USF expected to have 11 football signees Wednesday

TAMPA ― Barring any 11th-hour changes of heart, USF should emerge from Wednesday’s conventional signing day with a 20-member class, leaving the Bulls ample wriggle room to add some transfers in the coming months.

Fresh off their final recruiting weekend, the Bulls got a pledge Sunday from Orlando offensive lineman David Anderton, one day after University of Arkansas kicker Jared Sackett announced via Twitter he is “accepting a scholarship” to USF.

Those two would be the 19th and 20th additions to Jeff Scott’s inaugural Bulls recruiting class not counting intriguing 6-foot-4 Lakewood Ranch receiver Michael Cucci, who announced Sunday he’s joining the team (albeit as a preferred walk-on).

Teams may sign up to 25 “initial counters” (players in their first year at USF on an athletic scholarship) each year. If a program didn’t fill all 25 spots the previous year, early enrollees can count toward the previous class.

The Bulls have managed their roster/enrollment timing in such a way that they could sign more than 25 for the Class of ’20.

Anderton, starting left tackle on the 2019 Edgewater High team that reached the Class 7A state final, visited USF’s campus over the weekend after an in-home visit Monday night from coach Jeff Scott and offensive line coach Allen Mogridge. He’s among three offensive linemen expected to sign Wednesday.

Sackett was a two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist at UTSA, hitting 41 of 42 PATs and going 33-for-41 on field goals. In 2018 at UTSA, he went 8-for-13 on field goals between 40-49 yards, and hit his only try from beyond 50 (a 51-yarder).

Because he sat out last season at Arkansas ― where current Bulls special teams coach Daniel Da Prato was a quality-control coach ― it’s believed Sackett will be eligible immediately at USF.

USF has not converted a field goal longer than 41 yards since the 2018 season opener.

Cucci, Lakewood Ranch’s MVP this past season, is a sleeper of sorts. He had 51 catches for 654 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games this past season, including a five-TD night in a 42-35 overtime triumph against North Port. It’s unclear whether he had any other Division I-A offers.

USF signees (including transfers)

RB Brian Battie, 5-8/170, Sarasota

WR Omarion Dollison, 5-9/172, Columbia (S.C.) Gray Collegiate*

RB Darrian Felix, 5-11/197, Oregon*

QB Cade Fortin, 6-3/220, North Carolina*

CB AJ Hamilton, 5-10/161, Dunnellon

S Mac Harris, 6-0/200, The Villages Charter

CB Ben Knox, 6-2/173, DeLand

CB Chris Townsel, 6-2/176, Deerfield Beach*

DT Sione Tuitupou, 6-4/290, East Los Angeles College*

*-already enrolled

USF pledges

OT David Anderton, 6-3/310, Orlando Edgewater

WR Sincere Brown, 6-4/170, Charleston (S.C.) First Baptist

LB Levontae Camiel, 6-1/200, Lake City Columbia

DE Gilber Edmond, 6-4/215, Fort Pierce Westwood

OG Uriah Greene, 6-3/288, Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek

DE Tramel Logan, 6-3/230, Miami Washington

QB Katravis Marsh, 6-4/195, Miami Central

OG Cesar Reyes, 6-5/287, Chamberlain

K Jared Sackett, 6-1/180, Arkansas

QB Jordan Smith, 6-1/180, Lake City Columbia

TE Holden Willis, 6-4/204, Greenback (Tenn.)