Stampeding Through The Roster: #24 RB Bradley Battles

We're going to get caught up here or die trying. Next on the countdown is a player who can never seem to find his opportunity in the crowded USF backfield.

#24 RB Bradley Battles
Redshirt Junior, 5'9", 209 lbs.

Stats In 2010: Stuck behind Darrell Scott and Demetris Murray, and with B.J. Daniels assuming more of the rushing load, Battles didn't get many touches last year as a redshirt sophomore. He played in four games, only getting three carries for five yards against Florida A&M. He also played special teams and made a tackle against West Virginia.

Current Position On Depth Chart: Battles is not listed on the two-deep at running back, even though that two-deep includes four players.

How He Got To USF: Battles played at Marianna High School in Marianna, which is about 60 miles northeast of Panama City in the eastern tip of the Florida Panhandle. He was all over the field for the Bulldogs, scoring 40 touchdowns as a running back his last two years while also playing safety (124 total tackles, four interceptions) and returning kicks. Battles had offers from Wisconsin, Missisippi, Kentucky, Maryland, and others, but he chose USF in June 2008.

Recruiting Rankings: Battles was listed as an athlete by RIvals and given four stars. He was 16th overall as an athlete, 36th overall in Florida, and #192 in the Rivals250 for the class of 2009. Scout considered Bradley to be a running back, giving him three stars and ranking him 64th at his position.

Projected Playing Time For 2012: Just when it seemed like Skip Holtz was ready to see what Battles had to offer in the USF backfield, he hurt his ankle in the first scrimmage of the fall. Murray is still around, Marcus Shaw is back, and even Willie Davis is creeping up the depth chart. Last year I wrote that 2011 may have been a now-or-never season for Battles, and it's looking like it may never happen for Battles at running back, which is unfortunate. But we should still see him occasionally on special teams.