylor during their program-best 12-win season, which included a Big 12 Championship and a Sugar Bowl victory.
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Bohanon left Baylor after losing the starting QB job to Blake Shapen. Baylor coach Dave Aranda notified Bohanon of his decision to go with Shapen before the May 1 transfer deadline, allowing Bohanon to find a new home and play in 2022.
Bohanon joins a quarterback room that includes sophomore Timmy McClain.
BYU faced both quarterbacks last season, and each signal-caller gave the BYU defense its share of struggles.
USF switched to a ball-control offense after BYU jumped out to an early 21-0 lead in Provo. McClain thrived in that play calling, passing for 186 yards, completing 70.8% of his passes and adding 56 yards on the ground.
In Baylor’s 38-24 win over BYU, Bohanon had 231 yards on a 64% completion rate.
Coming out of USF’s secretive spring practices, McClain appeared to be the clear-cut starter, but coming out of spring the door was left open for a competition. With Bohanon added, there will be a battle and the former Baylor Bear likely wins the job.
New Coordinators
USF head coach Jeff Scott brought in two new coordinators for the 2022 season. Last year’s offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis Jr. left for a Co-OC position on Lane Kiffin’s staff at Ole Miss. Then Glenn Spencer was fired as defensive coordinator after fielding the nation’s 123rd ranked defense.
#BYU QB @BaylorRomney downplayed how cool it was connecting on these deep balls with his brother Gunner. Well, from the lens of @MPett3's camera, it sure looked cool!#BYUFootball l #USFvsBYU l @KSLSports pic.twitter.com/JrJXMcNOgm
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) September 26, 2021
Scott hired former West Virginia inside receivers and tight end coach Travis Trickett. Trickett has worked on coaching staffs led by Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher, Nick Saban and Rich Rodriguez over the years.
Trickett inherits an offense that features All-AAC performer Jaren Mangham at running back. Mangham appears to be the star of the Bulls’ offense. At wide receiver, keep an eye on USF’s deep threat in Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr.
On the defensive side, longtime Power 5 defensive coordinator Bob Shoop was tabbed to lead the defense. Shoop inherits a USF defense that was dead last nationally in sacks with only nine a year ago. He’s vowed to increase that number this fall.
Overhauled roster through the Transfer Portal
USF opened the Transfer Portal cycle for 2022 with the No. 1 haul nationally in transfers. After picking up 15 transfers, the Bulls finished at No. 30 in 247Sports’ team rankings for portal activity. But it was a big haul of talent.
During spring practices, USF had 21 newcomers participating, and that didn’t include Bohanon.
Looking good, @RJStadium 🤘 pic.twitter.com/pU0XW5uQ5T
— USF Football (@USFFootball) April 8, 2022
A big area of focus in the portal for Scott’s squad was along the offensive and defensive lines. The defensive line personnel should be improved with the additions of Missouri transfer Jatorian Hansford and Minnesota transfer Rashad Cheney.
Fourteen of the 15 transfers USF picked up out of the portal are from Power 5 programs. So the overall talent pool should improve for Scott’s squad in year three.
BYU enters the 2022 season with the second-most returning production in college football. Behind the Cougars is USF which is No. 3.
BYU Football vs. USF details
Date: Saturday, September 3, 2022
Kickoff: 2 p.m. (MT)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)
Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
2022 USF Bulls Football Schedule
Sept. 3 – BYU
Sept. 10 – Howard
Sept. 17 – at Florida
Sept. 24 – at Louisville
Oct. 1 – East Carolina
Oct. 8 – at Cincinnati
Oct. 15 – Tulane
Oct. 29 – at Houston
Nov. 5 – at Temple
Nov. 12 – SMU
Nov. 18 – at Tulsa
Nov. 25 – UCF
Get to know the 2022 BYU Football opponents
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
