USF's Pierre-Paul has choice to make

During the past three seasons, Jason Pierre-Paul has played a season at College of the Canyons in California, another at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, and as a junior he quickly became a force at defensive end for the University of South Florida.

Could the Tennessee Titans be Pierre-Paul's team next season? In his latest mock draft on ESPN.com, NFL draft analyst Todd McShay has Pierre-Paul getting picked by the Titans with the 15th selection.

The mere suggestion that Pierre-Paul could be a first-round pick in April's draft might have seemed absurd when the Bulls started practice five months ago. However, Pierre-Paul is now perhaps one of the most intriguing players available if he decides to forego his senior season and enter the draft.

"He's a very disruptive player," McShay said during a conference call Tuesday. "With George Selvie being the name of that defensive front, he outplayed Selvie by leaps and bounds and (played) better than him week in and week out. I think Jason Pierre-Paul has a chance to be a first-round pick as a result, maybe worst-case early second round, whereas last year nobody knew about him."

Selvie faced the same dilemma as Pierre-Paul a year ago. Selvie opted to return to school, and he said he hasn't regretted it for a moment despite falling behind his teammate in almost everyone's draft projections.

Pierre-Paul submitted his name to the NFL's draft advisory board last month, and he is collecting feedback. He is expected to make his decision shortly after the Bulls face Northern Illinois in the International Bowl on Jan. 2.

Until then, Selvie will lend an ear if Pierre-Paul wants to review his options.

"We talk on and off about it," Selvie said. "I tell him, just focus on the game. Play college football first, and then worry about the NFL. He's got a level head, so he'll make the right decision."

In his first season at USF, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Pierre-Paul had 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. McShay ranks him third among draft-eligible defensive ends behind Georgia Tech's Derrick Morgan and Florida's Carlos Dunlap.

USF coach Jim Leavitt said Pierre-Paul is playing "at a higher level than I've ever seen him," and offers simple advice: "The advice I give him? Train his butt off in the weight room and play well and control things you can control."

Test time: The USF men's basketball team has averaged 10.8 wins per season in the past five years, so at 10-2, the Bulls are one of the nation's surprise teams early on. The Bulls will find out how improved they really are when they open Big East play at Louisville on Dec.30, still without leading scorer Gus Gilchrist.

"Nobody's going to feel sorry for us," USF coach Stan Heath said. "We have to do the things we can control."

While Gilchrist (ankle) isn't expected back until late January, Heath expects guard Anthony Crater, a transfer from Ohio State, to make his USF debut Jan.10 at Syracuse. Crater was expected to become eligible Dec.10, but because of disciplinary issues he was suspended an additional six games.

Bull bits: The investigation into an alleged incident between Leavitt and sophomore RB Joel Miller during halftime of the Jan. 21 game against Louisville continues without a definite timetable, although USF's final report is expected to released before National Signing Day on Feb. 3. ... Junior G Dominique Jones was named Big East men's player of the week, the first USF player to earn that honor since McHugh Mattis on Feb. 5, 2007. ... USF is ranked 35th in the College Baseball News preseason poll; the Bulls are coming off a 34-12 season. ... The USF women's basketball team lost to East Carolina on Sunday in the USF Shootout final. Sequoyah Griffin and Melissa Dalembert were named to the all-tournament team.