Bulls notes: Kicking battle still close

In Skip Holtz's final game as coach at East Carolina, a kicker dominated the headlines.

Ben Hartman missed a 39-yarder with 1:03 left in regulation during a 20-17 overtime loss to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. Hartman also missed a 39-yarder as time ran out in regulation, and a 35-yarder in overtime.

Afterward, Holtz's wife, Jennifer, consoled Hartman as he tried to remain composed, unable to speak to reporters afterward.

In his first season at the University of South Florida, Holtz is watching a neck-and-neck kicking battle between senior Eric Schwartz and sophomore Maikon Bonani during camp.

Asked Wednesday if that's comforting considering his final game at East Carolina - Schwartz and Bonani each have significant game experience - Holtz chuckled at the thought.

"It will be comforting when the ball goes through the uprights," he said. "We do have two guys who are kicking pretty well, and it's gone back and forth.

"It's going to be a camp-long competition."

At FanFest on Sunday, Holtz said Bonani had a slight edge. When he released an updated depth chart Wednesday, Schwartz was listed as the starter.

"It's going to probably go right until the middle of next week until we decide on who is going to be a starter," Holtz said.

NO MORE OPTIONS: The passing game remains a priority in practice as the Bulls attempt to work out some of the kinks. Former DB Daniel Bryant, who moved to receiver, suffered an ankle injury Wednesday and is out of the mix for the time being.

The receiving corps already is loaded with players who used to play other positions - Evan Landi, Joel Miller, Lindsey Lamar are three - so the current group must produce.

"We're just going to have to continue to push," Holtz said. "At this point, there is no other, 'Let's move guys around.' The ones that are there are the ones we have to play with at this."

POPEK TO MISS OPENER: OL Mark Popek, who started five games as a freshman, is improving from a sprained right knee, but offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler said he won't factor into plans for the home opener.

"I'm not even thinking about him," Shankweiler said.

On the depth chart, freshman Quinterrius Eatmon is behind starter Jake Sims at right tackle.

INJURY UPDATE: Starting LB Sabbath Joseph returned to practice after suffering a concussion last week. "He was fine. You are always careful with a concussion because they can be so dangerous," Holtz said. "It's been great for DeDe Lattimore, a freshman who gets all that work." ... Holtz said sophomore WR Sterling Griffin is on schedule to return in early October from a dislocated ankle and fractured leg, and that senior WR A.J. Love is shooting for a mid-October return from a knee injury suffered in the spring game. ... FS Jon Lejiste, projected to start, continues to practice with a cast on his broken right ring finger. "It doesn't bother me at all," Lejiste said after Wednesday's practice. ... Freshman OL Jake Kaufman was wearing a protective boot on his injured right ankle and did not practice.

BULL BITS: Holtz said the coaching staff is starting to watch game film of Stony Brook, USF's opponent in the season opener Sept. 4. ... QB B.J. Daniels will assist in the coin toss ceremony at the Bucs' preseason game against Jacksonville on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.