Shaw could be factor in USF running game

USF head football coach Skip Holtz said his Bulls will use a running back by committee approach in the season opener Saturday night against Stony Brook and that it might continue throughout the season.

Various injuries to sixth year senior Mo Plancher has created a situation that now has true freshman Marcus Shaw listed as one of four running backs expected to see time this Saturday. Braden River and Palmetto high fans cannot forget how Shaw torched them for big yardage when he was toting the ball for DeSoto County High.

Holtz said Plancher was only involved in about 20 out of more than 300 snaps this fall practice that included full dress scrimmages and wasn’t prepared to handle a fulltime load.


Shaw, safety Mark Joyce, walk-on quarterback Bobby Eveld and receiver Stephen Bravo Brown are the four true freshmen Holtz said would see action on Saturday.


The first year coach said he doesn’t want to use true freshman unless he knows they will get a good workload throughout the season because it’s like wasting a year of eligibility.