USF's Holtz: Finally time to get this started

Skip Holtz stepped to the podium Wednesday afternoon, looked around the room and opened his first news conference of the season this way:

"It's finally here," Holtz said. "We've been waiting for this day for a long time.

"I'm really excited about the next 30 days. Now, we really get an opportunity to put this team together to get ready for the season."

The Bulls open practice today in their first season under Holtz, who takes over the program following five seasons - and back-to-back Conference USA championships - at East Carolina.

Holtz announced several roster changes Wednesday, some of them previously reported and others mostly housecleaning moves.

However, the loss of running back Michael Hayes, a junior-college transfer from Blinn (Texas), could have the greatest impact. Hayes failed to qualify academically by the start of the Summer B session and is not enrolled, Holtz said. He continues to work toward getting accepted into USF, but he will not be with the team this fall.

Hayes rushed for more than 1,200 yards and scored 17 touchdowns last season at Blinn, where he teamed in the backfield with current Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton.

"He was definitely a guy that we were going to count on," Holtz said. "It was a position of need."

Sixth-year senior Mo Plancher enters the start of fall practice as the team's No. 1 tailback. Hayes was expected to challenge him for playing time.

With Hayes out of the mix, returnees Demetris Murray, Joel Miller and Bradley Battles will compete for playing time, and Holtz said freshman Marcus Shaw also will get a look.

Holtz also announced that receivers Jason Sherman, Ed Alcin and Patrick Richardson, and running back Aston Samuels have left the program. Two of those scholarships were filled with linebacker Donte Spires and defensive back Mistral Raymond.

Spires, a linebacker, did not play last season, and Raymond was a walk-on who is expected to challenge for a starting position in the secondary.

Holtz confirmed former Colorado running back Darrell Scott, Notre Dame defensive back Spencer Boyd, Saddleback (Calif.) Junior College receiver T.J. Knowles, former Chamberlain High standout and Auburn transfer Dontae Aycock and East Carolina tight end Kevin Gidrey have joined the program as transfers.

Gidrey, a fifth-year senior, and Knowles, a sophomore, are eligible to play this season.

In addition to Hayes, two other members of the 2010 signing class - receiver Jamaal Montague and running back Tiger Powell - did not qualify academically, Holtz said. Powell has enrolled at a Mississippi junior college.

Finally, a key figure in the messy split with former USF coach Jim Leavitt, receiver Colby Erskin, recently was granted a sixth year of eligibility. Holtz said Erskin is going to open practice with the Bulls as a walk-on.

The team, which will hold nearly two weeks of preseason camp in Vero Beach, is scheduled to leave at 5 p.m. Sunday after a two-hour practice on campus. The team will stay in Vero Beach until Aug. 19.