The Georgia native was at Iowa State with USF offensive coordinator Joel Gordon
TAMPA, Fla. – Alex Golesh noted at the beginning of preseason camp Monday that his preference is to have four running backs he can depend on by USF’s season opener August 28 against visiting Boise State.
It might come as a surprise if Cartevious Norton is not among the four. After all, the senior found USF to be a rather appealing destination for his final season of eligibility thanks to his time at Iowa State with current Bulls’ offensive coordinator, Joel Gordon, and strength and conditioning coach, George Courides. Combine the sense of familiarity with ample playing experience, and Norton is a prime candidate to be a major contributor.
“It was very comfortable,” he said of choosing USF. “I was familiar with a couple of people, so I felt comfortable as soon as I got here.”
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Norton began his collegiate career at Iowa State in 2022 when Gordon was in his fourth and final season as the Cyclones’ quarterbacks coach before reuniting with Golesh at USF. Courides spent six seasons in Ames as the associate head strength and conditioning coach before moving east with Gordon to also reconnect with Golesh, who spent four seasons (2016-19) as the recruiting coordinator at Iowa State under Matt Campbell.
The 5-foot-11 and 222-pound Norton, who arrived in Tampa during the winter, started seven games in two seasons at Iowa State before transferring to Charlotte where he led the 49ers with 525 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in 2024. Two of the touchdowns were against the visiting Bulls in a late-season game that saw Gordon’s offense pile up a school-record 425 yards on the ground in a 59-24 USF win.
“We are really familiar with him having coached against him, and coach Gordon and coach (Courides) having coached him at Iowa State,” said Golesh. “You feel really familiar with who he is, and he had the spring to learn the system and be able to operate at a high clip.”
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The familiarity also helps when it comes to understanding what is expected within the program.
“We can trust ‘Tave’ and he can trust us, and I think that is where (the transfer process) started,” said Gordon. “He didn’t have to go through that process of going to another program and figuring out what the program is all about. He knew what we were and how we do things.”
With 31 games, 1,180 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on his resume, Norton provides experience to a cast of running backs that does not have much of it. In fact, Alvon Isaac’s 50 yards last season lead the way among returning RBs. Indeed, the running game no longer has the services of Kelley Joiner, Nay’Quan Wright and Ta’Ron Keith after the trio combined to rush for 1,728 yards, catch 43 passes and total 31 touchdowns a year ago.
The opportunity for Norton goes beyond the numbers as it represents a chance to lead.
“Early on, I wasn’t as vocal,” he said. “Since I know that I am the most experienced in the room, I am trying to become more vocal and lead by example.”
In choosing USF, the Georgia native noted Tampa is a four-hour drive from his family’s home in Waycross, Ga.
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“It’s a lot better,” he said, when compared to nearly six hours from Waycross to Charlotte.
In addition to Isaac, returning running backs include junior Jaylen Johnson (six career carries) and redshirt freshman Nykahi Davenport, who has yet to see the field. Sam Franklin transferred from Oklahoma, where he played 12 games in 2024 (132 yards rushing) following three seasons at Tennessee-Martin of the FCS, a stint that included rushing for 1,386 yards at 6.2 yards per tote in 2023. Tray Kinkle (Holly Springs, Miss.) is a freshman who has impressed Golesh with his speed.
Frankly, it is easy to see how Norton can become a household name among Bulls fans. He has to do his part, of course, and within a program he finds very appealing.
“They hold everybody to the same standard no matter who you are,” he said, when asked what has impressed him most so far. “No matter if you are the starting quarterback or a guy that doesn’t (see much playing time), everybody is held to the same standard. That is what I love about it.”
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