TAMPA, Fla. – Unlike last year, when a new coaching staff and a roster that included many transfers took the field for the first time following a get-to-know-you winter, the USF football team boasts much familiarity as it goes through spring drills.
This spring has been about getting better, something helped greatly by the fact that there is continuity at quarterback. For the first time since Quenton Flowers, Bulls fans have an unquestionable leader of the offense.
Sure, there have been familiar faces at QB the past few years, but thanks to performance-related issues and injuries it was often a guessing game as to who would lead the unit in a given game let alone a season.
Read: Start Of Spring Football Brings Expectations USF Needs To Guard Against
In fact, barring injury, Brown will be the first quarterback since Blake Barnett in 2018 and 2019 to be the Bulls’ Week 1 starter in consecutive seasons.
2019: Blake Barnett
Blake Barnett arrived in Tampa from Arizona State in May 2018 and proceeded to win a competition with Brett Kean and Chris Oladokun in fall camp. He opened the 2019 season as the top quarterback, but after the Bulls totaled 20 first downs and 418 yards in losses to Wisconsin and Georgia Tech, coach Charlie Strong turned to redshirt freshman Jordan McCloud in Week 3 against South Carolina State. Barnett, who was the starter in Alabama’s 2016 season opener against USC before he was relieved by Jalen Hurts, started the Bulls’ next game against SMU. He sustained what proved to be a career-ending ankle injury in a loss to the Mustangs.
2020: Jordan McCloud
McCloud took over for the injured Barnett in 2019 and started seven of the Bulls’ nine games in pandemic-disrupted 2020, including the opener against The Citadel in an empty Raymond James Stadium. Alcorn State transfer and Armwood product Noah Johnson and Katravis Marsh each made one start during Jeff Scott’s first season as coach at USF. McCloud’s last appearance in a USF uniform was a 404-yard, four-touchdown effort in the season finale against visiting UCF. He transferred to Arizona, where he spent two injury-riddled years before moving on to James Madison, where he totaled 43 total touchdowns last season. McCloud transferred yet again earlier this year and will play the 2024 season with Texas State.
Read: USF Reveals Renderings Of On-Campus Stadium Expected To Be Completed For 2027 Season
2021: Cade Fortin
Fortin transferred from North Carolina and was limited due to injuries in 2020, his first season with the Bulls. He started the first two games of 2021, combining to throw for 132 yards and two interceptions against North Carolina State (opener) and Florida. Those would be his only two starts with USF as he transferred to Arkansas, where he made one start (Mississippi State) in 2022.
2022: Gerry Bohanon
The Baylor transfer started the Bulls’ first seven games before a shoulder injury sustained in a Week 7 loss to visiting Tulane ended his season. Bohanon was on the Bulls’ roster last season, though he did not play. He entered the portal and is back in the Big 12 with BYU.
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