USF Football Tuesday Press Conference Tweetcap

Members of the USF football team addressed the media on Tuesday, three days after defeating San Jose State 42-22 to open their 2017 campaign.

Senior wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling represented the offense. Senior nickel back Deatrick Nichols represented the defense.

MVS on the early struggles offensively:

You could see early in the first quarter that quarterback Quinton Flowers and running back D’Ernest Johnson were trying to hit 60-yard runs on every play instead of taking what the SJSU defense gave them. Once they settled in, the offense took off and scored 42 unanswered points, including 28 in the second quarter, which tied a program record.

MVS on WR Tyre McCants’ block on Johnson’s TD run:

McCants is by far the best blocking wide receiver in school history. Don’t debate me on this. He told TDS last season that one of his most memorable blocks was the block that sprung former running back Marlon Mack for a touchdown at Cincinnati, a run that broke the school career rushing record.

Fast forward to about the seven-minute mark.

Then there was Saturday:

Nichols on moving inside to nickel back:

We saw a lot of Nichols in the nickel position in fall camp and I came away really impressed at how well he took to the change. He’s aggressive and doesn’t shy away from being physical while still maintaining his great coverage skills. He will be an asset coming off the edge this year.

Nichols on his replacement at cornerback:

The person who facilitated Nichols’ move inside maybe more than himself is Mazzi Wilkins. Without his stellar play during the spring and fall camp, the new coaching staff probably isn’t as inclined to take their best cover corner and move him inside without a suitable replacement. Wilkins proved his worth on Saturday recording two tackles, an interception and two pass break up’s.

Strong on being Twitter Fired before second quarter:

I was the one who asked this question. I was really hoping for a Willie Taggart-style funny comeback or quip, but Strong wasn’t having any of it. He had been fired at minimum 59 times during his time in Texas before actually getting canned, and people couldn’t wait to get a loudmouth booster or the AD on the record about him every time the Longhorns lost a game. #USFTwitter is nothing to him.

Injury Update:

Thomas and Antoine were surprise additions to the injury list on Saturday and it’s a good sign that they’ll be back for Stony Brook. DT Kevin Bronson was back at practice and suited up, according to our pal Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times. WR Ryeshene Bronson hasn’t practiced since getting injured on August 10. I’d expect him to be out for at least two more weeks after Stony Brook.

Quotable:

Stony Brook, Stonehenge, Stone Mountain, Coldstone, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Don’t matter, we’re winning by forty.