Lots of little bits of news from Tuesday's news conference with Jim Leavitt, but the biggest might be on the injury front, as Leavitt said he is not counting on running back Aston Samuels returning healthy this fall from the shoulder injury he sustained during spring drills.

Samuels played sparingly as a redshirt freshman, going over 100 yards on two reverses in USF's win at Syracuse. Leavitt said Samuels broke the socket bone in his shoulder, and said the priority this fall will be getting him back healthy without worrying about him rushing a return to play this season.

Leavitt said receiver Colby Erskin is making good progress recovering from a second torn ACL, and said offensive lineman Danny Tolley won't likely be available until mid-October at the earliest as he returns from a torn ACL suffered late in spring drills.

Leavitt also said he'll have a vote in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll this season. Leavitt has voted in the past but not since USF joined the Big East in 2005.