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Memphis Receivers Big Concern For Bulls

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2008

TAMPA - It's no secret that the University of South Florida secondary has trouble guarding big, physical wide receivers. When the Bulls take the field a week from today in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Memphis, they will be up against the most physical receiving group they have faced all season.

"Oh gosh, yeah, they've got three really big receivers," defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said. "They're going to throw the ball up, a lot, and try to make some jump balls on us."

Memphis' leading receivers are juniors Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton and senior Maurice Jones, all of whom stand 6-foot-4 or taller and weigh more than 200 pounds.

Singleton, who is 6-8, leads the Tigers with 759 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Calhoun and Jones have more than 1,000 yards receiving and five touchdowns combined.
Burnham said that kind of height and experience is a concern for his secondary.

"They're going to try to throw the ball up on some of our smaller corners," he said. "They've done that a lot this season, on everybody they've played. So, that's a concern."

The Bulls' secondary had trouble defending physical receivers in two previous losses this season. USF gave up 173 yards and a touchdown to 6-4 WR Kenny Britt in a 49-16 home loss to Rutgers on Nov. 15.

Louisville junior Scott Long (6-2, 211) reeled off 134 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-20 USF loss on Oct. 25.

Bulls coach Jim Leavitt said it will be a similar challenge for the secondary when they take the field against the Tigers.

"They're really good," he said. "There are a lot of outstanding receivers in the Big East, but Memphis has an outstanding group. I've been very impressed with them."

OF NOTE

DE George Selvie was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Selvie, who had 5.5 sacks this season, was named first team by the American Football Coaches Association.

Kerry Klecic

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