When he transferred from Florida last summer, USF tight end Mike McFarland joined the Bulls as a walk-on, but coach Skip Holtz confirmed Monday that the rising sophomore was placed on scholarship last fall.

McFarland, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound Blake graduate, had just one catch for 8 yards as a freshman but made a name for himself this spring, being among the first players Holtz named as impressing him with his size and athleticism, especially in the red zone. The Bulls have three solid seniors at tight end in Evan Landi, Andreas Shields and Jeff Hawkins, but also have a strong future at the position in McFarland and incoming freshman Sean Price.

Holtz has continued a USF tradition of promoting walk-ons to scholarship, as McFarland joins quarterback Bobby Eveld and receiver Stephen Bravo-Brown as current scholarship players who came in as walk-ons.