Bulls coaches turn focus to recruiting

After concluding its third consecutive brief practice Sunday, the University of South Florida won't work out again until Wednesday. In the meantime, the coaching staff will hit the recruiting trail.

"A lot of our coaches (left Sunday) to recruit. I'm going to be headed down to Miami and recruiting in that area," Coach Jim Leavitt said. "I'm flying down the first flight out (today) and then fly back on a late flight. And then on Tuesday I'll drive down to Naples. I'll leave probably at 6 in the morning and head down that way and then work my way back up to Tampa."

USF will concentrate its recruiting efforts in Florida, but special teams coach John Hendrick will head north.

"He'll go back up to New Jersey," Leavitt said. "We're on a couple of guys up there."

Leavitt also said USF will be represented at this weekend's high school state playoff games in Orlando.

In other recruiting news, the Bulls picked up an oral commitment from Quinterrius Eatmon, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle from Prichard, Ala. Eatmon, a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, announced his decision on Versus during the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

DIVIDING THE PRACTICES: USF is using the first part of its 16 bowl practices to get a jump start on spring ball and evaluate what the underclassmen can do.

"We're finding out a lot right now," Leavitt said. "We're learning a lot about our players. It's been very valuable."

When the Bulls return to practice Wednesday, the young guys again will get most of the work through the end of the week. The game plan for Northern Illinois will be implemented later.

"We'll probably start on that about 10 days out from game day," Leavitt said.

DEPARTURE NOT SET: USF is undecided when it will leave for Toronto in advance of its meeting with the Huskies in the Jan. 2 International Bowl.

"We have to decide with (Athletic Director Doug) Woolard when we're going to leave; either the afternoon of the 28th or the morning of the 29th," Leavitt said. "We'll do whichever is best for us and whatever works economically, too."

Gregg Becnel