#Stampede21 Additions from the Portal + 2021 Class – Part One

We’ve got a FAT update on our hands here covering all of the transfer portal additions and #Stampede21 commits over the last month in Part One of the update. Without further ado, let’s get after it!

#TransferPortalSZN – QB Noah Johnson Onboard from Alcorn State

Straight from #TheBay, former Armwood HS QB Noah Johnson (@NoahJ813) will transfer to USF this season for his final year of eligibility, leaving an Alcorn State program where he put up 4,018 passing yards, 30 passing TDs, and 1,867 rushing yards over 4 years with the Braves. After going down with an injury in 2019, Johnson had his medical wavier approved by the NCAA via Twitter, adding to an already crowded QB room in Tampa that won’t mind the experience that Johnson brings in 2020.

Mike’s Take: One way to ramp up competition at any position is by bringing in additional bodies, especially at the QB spot. Johnson’s dual-threat ability stands out to me in comparison to Jordan McCloud and Cade Fortin (I’ll exclude the freshmen gunslingers for now) with OC Charlie Weis Jr. deciding who will be the best fit for the Bulls in the fall. All 3 of the veteran QBs bring something different to the table and Johnson is no different. Look for Johnson to have a legitimate chance at the starting QB spot in 2020 with McCloud and Fortin as fellow challengers to lead the Bulls this year.

#Stampede21 Welcomes CB Jaelen Stokes to the Class!

With his 24 offers in tote, CB Jaelen Stokes (@jaelen_stokes) out of Auburndale, FL (Auburndale) committed to the Bulls on April 10th via Twitter, becoming the 4th defensive commit for USF in the 2021 class thus far. Ranked as a three-star prospect (#76th ranked CB in the country), Stokes holds offers from Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri to name a few.

Mike’s Take: I love the length that Stokes offers at the position standing at 6-1, 175 LBs. Anytime that you’re able to find a tall corner who ran the 100 meters at 10.84, you bring them on campus. I like Stokes as a press, man-to-man corner, but last year showed his versatility playing in zone coverage as well. Still, I like his ability in man along with his physicality and willingness to hit.

#TransferPortalSZN – Michigan Man OLB Devin Gil Joins the Bulls for 2020

After losing LB Patrick Macon after the 2019 season, Jeff Scott and Company had to make a move for a replacement heading into the 2020 season. In steps OLB Devin Gil (@devin_gil) from the Wolverines who announced on Twitter that his 5th year will be in Tampa. The three-time letter winner saw action in 40 games with 14 starts over 4 seasons with Michigan, joining a USF LB room that has slowly built depth over the past few seasons.

Mike’s Take: Gil played a little bit of everywhere at LB for Michigan, either as 3-4 OLB on the line of scrimmage or at ILB/OLB in a 4-3/4-2-5 front. I feel like Gil is a good play at ILB with Dwayne Boyles and Antonio Grier on the outside, but don’t discount guys like Andrew Mims and Demaurez Bellamy at the position either. I expect Gil to play a similar role as Macon did last year being a veteran presence for the Bulls at LB with Mims, Bellamy, and others providing solid depth heading into next year.

#TransferPortalSZN – DT Thad Mangum Onboard for One More

#DLDepth for the win here. Via Twitter, former Wofford DT Thad Mangum (@tman5_15) announced that he would play his final year at USF in 2020. In 5 years with the Terriers (including a redshirt year in 2015), Mangum saw action in 37 games with 14 starts, racking up 86 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. After starting last season against South Carolina State, Mangum went down with a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year.

Mike’s Take: I love me some DL depth and this was a solid add by the staff in doing so. Mangum’s playing time kept going up through his career until becoming a full-time starter in 2018 with 2019 being no different if a knee injury never happened. It will be interesting to see Mangum make the jump from FCS to FBS (much like Noah Johnson), but the talent is definitely there. Look for Mangum to be a factor next season whether at DT or DE if the staff wants someone bigger on the outside.

Leave your thoughts and comments below and be sure to tune in next month when I cover Part Two of the #Stampede21 Additions from the Portal + 2021 Class!