Initial 2020 class expected to see numerous additions, including in February late signing period
TAMPA, FLA., DEC. 18, 2019 – New head coach Jeff Scott welcomed the first members of his first recruiting class at USF Wednesday as eight student-athletes inked to join the South Florida football program during the first day of the NCAA Early Signing Period, which ends Friday.
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, including many in the late period that begins on Feb. 5.
“We are really excited about the young men that became Bulls today and will be a big part of the program we are building at USF,” Scott said. “We added a lot of speed, athleticism and explosiveness to our team today and we’ll look to add even more in the late signing period in February.
“I am working hard to complete my coaching staff and then we are going to hit the ground running in recruiting in January. We will look to complete a strong class in February and then hit the field for spring football. It’s an exciting time to be a Bull and we’re just getting started.”
On Wednesday, the first of three days in the early signing period, USF received commitments from eight student-athletes, including welcoming FBS transfer 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 three players on the offensive side of the ball on Wednesday, including two running backs and a wide receiver.
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 receiverOmarion 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 (Day 1)
Early Signing Class size: 8
Defense: 5; Offense: 3
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
Darrian Felix RB 5-11 197 Jr. Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers HS/Oregon
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