Tag: USF

USF QB Byrum Brown follows Alex Golesh to Auburn

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Outgoing South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown decided to follow head coach Alex Golesh to Auburn, he announced Tuesday.

Brown visited the campus over the weekend before committing to the Tigers for his final season of eligibility. He headlines an exodus of nine former Bulls who joined Auburn since the transfer portal opened Friday.

A 6-foot-3 senior from Raleigh, N.C., Brown was the only FBS quarterback to pair 3,000 passing yards with 1,000 rushing yards in 2025.

In all, he passed for 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions and rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs in 12 appearances for the 9-4 Bulls, who lost to Old Dominion in the Cure Bowl after Brown opted out.

Brown was a 64.8% passer over four seasons at UCF. He totaled 7,690 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns along with 2,265 rushing yards and 31 rushing scores in 35 games.

Golesh compiled a 23-15 record in three seasons at USF before being hired on Nov. 30 to replace Hugh Freeze at Auburn.

Brown has an immediate opportunity to start at Auburn, where quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels and Deuce Knight all have entered the transfer portal, according to 247Sports’ portal list. Daniels committed to Florida State on Tuesday.

The Tigers finished 99th in passing in the FBS this season with 197.1 yards per game.

–Field Level Media

Report: USF QB Byrum Brown to visit Auburn, former coach

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South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown is entering the transfer portal and planning to visit Auburn and former Bulls head coach Alex Golesh, ESPN reported Saturday.

Brown, a 6-foot-3 senior from Raleigh, N.C., has one season of eligibility remaining. On3 first reported that he would visit Auburn this weekend.

He passed for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions and also rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs in 12 games in 2025. He opted out of the Dec. 17 Cure Bowl against Old Dominion.

Golesh compiled a 23-15 record in three seasons at USF before being hired on Nov. 30 to replace Hugh Freeze at Auburn.

In four seasons with the Bulls, Brown completed 64.8% of his passes for 7,690 yards and 61 touchdowns and rushed for 2,265 yards and 31 touchdowns in 35 games.

Brown would have an immediate opportunity to start at Auburn, where quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels and Deuce Knight all have entered the transfer portal, according to 247Sports’ portal list. The Tigers finished 99th in passing in the FBS this season with 197.1 yards per game.

–Field Level Media

Old Dominion hits 10-win mark with Cure Bowl triumph over USF

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Backup quarterback Quinn Henicle rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns in his second career start and Old Dominion reached 10 wins with its sixth straight victory, 24-10, over South Florida in the Cure Bowl on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla.

Henicle, who put the game away with his 51-yard touchdown run with 2:24 to play, carried 24 times for the Monarchs (10-3). He also completed 11 of 25 passes for 127 yards.

Devin Roche added 100 yards on 19 carries and Trequan Jones rushed for 56 yards and a score as the Monarchs piled up 255 rushing yards to South Florida’s 52. Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding caught five passes for 60 yards.

Senior quarterback Gaston Moore made his first collegiate start and went 20 of 28 for 236 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Bulls (9-4). Christian Neptune had 10 receptions for 102 yards and Jeremiah Koger posted four catches for 68 yards and a score.

With Old Dominion and South Florida without starting quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Byrum Brown, respectively, each offense strived to find its footing with new leaders.

Roche set up the Monarchs with a 48-yard punt return in the first two minutes, but the Bulls forced a turnover on downs at their 26. On ODU’s next drive, Jarvis Lee sacked Henicle and forced a fumble recovered by Fred Gaskin to thwart the next drive by the Monarchs. Nico Gramatica finished off a 31-yard drive with a field goal from 28 yards at 5:18.

Henicle dashed in from six yards out for Old Dominion’s first lead, 7-3, with 42 seconds left in the first. Koger hauled in a 31-yard scoring pass for a 10-7 Bulls lead with 7:24 to go in the first half.

Brandon Crutchfield picked off Moore with over three minutes left, but the Monarchs botched the snap on a 37-yard field-goal attempt in the first half’s final seconds to leave the American Conference team with a 3-point lead.

Old Dominion created the first turnover in the second half when Jerome Carter intercepted Moore’s bad overthrow and returned it 26 yards to the Bulls’ 25. Jones rumbled 22 yards for a 14-10 lead at the 10:06 mark of the third.

Nathanial Eichner made it 17-10 by drilling a 24-yard field goal with 3:27 left in the third, but he missed from 36 yards in the fourth quarter with 5:54 left that would have made it a two-score lead. Henicle’s second TD run sealed the win.

–Field Level Media

South Florida, Old Dominion turn to backup QBs for Cure Bowl

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The South Florida Bulls will make a push for their 10th win this season in Wednesday’s Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla., but they will do it without the standout quarterback that led them through a season that had them ranked at one point.

Byrum Brown, the dual-threat quarterback who ran former coach Alex Golesh’s offense, will not play in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt). Brown turns the 9-3 American Conference squad over to senior Gaston Moore for his final college game.

Brown, who passed for 3,158 yards and rushed for 1,008, could head to the NFL draft, follow his former coach to Auburn or return to the Bulls, but he will have a new role in the postseason — assistant coach.

“Byrum continues to attend every team activity/practice and has been incredible in supporting his teammates as he always is,” USF’s CEO of athletics Rob Higgins said on Wednesday. “So much so, that we’ve asked Byrum to serve as a coach in the Cure Bowl to help us get our 10th win.”

Another victory would mark the third time in school history the Tampa school has reached double figures in wins. It did so under coach Charlie Strong in 2017 (10-2) and the year before with coach Willie Taggart (11-2), with both seasons ending with Birmingham Bowl triumphs.

A graduate transfer who played for the Tennessee Volunteers, Moore appeared in seven games this season and went 14-for-20 for 54 yards and a touchdown.

With Golesh gone, current Bulls defensive line coach Kevin Patrick is serving as interim head coach. Tight ends coach Jack Taylor will handle the offensive play-calling.

“(Moore’s) been in the system six years, coming from Tennessee. He’s played some valuable reps there,” Patrick said. “You go watch out at practice, and you talk to our defensive staff and the defensive backfield, I mean, the guy’s got an arm on him.

“He’s confident, and the guys are confident around him.”

Keshaun Singleton has been the Bulls’ top receiver this season, producing 877 yards on 50 receptions with eight TDs — all team highs — in 12 games.

Similarities exist between the two programs.

The Monarchs will be without its driving force and top producer, quarterback Colton Joseph, and also are seeking a 10-win campaign.

The multi-faceted sophomore accounted for 34 touchdowns (21 passing, 13 rushing) and totaled 2,624 passing yards and 1,007 rushing on his way to Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors.

However, the Newport Beach, Calif., product will take his throwing and running talents elsewhere in 2026, most likely a major Power 4 program, after announcing those intentions last Tuesday via social media.

Sophomore Quinn Henicle, Joseph’s backup, will lead the team in Orlando after playing in three games last season and starting the 2024 finale at Arkansas State, a 40-32 victory in which he was 9-of-12 passing for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 19 times for 206 yards and two scores.

The coaching staff has faith that the native of Downingtown, Pa., can be a suitable replacement for Joseph. Henicle is 6-of-15 passing for 57 yards along with 20 carries for 201 yards this season.

“Colt leaving was not a shocker to us,” said Old Dominion offensive coordinator Kevin Decker. “But nothing really changes. All year long, they’ve been 1-2 in practice. Quinn knows every single game plan.”

Trequan Jones has rushed for 736 yards on 97 carries (7.6 per rush) and five scores. Tre’ Brown III totaled 751 yards on 37 receptions (20.3 per catch) and four TDs.

–Field Level Media

Reports: USF hires Ohio State OC Brian Hartline as coach

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Brian Hartline is near a deal to become head coach at USF but is delaying formally filling the role until after No. 1 Ohio State competes in the College Football Playoff.

According to multiple reports, Hartline accepted the position on Wednesday and was hoping to convince co-offensive coordinator Keenan Bailey to join him in Tampa.

USF coach Alex Golesh was named head coach at Auburn on Sunday.

“Brian has been successful in every football capacity for which he has been engaged,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said in 2024.

Day said Hartline “recruited as well or better than anyone in the country” when elevated from a position coach to a co-coordinator role two years ago.

The 39-year-old Hartline was a wide receiver at Ohio State and seven seasons in the NFL, but has never been a head coach at any level. An assistant coach for the Buckeyes since 2017, he was promoted to become a first-time offensive coordinator prior to the 2025 season when Chip Kelly left to join the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hartline also continued his role coaching wide receivers. Under his watch, the Buckeyes have had five first-round NFL draft picks in the past four years – Chris Olave (2022), Garrett Wilson (2022), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023), Marvin Harrison Jr. (2024) and Emeka Egbuka (2025).

“Brian did some of his best coaching this past season,” Day said in February, when Hartline was promoted from the role of co-offensive coordinator to replace Chip Kelly. “His loyalty and patience are going to pay off, and I think he’s going to be the best coordinator in the country.”

Bailey was an offensive intern working with Ohio State’s wide receivers in 2017 when Hartline was hired as a quality control coach working with the same position.

Bailey has been an Ohio State assistant for eight seasons and is from Pompano Beach, Fla.

Losing Hartline, and possibly Bailey, could open the door for Day to bring back Kelly. Kelly coached Day at New Hampshire and they remain in close contact after the Raiders fired Kelly as offensive coordinator last month.

–Field Level Media

Auburn hires USF’s Alex Golesh as head coach

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Auburn named South Florida’s Alex Golesh as the program’s new head coach on Sunday.

Golesh, who was the Bulls’ head coach, accepted a six-year contract with the Tigers, per ESPN.

He effectively will take the place of Hugh Freeze, who was fired on Nov. 2. Golesh will return to the Southeastern Conference, where he was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“I want to thank President (Christopher B.) Roberts and (athletic director) John Cohen for the opportunity to lead the Auburn program,” Golesh said. “Auburn Football is one of the proudest, most tradition-rich programs in all of college football and my family and I could not be more excited to join the Auburn family. This will be a player-driven program, and no one will outwork our staff.

“Auburn has won, can win and will win championships. Let’s get to work.”

Golesh, 41, has a 9-3 record this season and 23-15 mark overall during his three campaigns at USF. He has guided the Bulls to bowl wins in each of his previous two seasons.

Prior to his arrival in South Florida, the Bulls limped to a 1-11 record in 2022.

“We are thrilled to announce Alex Golesh as the 33rd head coach of Auburn Football,” Cohen said. “He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three seasons at USF.

“Alex is known nationally for his player development prowess, ability to shape creative and explosive offenses, and his relentless approach to building winning programs. I was also struck by his coaching experience on both sides of the ball. In our conversations, he showed the determination and edge that this program demands of its head coach.”

Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin served as an interim head coach for Auburn (5-7, 1-7 SEC), which lost for the seventh time in nine games on Saturday with a 27-20 setback to No. 10 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Arkansas close to hiring USF’s Alex Golesh as head coach

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Arkansas is finalizing negotiations to hire South Florida’s Alex Golesh as its next head coach, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.

Golesh, 41, would return to the Southeastern Conference after serving as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The Razorbacks are looking to replace Sam Pittman, who was fired on Sept. 28 — one day after the team dropped a 56-13 decision at home to Notre Dame. Bobby Petrino has served as the interim head coach since Pittman’s departure.

While USF and Arkansas have yet to confirm the reports, Petrino took to social media to issue a “thank you” note.

Golesh sports an 8-3 record this season and 22-15 mark overall during his three campaigns at USF. He has guided the Bulls to bowl wins in each of his previous two seasons.

Prior to his arrival in South Florida, the Bulls limped to a 1-11 record in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Byrum Brown, No. 19 South Florida surge past Florida Atlantic

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Byrum Brown had another all-around performance and quick-tempo No. 19 South Florida subdued the visiting, high-flying Florida Atlantic Owls 48-13 in an American Conference matchup on Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.

Brown, who came into the day with 14 total touchdowns in his last three games, continued his dominant play completing 14 of his 24 passes for 256 yards and three TDs. He added 111 yards rushing and another TD on the ground.

Jeremiah Koger also showed out as he electrified the crowd with a 60-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap off a four-catch, 90-yard showing.

South Florida (6-1, 3-0 American), known for its high-tempo offense, had just one of its scoring drives go longer than 3:15. The Bulls outgained FAU (3-4, 2-2) 522-312.

After South Florida was held without a touchdown on four straight drives, Brown found Wyatt Sullivan on fourth-and-1 for a 24-yard catch-and-run that pushed the lead to 31-13 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

The Bulls followed that up with Brown’s 60-yard connection to Kroger to make it 38-13 with 13:39 left, putting the game firmly out of reach.

South Florida added a touchdown — a 2-yard rush by Nykahi Davenport — and a 28-yard field goal later in the fourth.

FAU’s Caden Veltkamp was 35-of-50 passing with 244 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Asaad Waseem hauled in eight catches for 56 yards.

Brown opened the game with a designed run up the middle, going untouched 22 yards for the quick 7-0 lead a little more than three minutes into the game. The Owls responded with a 45-yard field goal by Garrison Smith with 5:53 left in the first.

After a missed field goal, the Bulls scored on a 19-yard hook up between Brown and Jonathan Echols to push the lead to 14-3.

After recovering a surprise onside kick after the score, the tricks didn’t stop for the Bulls. They went with 325-pound backup right guard Cole Skinner from 1 yard out to make it 21-3 with 9:40 left in the half.

A field goal right before the break, and a 3-yard pass from Veltkamp to Michael Kirch on the Owls opening drive of the second half made it 21-13.

Nico Gramatica made a 41-yard field goal with 8:20 left in the third before the Bulls’ second half eruption.

–Field Level Media

Oct 3, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) runs with the ball against the Charlotte 49ers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

No. 19 USF puts high-octane offense on line vs. potent Florida Atlantic

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No. 19 South Florida is riding high after a dominant win over previously undefeated North Texas a week ago.

As the Bulls prepare for their homecoming game against Florida Atlantic, the Owls and their high-flying offense will look to spoil the party when the American Conference foes meet Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.

South Florida (5-1, 2-0) was tested last week when it visited the Mean Green. After being down 21-14 with six minutes left in the first half, the Bulls rattled off four touchdowns in a row to blow the game open before winning 63-36.

The Bulls moved up five spots in the AP poll after their commanding second-half performance, good for their highest ranking since the 2017 season. The win over North Texas also helped improve their case to be awarded as the Group of Five representative in the College Football Playoff.

Despite all of the early-season success and the new-found expectations for the team, Bulls coach Alex Golesh is reiterating to his players to just keep trudging ahead against Florida Atlantic (3-3, 2-1).

“I’m so big on being process-driven in what you do because then you don’t gauge opponents, you don’t gauge situations, you just put your head down and you work,” Golesh said Tuesday. “We don’t have to do anything extraordinary, we just have got to do the little things better than everybody else, and if we continue to strive to do that, we’ll continue to get better.”

The Bulls are led under center by Byrum Brown, who leads the team in both passing and rushing yards. Brown has put up 1,439 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air and 364 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Brown, in his fourth year with the Bulls, was benched during his team’s last meeting with Florida Atlantic in 2023. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown and added 46 yards rushing.

“One of their big strengths, especially offensively, is continuity. Coach Golesh has been there for three years now, his quarterback’s been with him for three years now. I don’t think people really understand what kind of impact that makes on a football program,” Florida Atlantic coach Zach Kittley said. “That’s just their strength overall, just some continuity and leadership at the quarterback position.”

While Brown is having a productive resurgence with South Florida, it’s a newcomer for Florida Atlantic who is giving it hope heading into this weekend’s game.

Caden Veltkamp, a transfer from Western Kentucky, quietly is having a productive season for the Owls. He leads the American Conference in completions (165), passing yards (1,781), passing touchdowns (14) and has led Florida Atlantic to the fourth-best passing offense in the country at an average of 322.8 yards per game.

The Owls also are coming off of a high-scoring affair, dropping 53 points and nearly 500 total yards on UAB in a 20-point win last week. Florida Atlantic will have to put it all together against a top-tier opponent this weekend, something the Owls have yet to do.

“We have a tough schedule … if you play in the American Conference, you have a tough schedule regardless,” Kittley said. “It’s tough every week.”

This will be just the seventh time these two teams have faced off, with South Florida leading the series 4-2. Florida Atlantic has won two of the last three meetings.

–Field Level Media

Oct 3, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls defensive end D.J. Harris (11) celebrates after he intercepted the ball against the Charlotte 49ers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

No. 24 USF, North Texas meet in bout of surprise heavyweights

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No. 24 South Florida is back in the Top 25 once and North Texas is on the verge of being ranked as the two sides prepare to clash Friday night in American Conference play at Denton, Tex.

The Bulls (4-1, 1-0 in American) are coming off back-to-back wins over South Carolina State and Charlotte following their 49-12 loss to Miami on Sept. 13.

Meanwhile, North Texas (5-0, 1-0) is unbeaten after five games for the first time since 1959, and is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches’ polls for the first time since 2018.

It’s easily the most meaningful matchup ever between the two sides.

USF leads the all-time series 2-0, but the teams haven’t played each other since the Bulls swept a home-and-home series in 2001 and 2002.

“I think you earn the right to play in these games, first and foremost,” said North Texas coach Eric Morris on Tuesday. “I told the kids this week that we’ve earned the right to be on this stage and do this, but just like anything in life you have to seize the opportunities when they’re there.”

The Mean Green have been more known for their passing attack heading into Morris’ third season as coach. But this season, the running game has been a major factor in North Texas’ perfect start.

Makenzie McGill II has run for 318 yards and four touchdowns this season while Caleb Hawkins has run for 307 yards and seven touchdowns on 42 carries. Hawkins, who also has seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, is averaging 8.7 yards per touch, which is the third-most among all FBS running backs.

“(Hawkins) and the running back room have been doing really well getting the run game established early so we can get them to bite down and open up lanes in the passing game,” Morris said.

USF’s backfield has also been explosive this season, not only thanks to its backs, but also to the dynamic ability of dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown.

The Bulls racked up 407 of their 631 yards against Charlotte on the ground in last week’s 54-26 win.

Brown leads USF in rushing with 282 yards and three touchdowns on 64 attempts as well as having 1,194 yards and 10 touchdowns passing, along with four interceptions.

It’s been a balanced backfield for USF with Sam Franklin, Cartevious Norton, Alvon Isaac and Nykahi Davenport have all rushed for 125 or more yards this season.

“There’s a point in your preparation where you get to a level of confidence … and I thought we were incredibly confident going into the game,” USF coach Alex Golesh said.

But the Bulls’ concerns are more about finishing games.

USF stormed out to a 26-0 lead against Charlotte before struggling to put the game out of reach early in the second half. The Bulls committed four turnovers to match the four they forced.

“I told our guys that elite teams put teams away when they have an opportunity to put them away,” Golesh said. “I thought the start was intentional and an attempt to go put it away early. But from a fundamental standpoint, I thought it was really, really poor in a lot of ways.”

–Field Level Media