As bad as the Bulls’ offense was last year, the defense was even worse, and it doesn’t appear to be fixed much in 2021. The Bulls allowed 441.4 yards per game last year, ranking 95th in the FBS, and their scoring defense was even worse.
They allowed nearly 40 points per game, finishing ranked 122nd in the nation. Against NC State in Week 1, USF gave up 293 yards on the ground, allowing 100-yard days for Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person Jr.
In other words, this South Florida defense is just what the doctor ordered for a Gators offense looking to sharpen things up before a game against Alabama.
The strength of the defensive unit is, much like on offense, a veteran group in the trenches. USF generally has three down linemen in defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer’s scheme, and all three are upperclassmen. The star of that group is graduate Thad Mangum, who transferred in from Wofford for the 2020 season and finished with 37 tackles, four for loss.
The linebacker group is also solid in coverage, led by Andrew Mims, who had 14 tackles against the Wolfpack, and Dwayne Boyles, who led the team in tackles for loss last year with six.
In the secondary, there are some questions. The team returns the two best defensive backs from last year in Daquan Evans and Mekhi LaPointe, who led the team with three and two interceptions, respectively, last year. But the other two starting spots are filled by transfers.
READ: Gators Wire’s staff predictions for Florida vs. USF
Christian Williams is starting at corner opposite Evans, and the Miami transfer has seen only sporadic action during his college career. At strong safety is Matthew Hill, a transfer from Auburn who picked off NC State’s Devin Leary on an underthrown ball in the opener.
This team was actually average against the pass last year, ranking 60th in passing yards allowed per game with 229.1, and the Bulls only allowed three more yards than that through the air last week. They’re not as good as Florida Atlantic was, but this secondary could be capable of complicating things for Jones again. Expect the Gators to look once more to attack on the ground early and often.
NEXT: Overall thoughts