Meet a player who got a lot of work in 2013:
#49 P Mattias Ciabatti
Redshirt Junior, 6'0", 188 lbs.
Stats in 2013: Punted 73 times, for an average of 40.2 yards per punt. His 68-yard bomb against Cincinnati led to a defensive touchdown, and he had a very good game in a field position-heavy win over UConn. Ciabatti also holds for place kicks, so he deserves some credit for Marvin Kloss' outstanding 2013 season.
Spot on 2013 Depth Chart: Starting punter.
How did he come to USF: From Hillsborough High School. As is often the case with kickers and punters, he was originally a walk-on, and later earned a scholarship. Had an offer from Colgate out of high school. Bonus points to anyone who can remember a reason USF football fans once had to hate Colgate.
Recruiting Ratings: Did not garner any ratings from any of the major services.
Projected Playing Time In 2014: The starting job is Ciabatti's to lose. Special teams coordinator Stu Holt praised Ciabatti's technique, and his improvement during last season. Redshirt freshman Emilio Nadelman was impressive during the spring, and punted in high school, so the Bulls have options.
Fun Fact: Ciabatti's two-yard punt against Miami was so bad that it became a popular internet GIF. CBS Sports called it "a perfect summation of the Bulls' season so far." We're trying to put last year's mess of a season behind us, so you'll have to click here if you want to see it.