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I don't think we've ever seen a weekend like this one when it comes to USF football recruiting.
Beginning with Jontrey Hunter on Thursday and carrying all the way to Sunday night, USF has doubled their 2018 recruiting class in a span of four days. The Bulls added 12 new verbal commits to bring their total to 25.
Since our last post yesterday, the Bulls picked up additional verbal commitments from Pensacola West Florida Tech safety Keyon Helton, Daytona Beach Mainland guard Adonis Boone, Pensacola Catholic tackle Ethan Watson, Lakeland Jenkins defensive end Jordan Domineck, and Jacksonville Robert E. Lee defensive backs Vincent Davis Jr. and Eugene Bowman IV.
Safety Keyon Helton
6'1", 195 pounds
West Florida Tech, Pensacola, FL
Recruiting Ratings: Listed as a 2-star by Rivals.
Other Notable Offers: Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Tulane, Western Kentucky
Thank GOD I've found my next HOME!! At This Point I Will Be Closing My Recruitment..I am 100% committed to USF #GoBulls pic.twitter.com/eSOgAkMqqW
— KHELTON6 (@k__helton) July 30, 2017
So just about an hour after we submitted our post on yesterday's recruiting explosion, Keyon here snuck in after the buzzer to make himself the fifth USF verbal commit on Saturday.
As you can see, the hard-hitting safety out Pensacola chose USF over the likes of fellow AAC schools Tulane and Cincinnati, as well as Power Five schools Purdue and Syracuse.
His twin brother Keyshawn also holds a few FBS offers from Eastern Michigan and Kent State.
OG Adonis Boone
6'5", 285 pounds
Mainland High School, Daytona Beach, FL
Recruiting Ratings: Listed as a 3-star by 247 and Rivals. 0.8444 Composite score by 247.
Other Notable Offers: Louisville, Mississippi State, Indiana, Rutgers, UCF, Cincinnati, Tulane, UConn
Now let's get this ring.. #Stampede18 pic.twitter.com/JyiBq2X8e7
— Adonis Boone (@Ajb1_) July 30, 2017
First things first, ADONIS BOONE is a hell of a name and continues the tradition of awesomely named offensive lineman at USF.
The big three-star guard from Daytona Beach was considered one the primary targets for this upcoming recruiting class, drawing interest from a variety of Power Five and AAC programs.
Last season, Boone helped clear that paths for a highly potent Mainland offense that averaged 45.1 points per game.
LT Ethan Watson
6'5", 300 pounds
Pensacola Catholic High School, Pensacola, FL
Recruiting Ratings: Listed as a 3-star by 247, 2-star by Rivals. 0.8367 Composite Score by 247.
Other Notable Offers: Cincinnati, Tulane, UCF, Troy
I am 110% committed to the Univeristy of South Florida #GoBulls #Stampede18 pic.twitter.com/fXciMolyDs
— Ethan Watson (@ethanwatson72) July 30, 2017
The three-star tackle became the second Pensacola product of the afternoon to announce his move from the 850 to the 813.
Along with Boone, Bartram Trail guard Brad Cecil, and Chaminade-Madonna guard Sebastian Sainterling, USF has a nice array of lineman going for the Class of '18. And with three-star Seminole target Kenneth Horsey leaning towards USF, they may round it out to a full line.
DE Jordan Domineck
6'3", 210 pounds
George W. Jenkins High School, Lakeland, FL
Recruiting Ratings: Listed as a 3-star and Rivals. 0.8333 Composite score by 247.
Other Notable Offers: Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Iowa State, UCF, Tulane
Next up for Sunday's verbal commits was Lakeland Jenkins defensive end Jordan Domineck, who must've seen all of the commotion this weekend and decided to announce his decision to join #Stampede18.
Change of plans,, commitment tonight @8!! y'all be ready @H2Athletes @jenksbb @GJHS_Football #flukeyfam pic.twitter.com/dc1nwrTFn5
— Jordan Domineck (@jdomineck16) July 30, 2017
Long time coming,, ready to #jointhestampede guess I can't get away from my green and gold colors huh?? @Trey_Laing @Ajb1_ pic.twitter.com/TUC55x7lYU
— Jordan Domineck (@jdomineck16) July 31, 2017
Domineck joins Rashawn Yates and unofficial recruiting coordinator Trey Laing in the group of three-star defensive ends to join the class.
Safety Vincent Davis Jr.
5'11, 170 pounds
Robert E. Lee High School, Jacksonville, FL
Recruiting Ratings: Not yet rated by the major services.
Other Notable Offers: Memphis, UConn, Tulane, Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky
I AM A BULL #stampede18 pic.twitter.com/LY8QiYleWZ
— VINCE⚜️™ (@_vincedavis16) July 31, 2017
The USF staff pulls another kid out of Jacksonville, as Robert E. Lee safety Vincent Davis Jr. offered his verbal commitment.
Davis had himself a solid junior campaign last season, racking up 51 tackles (4 TFLs), five interceptions, three pass break-ups, and a sack for the Generals in 2016.
But wait, there's more from the Robert E. Lee secondary...
CB Eugene Bowman IV
6'0", 169 pounds
Robert E. Lee High School, Jacksonville, FL
Recruiting Ratings: Listed as a 3-star by 247, 2-star by Rivals. 0.8117 Composite score by 247.
Other Notable Offers: Purdue, Cincinnati, UConn, Tulane, East Carolina
— Eugene Bowman IV (@EugeneBowman2) July 31, 2017
Joining his teammate Davis is corner Eugene Bowman IV, who chose USF over the likes of AAC East rivals Cincy, Uconn, and ECU.
According to MaxPreps, Bowman rounded up 25 tackles (2 TFLs) and two interceptions in 2016. (Take it from someone who covers high school sports for a living, MaxPreps isn't always 100% spot on with stats, so there may be more tackles and INTs not accounted for.)
Should he and Davis stay on board to sign this winter, they'll join former teammates and 2017 signees Demetris Harris and Keirston Johnson, further solidifying the Robert E. Lee to Tampa pipeline.
Having this many kids on board this early, there's obvious concerns over whether or not there will be any room for later additions. But this is the volatile enterprise that is college football recruiting, where kids change their minds, spots open up, and new recruits fill their space. Plus with this past year’s smaller class, some of this year’s class may enroll early so their schollies count toward last year’s total. There are still ways to get big names in at the last minute if necessary.
WHO IS CHARLIE STRONG'S BAG MAN?!?!? He's earned his money
— Nathan Bond (@BullsNathanSBN) July 31, 2017