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Eagles' Allen gets NFL defensive rookie honor
I'm a day late with this, but former USF safety Nate Allen has capped a strong first month with the Eagles by earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors. Allen had interceptions in each of his first two NFL games, and has 11 tackles and a sack after three games.
There's more of a spotlight on Allen this week, as the Eagles play host to the Redskins and former quarterback Donovan McNabb, and Allen was selected with one of the draft picks acquired from Washington in the McNabb deal. Given that 20 defensive players were picked ahead of Allen and he beat all of them out for the first rookie monthly honor, Eagles fans can feel good about that deal so far.
Griffin doubtful for FAU; Bonani, JBK probable
USF released its official injury report for Saturday's home game against Florida Atlantic, with no huge surprises. Punter Justin Brockhaus-Kann, who missed Tuesday and Wednesday's practice with back spasms, is listed as "probable," as is Maikon Bonani (hip), who is vying with Eric Schwartz for the place-kicking duties.
At receiver, senior Dontavia Bogan is recovered enough from the ankle injury that kept him out of the Western Kentucky game that he's not even listed on the report, while sophomore Sterling Griffin is listed as "doubtful" as he recovers from a dislocated ankle this summer.
The only other players mentioned weren't expected to play -- receiver A.J. Love remains out with his knee injury, and reserve lineman John McGhin is out with a hip injury.
Lanaris proud to carry family football legacy
To advance Saturday's USF home game against Florida Atlantic, we have a feature story in Friday's Times on Bulls linebacker Michael Lanaris, who has a long history of college football players on both sides of his family. Pictured left is his grandfather Jim Munnis, who played end for Miami in the 1950s, and Lanaris' great-grandfather, Frederick Bell, played tackle for Ohio State in 1917-18 before serving in the U.S. Army in World War I. Lanaris' name has a special meaning, as he was named for his father's older brother, who died before Michael was born.
... Read more
QB Grothe to sign with CFL's Argonauts
Former USF quarterback Matt Grothe is heading north to continue his aspirations of playing pro football and sign a deal with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, his father confirmed Thursday morning.
Grothe's first pro workout was with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and he considered the CFL before attending a rookie minicamp with the Bucs and signing with the UFL's Florida Tuskers, who cut him three weeks ago. He's the second Bulls player to sign with Toronto since the Bulls played in the International Bowl in January -- running back Mike Ford was briefly on the team's practice roster this month.
The Argonauts said Thursday that no signing had been made and that their roster was full, but the league does allow teams to expand their practice rosters by five players on Wednesday. Toronto does exclusively hold Grothe's CFL negotiation rights. ... Read more
Reports: FAU suspends four from USF game
Just a few hours ago, USF linebacker Sabbath Joseph was talking about how Florida Atlantic cornerback Tavious Polo, one of the Owls' top players, was talking trash on his Facebook page in anticipation of Saturday's Bulls-Owls game. As it turns out, Polo won't be able to do much more than talk this week, as he is one of four FAU players who have been suspended from the game, according to FAUowlaccess.com.
The Sun-Sentinel has tweeted the same information -- the four players, all on defense, include Polo and another defensive starter in defensive end Daniel Joseph. The players were pictured in a flyer used to promote a party last weekend where there was a cover charge, according to the report. FAU's defense had a tough challenge against the Bulls before the suspensions, so it's good news for USF's offense, especially B.J. Daniels and his receivers.
Punter Brockhaus-Kann limited by back spasms
Punter Justin Brockhaus-Kann, who has USF ranked third nationally in net punting after his first three games, has missed the last two practices with back spasms, leaving his status for Saturday's home game against Florida Atlantic uncertain.
"We're just going to turn and wait to see how he responds to treatment," said Holtz, who has had steady praise for Brockhaus-Kann since the preseason. "A lot of that's going to have to be decided in the next 48 hours. ... He could be fine, but he's struggling right now. It flared up Sunday night, and he was getting treatment Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I didn't feel like it was a necessity for him to come out and punt in this practice."
If Brockhaus-Kann can't go, Holtz said he's considering using true freshman Chris Veron of Ocala, who was headed for a redshirt this season but would give the Bulls another strong, if unproven, leg and could also help with kickoff duties. ... Read more
USF's Buie joins Green with CFL's Alouettes
Former USF defensive end Jarriett Buie, who got looks in camp with the Bucs and the UFL's Florida Tuskers, is taking his game north, as he officially signed with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes on Tuesday.
Buie, who has been working out in Montreal for the past week, joins a former Bulls teammate in receiver S.J. Green, who is having a breakout year in his fourth CFL season. After totaling three touchdown receptions in his first three seasons, Green is tied for the CFL lead with nine scoring grabs in 12 games this season.
The Alouettes next play Friday against Calgary.
Guard Fred Lewis Jr. now at U. Tampa, not USF
We reported back in July that Fred Lewis Jr., the 6-foot-4 guard from Bayshore Christian whose father played on two NCAA Tournament teams at USF, was hoping to walk-on with the Bulls this season, but his father said Wednesday that Lewis is enrolled at the University of Tampa and will redshirt this season while practicing with the Spartans.
Lewis, who had hoped to follow in his father's footsteps by playing for the Bulls, didn't get his academic information into USF's admissions department in time to start fall classes, his father said, and rather than wait until January to start school at USF, he started this fall at UT. Lewis, who averaged 24.6 points per game as a senior at Bayshore Christian, will still have a full four years of eligibility after this season.
The start of preseason practice for USF is now just two weeks away, as the Bulls prepare for their season opener in the Sun Dome on Nov. 12 against Southern Miss.
Notes: Fullback Kelly enjoying new role
Here are Tuesday's practice notes from Times correspondent Kerry Klecic ...
TAMPA -- Senior Richard Kelly has seen a lot change since he came to USF in 2007.
The 6-foot-2, 242-pound fullback has been through three offensive coordinators in four seasons. And though he's played a team-high 40 career games in a Bulls uniform, he always had to fight to stay involved in offenses that preferred a spread-type passing offense.
But that's not the case this year under new offensive coordinator Todd Fitch.
USF only has 70 pass attempts in three games. Only seven schools in the country have fewer. And with the team ranked 22nd in the country in rushing yards per game and up against the nation's worst rushing defense in Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Kelly, who had his second career rushing touchdown Saturday against Western Kentucky, said he looks forward to continue contributing more.
"We can really run the ball out of the power-I just like I did in high school," he said. "Now that we're back to the power-I, it's like my offense ... It feels great for me because it's my senior year." ... Read more
Video: Skip Holtz at weekly news conference
I post these videos despite Skip Holtz's continued and blatant defamation of left-handed people (I write lefty, throw/bat righty, which is to say I'm a lefty). Ever since Saturday's win against Western Kentucky, Holtz keeps talking about making opponents "win left-handed," meaning taking away their natural strength and forcing them to play to weak suits. Here's the first few minutes of his comments:
... Read more
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