Fortin Becomes Ninth Member of Bulls’ 2020 Early Signing Period Class

Initial 2020 class to see numerous additions in February late period

TAMPA, FLA., DEC. 19, 2019 – New head coach Jeff Scott added the ninth member of his first recruiting class at USF on Thursday as transfer quarterback Cade Fortin inked to join the South Florida football program during the second day of the NCAA Early Signing Period. The Bulls previously added eight members of Scott’s first class on the first day of the early period.

Introduced last Wednesday as the Bulls’ fifth head coach, Scott quickly hit the recruiting trail to begin securing his first recruiting class, which is expected to have numerous additional signees in the late period that begins on Feb. 5.

USF received commitments from nine student-athletes, including welcoming FBS transfer quarterback Fortin (North Carolina) and running back Darrian Felix (Oregon).

Six of the new Bulls hail from the state of Florida, while one is from South Carolina and one is from Hawaii.

The Bulls added four players on the offensive side of the ball, including a quarterback, two running backs and a wide receiver.

A North Carolina transfer quarterback, Fortin (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnet HS), will have three years of eligibility remaining after passing for 388 yards and a touchdown in four games, two starts, as a true freshman at UNC in 2018. He was rated a four-star recruit out of high school by ESPN.com after he passed for 1,841 yards and 16 touchdowns, and ran for 512 yards and three scores during a junior season in which he led the Bulldogs to a state championship.

Felix (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers HS) was rated the No. 8 all-purpose running back in Florida by 247Sports in the Class of 2017. He spent three seasons at Oregon, redshirting in 2018 after a season-ending injury, and totaled 379 yards and three touchdowns rushing for the Ducks. He racked up 1,808 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior season at Fort Myers High School. Fellow running back Brian Battie (Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota HS) ran for 4,542 yards and 62 touchdowns in his final three prep seasons, including 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. Wide receiver Omarion Dollison (Columbia, S.C./Gray Collegiate Academy) led his team to a 10-3 record and logged 86 receptions for 1,621 yards and 21 touchdowns, while running nine times for 118 yards in his senior campaign.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulls added five players, four in the secondary and one on the defensive line. Cornerbacks AJ Hamilton (Dunnellon, Fla./Dunnellon HS), Ben Knox (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS) and Christopher Townsel (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach HS) joined safety Mac Harris (The Villages, Fla./The Villages Charter School) as the newest Bulls in the secondary while Sione Tuitupou (Kailua, Hawaii/Kalaheo HS/East LA College) joins the defensive line.

Hamilton led his team to a 9-2 record, posting 17 tackles and six pass breakups along with 276 rushing and 181 receiving yards and four total touchdowns as a senior. Harris led his team to an 8-3 record and posted 86 tackles, four interceptions and four forced fumbles as a senior. Knox led his team to a 7-3 record and totaled 25 tackles, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles and an interception as a senior. Townsel led his team to a 10-4 mark and the state semifinals, posting 45 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery as a senior.

Tuitupou spent the 2019 season at East Los Angeles College, where he posted 22 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and blocked two kicks in eight games. The Hawaii native first attended Garden City Community College after leaving Kalaheo High School in Honolulu.

Season tickets for the 2020 season may now be renewed at www.HornsUp2020.com or by calling/texting 1-800-GoBulls. Renewals made before Feb. 7 will allow season ticket members to lock in their prices for the 2021 season as well. Season ticket deposits for new members may also be placed HERE.

2020 USF Football Early Signing Class

Early Signing Class size: 9; Defense: 5; Offense: 4

POS. HT WT. YR HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL

DEFENSE

AJ Hamilton CB 5-10 161 Fr. Dunnellon, Fla./Dunnellon HS

Mac Harris S 6-0 200 Fr. The Villages, Fla./The Villages Charter School

Ben Knox CB 6-2 173 Fr. DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS

Christopher Townsel CB 6-2 176 Fr. Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach HS

Sione Tuitupou DT 6-4 290 Fr. Kailua, Hawaii/Kalaheo HS/East Los Angeles Col.

OFFENSE

Brian Battie RB 5-8 170 Fr. Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota HS

Omarion Dollison WR 5-9 172 Fr. Columbia, S.C./Gray Collegiate Academy