At the halfway point of spring football practice, USF coach Alex Golesh is positive about an important aspect of his team. You could say that after two full seasons and preparations for a third, the Bulls “get it.”
“It's been a really energetic first seven days. And I use the term energy like really intentional, positive guys practicing at a high clip. I think the biggest thing is for the first time, I feel like in our program, the standard at which we work, the standard at which our process goes in and out every single day, is starting to get upheld by the players," Golesh said.
"They're holding each other accountable. They're truly making each other better, dealing with less off-the-field things, and being able to focus on just us getting better.”
Golesh repeatedly talks about “the standard” his team must uphold to succeed. In this case, it means how the Bulls prepare, what work habits a player uses, how they support their teammates, and what they do away from the practice field.
“I'm really, really encouraged by the way these guys have come together. By the way this team has come together, the freshmen, the transfers coming in, and the standard already being set by the guys that are here. It's pretty cool to watch as you kind of observe the way these guys are working.”
Golesh has held ten players out of spring practice as they recover from various surgeries and injuries. What that has done, however, is to give those in this year’s recruiting class an opportunity to show what they can do.
He singled out several of them, starting with freshmen receivers Kory Pettigrew and Jeremiah Koger.
“Those two kids are physically and mentally mature beyond their years. It's been really, really cool just messing with Koger out there during warm-ups,” Golesh said.
“Khalil Collins on the O-line, you could tell he came from a program that he was coached up. He came in mentally and physically ready.”
Freshman quarterback Locklan Hewlett also has been impressive.
“Lock is better than I thought, in terms of one football knowledge and of football awareness, but he's like (offensive coordinator) Coach (Joel) Gordon said it the other day, trying to describe him. He's a little baller, like he's pushing and pushing and pushing. He's gotten better every single day. It's been really, really fun to watch him.”
The Bulls will stage a scrimmage on Friday strictly for students and select donors to show appreciation for their support. It is not open to the general public.
“The message to the students would be come out and have a fun night. We’ll have a DJ. We have food trucks. We'll have all sorts of stuff going on for the students. We'll have a bunch of donors on Friday night with an event for them. The goal is, under the lights, let's go have a blast and get after it,” Golesh said.
“I'm really encouraged. I'm, like, hyped up to get to practice every day because it's been a fun, exciting journey.”