Jim Leavitt impressed with USF Bulls linebacker Kion Wilson's 18 tackles

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — There wasn't much for USF to be proud of Thursday, but coach Jim Leavitt was impressed by the effort of LB Kion Wilson, who finished with 18 tackles.

"I thought Kion was all over the field," Leavitt said of the senior. "I have so much respect for him."

Wilson had three unassisted tackles and 15 assisted, leaving him one off the record set by J.R. Reed against Cincinnati on Oct. 31, 2003. It tied USF's record in a Big East game set by LB Tyrone McKenzie against Pittsburgh on Nov. 24, 2007.

return to jersey: Senior CB Jerome Murphy is the rare Bull who can have a homecoming in a Big East road game, but his return to New Jersey had mixed results.Murphy, from Elizabeth, N.J., about a half-hour north of Rutgers' campus, was flagged for a late hit on the opening drive, helping the Scarlet Knights drive 80 yards for a touchdown.

He rebounded by pulling in a deep Tom Savage pass with an over-the-shoulder catch, just the second interception thrown by the freshman.

Line shakeup: Starting RG Zach Hermann did not make the trip due to an undisclosed injury. The junior had started all eight games this season. Jake Sims shifted from right tackle to replace him, and redshirt freshman Mark Popek started at right tackle.

On defense: USF gave two backups rare starts. Junior David Bedford made his second of the season and career at end. And sophomore Keith McCaskill made his third of the season and career at defensive tackle.

Good special teams: The first half was terrible for most of USF's special teams units, including allowing a blocked punt and Faron Hornes' muffed punt that the Scarlet Knights recovered. But Delbert Alvarado's first two rugby-style punts went for 53 and 46 yards and were not returned.

THIS AND THAT: Rutgers had committed just seven turnovers in its first eight games. … USF's 46 offensive plays in a loss to Pittsburgh on Oct. 24 were fewest in school history. Thursday, the Bulls ran 23 plays in the first half and recorded four first downs. They finished with 49 plays (to Rutgers' 72) and seven first downs (to Rutgers' 18).

Times writer Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com.