Bryson Rodgers delivers eye-popping moment at USF football practice

Part way through the fourth practice of the spring, USF offensive coordinator Tim Beck had his eyebrows raised when he saw what receiver Bryson Rodgers did.

"It was interesting today. It was funny, like, (the defense) had, they had outside leverege, and we had an out route to them,. The quarterback bypassed it. which most quarterbacks would because it's outside leverage and with an out route, (the defender) has leverage on him," Beck said.

"Bryson shook him so bad he got open. So it's kind of like, hey, now, you gotta watch it. That's Bryson. wiggle that guy, even on leverage, because in the quarterback's mind, you got 3.2 seconds to get rid of the ball. 
He's got to eliminate some factors before they snap as fast as he can."

Yes, it was only spring practice -- just the fourth one at that. But perhaps that's a glimpse of what USF fans can expect this from the hometown guy who followed head coach Brian Hartline to Tampa.

Rodgers was a 4-star receiver at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel just north of Tampa. He had his choice between up to 49 Division I offers -- Alabama, Florida, LSU., the biggies -- before settling on Ohio State. His playing was limited by injuries that left him stuck behind the thoroughbreds that populate the Buckeye receiver room.

His time in Columbus wasn't wasted, though, because as Beck said, "He understands what he takes to win."

He learned that from Hartline, whose prowess turning good receivers into elite ones is renowned.

"So, you know, he's special, bro. a special guy, but he's also a special mind. Any chance I get, I try to take to pick his mind on a ball, on life, and just how he operates day in and day out, because it's the same Coach Hartline over there," Rodgers said. "He brings the same, he brings the same intensity, same intentionality every day, day in the day out. He's not just doing it for himself. he does it for everybody.

"He was in the league (NFL). 
You know, we hard to play. He was with the Dolphins, he was with the Browns, he could play it. You can go look it up. He played ball. 
I love learning from the guys that play ball, that have done what I'm trying to do, because it gives me a real visual of what you really expect."

Rodgers called the chance to come back and play before family and friends "a wonderful opportunity" that he appreciates deeply. Even with that, his connection with Hartline helps explain why USF's new head coach is so successful.

"He turned me from a boy to a man. He's changed my mind so as a man in my everyday life, how I treat people, how I talk to people, how I present myself to you. 
He really just took me from a kid from high school that had a lot of talent to a pro, that's looking to have others and be a leader. So I thank Coach Hart daily, as much as I possibly can, because he's changed my whole mindset."

Even though he lived about 10 miles from USF's campus while in high school, he didn't give much thought -- if any -- to playing for the Bulls. That's understandable. The Bulls were in some of their darkest periods in program history back then, so given the offers he had, why would USF have been in the conversation?

Asked about his impressions of USF football then, he kind of chuckled.

"Not the same as now. I can't lie. I know I'm an honest guy," he said. "I mean, there wasn't too much of a focus on USF, but just like how I said, how Coach Hartline came here and developed that culture and Coach A.T. (strength and conditioining coach Antonio Turner) and how we embodied that culture has made us on a different pedestal than a lot of schools,"

"And I've seen the big schools. 
I've seen the Clemsons. I seen it all, and it's all about the culture, They're embodying that to the fullest (at USF), and they're gonna elevate this program so well enough. That means that a lot of people that were fans of would not have imagined."