USF has made their mark bringing in underrated and overlooked high school recruits and turned them into NFL ready players. We wanted to show you how many players were either rated as a generic 2-Star recruit or walk-on and performed much higher than their ranking.
A few disclaimers, we used the Rivals database due to them going back the farthest. Unfortunately, Rivals only goes back to 2002, so anyone who came to USF beforehand were deemed ineligible. Also, if there was a walk-on and 2-Star recruit who were close, we went with the walk-on.
So without further ado, here is our All-Diamond In The Rough Team.
QB: Bobby Eveld (2010-Current)
USF has had some luck recruiting quarterbacks since 2002. Matt Grothe (3-Star) and B.J. Daniels (4-Star) obviously aren't eligible. The only other option we had is...Pat Julmiste? Let's just give it to Bobby based on potential and move on.
RB: Ben Williams (2005-08), Moise Plancher (2005-10)
Not a bad duo. BBQ came in as an unhearlded walk-on from Lake Wales and turned into a well-rounded back who was able to beat out guys like Mike Ford and Jamar Taylor for the starting position in 2008. After a injury plagued career, Mo took over the starting job in 2009, and held onto it for the next two seasons. Plancher led the team in rushing last season with 793 yards on 176 carries.
WR: Dontavia Bogan (2007-2010), Ean Randolph (2005-06), Amarri Jackson (2005-07)
This is not a bad trio to have under the circumstances. Ean came and left in the flash of an eye, but his 2006 was one to remember. He led the team with 47 catches for 479 yards and 4 touchdowns. Bogan was a consistent player for the Bulls in his 4 years in Tampa before having a monster 2010. Jackson will most be remembered for the 2005 Louisville game, but Jackson went from being an unknown JUCO basketball player to one of the more reliable targets for Matt Grothe. You couldn't go wrong with either S.J. Green or Marcus Edwards here as well.
TE: Ben Busbee (2005-09)
While he was used as more of a blocking tight end, we will always remember Ben for his touchdown reception against Florida State in 2009.
OL: Jacob Sims (2006-10), Chaz Hine (2007-Current), Sampson Genus (2007-10), Walt Walker (2003-07), Marc Dile (2004-08)
Really, really good offensive line here. Everyone here started or will start in parts of 3 seasons. Jeremiah Warren would be a solid 6th OL that could fill in at both guard and tackle.
DL: Terrence Royal (2002-05), Allen Cray (2003-07), Aaron Harris (2006-09), George Selvie (2005-09)This is a great pair of bookends on the defense. George and Terrence are 1st and 3rd in career sacks as well as 1st and 4th in career TFL. Harris and Cray were underrated performers at tackle when they played next to guys like Terrell McClain and Richard Clebert.
LB: Ben Moffitt (2003-07), Patrick St. Louis (2003-06), Sabbath Joseph (2006-10)
Not a bad group at all. Moffitt is 2nd in USF history with 335 career tackles. His interception return for a touchdown against West Virginia in 2007 is one of the Top 3 moments in USF history. While playing next to Moffitt and Stephen Nicholas, St. Louis started at WILL and MIKE for three seasons and was considered the leader of the defense during his time here. Joseph started one season for the Bulls and served as a mentor for DeDe Lattimore and Sam Barrington last year while working in as the 4th LB. Chris Robinson fills out the rotation for us.
CB: Mistral Raymond (2008-10), Nate Allen (2006-09), Jerrell Young (2007-10), Trae Williams (2003-07)
Good luck. Good freaking luck against these four.
We all know the story of Raymond and how he went from Sweetbay to the Minnesota Vikings. Nate transitioned perfectly from QB to Safety and started 39 straight games for the Bulls before starting immediately for the Philadelphia Eagles. Jerrell has started 17 games over the last two seasons and will be a leader for the secondary this year. Trae started at corner halfway through his freshman year and never gave his spot up. His 16 interceptions are 2nd All-Time, trailing only J.R. Reed. Trae has jumped around the NFL, last playing for the Buffalo Bulls last year.
To top it off, Quenton Washington comes in as our nickelback.
K: Maikon Bonani (2008-Current)
Maikon is quickly moving up the charts to become the greatest K in USF history. Still has one of the more memorable USF debuts when he hit the game winner against Kansas in 2008. Should start the next two seasons for the Bulls.
P: Delbert Alvarado (2006-09)
While people harp on his placekicking abilities, Alvarado was a really good punter. Delbert is 3rd all time in Yard Per Punt with 40.3. For those wondering why we didn't include Brandon Baker in the discussion, he walked-on the team in 2001 and just missed the cut.