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Today we'll meet the player who may have generated more spring buzz than anyone else.
#83 WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Redshirt Junior, 6'5", 205 lbs.
2015 Stats: None. Valdes-Scantling sat out last season after transferring from NC State. However, he did win USF's Scout Team Award.
Position on Depth Chart: Marquez is the starting X wide receiver after spring practice.
How He Came To USF: Valdes-Scantling played two years at NC State, catching a total of 44 passes for 536 yards and a touchdown, an incredible catch against Presbyterian with a defender hanging off him. Before that, he played at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, where he rolled up 1400 yards and 20 TDs on 78 catches in his last two years. He and Rodney Adams both came out of Lakewood in the recruiting class of 2013.
Recruiting Rankings: Valdes-Scantling was a three-star prospect according to 247, Rivals, and ESPN. Scout gave him two stars.
Projected Playing Time: Valdes-Scantling was a big story coming out of spring practice, and it hasn't stopped.
Taggart on Valdes-Scantling: "He will be known. People will know his name." @USFFootball
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) June 7, 2016
Marquez has the size and speed to be a matchup nightmare on the outside. The knock on him has been his hands. That was reportedly the reason why his playing time diminished at the end of his sophomore year at NC State. He'll get plenty of chances in the USF offense, and as long as he can make catches he will be a big contributor.
Follow Him On... Marquez is on Twitter at @MVS__11 and has a private Instagram at the same handle.
Fun Facts: Marquez Valdes-Scantling has the longest name in USF football history at 22 letters, breaking the record of 20 held by Marquez's current teammate Christian Coffelletto. His 15-letter last name beats Justin Brockhaus-Kann's 13-letter name. And this is beyond our research capability, but we're pretty sure that when he steps on the field for the first time, Marquez will become the first player to ever play for the Bulls and against the Bulls in a college career. When USF and NC State met in Tampa in 2014, Valdes-Scantling had three catches for 33 yards for the Wolfpack.
Here's a video NC State made for Marquez that will help you get to know him a little better.