USF backfield is almost empty

With the recent departure of Jamar Taylor followed by previous loss of Mike Ford the USF running back situation has gone from one of the best in the Big East to the worse.

Several football websites, including ESPN, now rate the Bulls have having the worse stable of running backs in the Big East Conference.

When Ford and Taylor came to USF four years ago they were two of the most highly touted running backs in the country. Ford was a record setting running back from Sarasota High, who received high price from Manatee head coach Joe Kinnan, who said he was the best RB he had ever seen in high school.

Taylor played on some of the great Lakeland High teams that were nationally ranked and went to Alabama before transferring to USF. Unfortunately, neither lived up to expectations at USF due in part to injuries and other circumstances.

The only experienced returning running back for USF is sixth year senior Mo Plancher. He will go into the season as number one, but might get some competition from junior college transfer Mike Hayes and perhaps incoming freshman Marcus Shaw from DeSoto County High and Tiger Powell from Lake City Columbia. There is also Demetris Murray, who had 14 carries last season, but is second on the depth chart behind Plancher.