(Oh for the love of Pete. Second time this week we've had to do this.)
Today's entry continues a tradition of wide receivers with delightfully USF-themed names. In its short football history, the Bulls have had a Green (S.J.) and a Taurus (Johnson); today we meet a Hornes.
#23 WR-KR Faron Hornes
Senior, 5'6" 182 lbs.
Stats In 2010: Caught 11 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown. But that one touchdown may have saved the season. With the Bulls an empty 3-3 and looking into six straight tough Big East games, USF shockingly came up with a great offensive performance at Cincinnati, a place they'd never won or even played very well. Hornes' 70-yard touchdown late in the third quarter gave USF the two-touchdown lead they'd need to win. See Hornes' big moment in frame-by-frame detail here. Also had five carries for 21 yards, one punt return for 14, and three tackles.
Current Position On Depth Chart: In the post-spring depth chart, Hornes is listed as co-second string slot receiver, with Victor Marc and behind Joel Miller.
How He Came To USF: Very slowly, as events in his life made football not his top priority. He played his senior season for Bradenton Southeast High School way back in 2005, and originally signed with Southern Mississippi out of high school, but didn't qualify academically. More importantly, his mother, Stacie Price, was diagnosed with cancer, so Hornes chose to stay home and take part-time jobs to support his younger siblings. He was to go to Butler Community College in Kansas a year later; the day before he was to leave, his mother died during surgery. After another year, he was finally set to begin his college football career at Butler CC, but ran afoul of a rule allowing only 12 out-of-state players. So he had to redshirt the 2007 season. In 2008, three years removed from high school, he finally got onto the field at Butler, where he helped the team win the junior college national championship. In 2009, he joined USF with three years of eligibility remaining.
Recruiting Rankings: Rivals and Scout each gave him two stars. In addition to Southern Miss, Faron had offers from Missouri, Akron, Western Kentucky, and Eastern Kentucky coming out of high school.
Projected Playing Time In 2011: As we've said in other previews, wide receiver is a tough position to predict playing time. Last year the wide receiver position was decimated by injuries; this year it's deep with returning players and talented bewcomers. Hornes is also a skilled kick and punt returner, but with Lindsey Lamar and Terrence Mitchell on the roster, he may see only occasional duty. But however much he plays this season, Faron Hornes is clearly a guy worth rooting for.