We brought the fire with the #20Strong USF Class of 2020 October 7th Update regarding the Frankie Burgess commitment. Now we’re back with another recruiting update covering all recruiting news from September 21st – October 19th. Without further ado, let’s get after it!
USF Offers JUCO WR
Via Twitter, USF offered WR Xavier Hutchinson out of Blinn Junior College on September 24th. Currently committed to Iowa State, the three-star receiver according to 247Sports would be a nice addition to the Bulls 2020 recruiting class if he was to flip from the Cyclones to the Bulls. With USF offering JUCO WR Nathaniel Dell back on August 26th via Twitter, it looks like the Bulls coaching staff is in hot pursuit to add another WR to the class with Marquez Bell and Da’Quan Bailey-Brown as the two WR commits at this time. Look for USF to continue to recruit this position heading into December as the Bulls look to add one more receiver before National Signing Day arrives in February.
DB Isaiah Hackett Interested in USF
Per Bill Greene of 247Sports, DB Isaiah Hackett out of East High School in Warren, OH is still interested in USF with 2 months left to go until Early Signing Day. According to Hackett, the Bulls were one of the first schools to recruit him and it looks like the coaching staff is still after the Ohio DB with both sides talking frequently. Hackett mentioned that he is still looking for more offers from the Power 5 programs that have shown interest in him such as Iowa, Kentucky, and Penn State, so I wouldn’t expect a decision from Hackett until the end of the year. The 2020 class currently sits with 4 DBs including Ben Knox, AJ Hamilton, Mac Harris, and Chris Townsel, so expect the coaching staff to look at one more guy for the secondary such as Hackett before it’s all said and done.
USF in Pursuit of UCF Commit Corey Thornton
Per John Garcia Jr. of 247Sports (VIP Membership Only), the USF coaching staff is battling it out for Corey Thornton who has been committed to the Knights since April 17th. My gut feeling is that Thornton sticks with his verbal commitment to UCF when it’s all said and done, but things can always change after a recruit takes his visits to other programs. Listed as a CB on the site, what this tells me more than anything else is that the staff is still looking to add another piece or two even with the 4 DBs that are currently committed to the 2020 class. Look for the staff to add one more recruit to the secondary with Hackett being my pick as the last CB/S commit for this class.
Former USF Commit Picks South Dakota
We mentioned the possibility of OLB Vincent Starling Jr. rejoining the #20Strong recruiting class after decommitting back in July, but it looks like Starling has found a new home with the South Dakota Coyotes. Via Twitter, Starling committed to the Coyotes of the Missouri Valley Conference (Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision) on September 29th. My guess is that once Starling decommitted, the coaching staff went looking for another OLB to fill his place, thus resulting in Frankie Burgess whose game is similar to both Levontae Camiel and Starling. Nonetheless, we wish Starling nothing but the best with South Dakota in the future and best of luck the rest of the way with his senior season at Palm Beach Lakes.
USF Offers #DreamU OT
Via Twitter, the USF coaching staff offered 6-4, 315 LB OT Lamar Barrett out of Independence Community College on October 10th, continuing the trend of the staff extending offers to JUCO players over the past few months. With 3 OL currently committed to the 2020 class including Miller Merriweather-Lewis, Evan Webster, and Khristopher Love, look for the staff to add one more OL to this class regardless of their projected position on the line at the next level.
Leave your thoughts and comments below and check back in the next few weeks when I update Bulls fans on all things USF Football recruiting!