Mitchell's speed on full display

University of South Florida WR Carlton Mitchell might not get the attention Syracuse WR Mike Williams and Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard do, but the Gaither High product continues to prove he is one of the Big East Conference's top deep threats.

Mitchell went into Friday's game against No. 20 West Virginia with 14 career receptions of 30 yards or more, and he quickly added No. 15 when he hauled in a 49-yard touchdown pass from QB B.J. Daniels on the Bulls' first possession.

Mitchell and Daniels hooked up again in the second quarter for a 69-yard gain, which led to Daniels' 11-yard TD pass to A.J. Love.

Mitchell, who has eight career receptions of 50 yards or more, had three catches for 124 yards at the half. Going into the break, Mitchell had moved up to No. 2 in school history with 1,476 career receiving yards - 47 behind Hugh Smith (1999-2002).

For starters

Senior DE George Selvie tied the USF career record for games started with 45. Carlton Williams (2005-08), Stephen Nicholas (2002-06) and Trae Williams (2002-06) also started 45 times.

One theory

Having gone through midseason nosedives the past two years, former USF offensive coordinator Greg Gregory - now at South Alabama - weighed in on the Bulls' proclivity for going through tough stretches after promising starts.

"Offensively, I felt there wasn't enough depth on the offensive line," Gregory told Fanhouse.com this week. "There wasn't enough competition to push guys and there weren't enough guys (to practice), so the starters wore down. We deteriorated up front at midseason.

"That's the only thing I could trace it to. There was not a lot of competition on the offensive line and you don't improve as the season goes on. I think everything starts up front - you have to develop depth there. It does two things: It increases competition and allows you to practice more guys and you don't get beat up as bad."

Opposite sides now

Several former Florida high school teammates went against each other Friday: West Virginia WR Alric Arnett and South Florida WR Jessie Hester played together at Glades Central; West Virginia QB Jarrett Brown and South Florida DE David Bedford at Palm Beach Lakes; and West Virginia RB Noel Devine and South Florida CB Quenton Washington at North Fort Myers.

Odds and ends

Big East commissioner John Marinatto and representatives from 11 bowls, including the four BCS bowl games, were in attendance. ... Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, whose son is being recruiting by the USF baseball team, was also in attendance. ... West Virginia was the fourth ranked opponent USF has faced this season (Florida State, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh). ... FS Nate Allen wore Keeley Dorsey's No. 10 jersey. ... Captains for the game were Allen, Selvie, injured QB Matt Grothe, RB Mo Plancher and LB Kion Wilson. ... For the third consecutive game, USF's opponent scored first.

Gregg Becnel