We continue our countdown from #99 to #1 as we prepare for the start of the 2011 season, leading up to Notre Dame. On days like today, when no one on the 2011 Bulls wears a number, we'll make our choice for the best USF player to ever wear that number.
Before we get to the best #58, let's give a couple of other #58s some recognition. First off is LB Ronnie McCullough, a Hillsborough High product who had two strong seasons as a backup for the Bulls in 2004 and 2005 before he transferred to Bethune-Cookman. McCullough had 55 tackles and two sacks in his two seasons in Tampa. Next is former long snapper Darrel Dudding, who walked on the team in 2006 and played two seasons with the Bulls after serving with the Coast Guard.
But the greatest #58 In USF history is without a doubt defensive end David Bedford.
Bedford came to USF after spending two seasons at Independence Community College, where he was named the 10th best JUCO prospect in the nation.
Bedford recorded four tackles and half a sack in 2008 as a reserve behind Jarriett Buie and George Selvie. David moved up the depth chart in 2009 and was the third defensive end behind Jason Pierre-Paul and Selvie. Bedford started three games in '09 and finished the year with 10 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and one sack.
Bedford moved to a starting position for 2010, and was the most consistent end for the Bulls last year. David started all 13 games last season and finished with 38 tackles, 4 for a loss, a sack, and an interception against Stony Brook in the season opener. The biggest play in David's USF career happened in the overtime win against Miami, when he forced a fumble against Damien Berry at the goal line that rolled out of the endzone for a touchback and kept the Hurricanes from scoring the first points of the game. The Bulls got the ball at the 20 and drove all the way to the Miami 5 before kicking a field goal to end the half with a 3-0 lead.
We thank David for his contributions at USF, and wish him well in whatever he will do in the future.