USF sophomore kicker Maikon Bonani, sidelined since he fractured a vertebra in an accident this summer, dressed and kicked at Monday's practice, a first step toward an eventual return to football.

Coach Jim Leavitt has previously said Bonani is not expected to play this season as his back fully recovers. The Bulls have found recent kicking success in junior walk-on Eric Schwartz, who went 3-for-3 in Friday's win against West Virginia and is now 6-for-9 on the season since taking over for senior Delbert Alvarado.

USF special-teams coach John Hendrick told Times correspondent Kerry Klecic on Monday that Bonani has been kicking for about two weeks, and ran sprints with the team for the first time Monday. "He looked good today," Hendrick said.

With Schwartz's success and only four regular-season games remaining, it remains unlikely the Bulls would rush Bonani back and use a year of eligibility for limited playing time this season.