Bulls blitz the preseason: Fifteen USF football players charge onto All-AAC teams

Linebacker Mac Harris (24) breaks up a pass intended for San Jose State Spartans wide receiver Justin Lockhart to win the Hawaii Bowl after five overtimes. Harris is a first-team preseason AAC selection by Lindy's Sports and Athlon Sports.
Linebacker Mac Harris (24) breaks up a pass intended for San Jose State Spartans wide receiver Justin Lockhart to win the Hawaii Bowl after five overtimes. Harris is a first-team preseason AAC selection by Lindy's Sports and Athlon Sports. | Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

‘Tis the season – or, I guess you could say the preseason—for various publications and organizations to offer their choices for the top football players and teams in various conferences.

USF received a lot of love in this area. Fifteen Bulls were included on American Athletic Conference lists compiled by Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports, and Phil Steele.

Lindy’s also named quarterback Byrum Brown the “Best Scrambler” and the “Coolest in the Clutch” in The American. Wide receiver Keshaun Singleton was deemed to have the “best hands.”

Newcomer Cartevious Norton, a running back who transferred to USF from Charlotte, made Lindy’s first team and Athlon’s second team. He was on Phil Steele’s third team.

Linebacker Mac Harris made the first team on Lindy’s and Athlon’s lists. He was a second-team selection on Phil Steele. Bulls fans will remember that Harris secured the 5-overtime Hawaii Bowl win when he broke up San Jose State's last-gasp pass in the end zone.

Cornerback De’Shawn Rucker was USF’s other first-team selection as judged by Athlon and Phil Steele.

One other tidbit: CBS Sports predicted the Bulls will participate in a bowl for the third straight season, facing Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

ATHLON SPORTS PRESEASON ALL-AAC

First Team

LB Mac Harris

CB De’Shawn Rucker

Second Team

QB Byrum Brown

RB Cartevious Norton

WR Keshaun Singleton

OL Zane Herring

K Nico Gramatica

Third Team

OL Cole Best

DL Rico Watson III

LB Jhalyn Shuler

Fourth Team

OL Derek Bowman

DL Josh Celiscar

DL Dre Butler

LINDY’S SPORTS PRESEASON ALL-AAC

First Team

RB Cartevious Norton

LB Mac Harris

Second Team

WR Keshaun Singleton

OL Zane Herring

DT Josh Celiscar

LB Jhalyn Shuler

K Nico Gramatica

PHIL STEELE PRESEASON ALL-AAC

First Team

CB De’Shawn Rucker

Second Team

WR Keshaun Singleton

LB Mac Harris

S Tavin Ward

Third Team

RB Cartevious Norton

OL Thomas Shrader

Fourth Team

OL Zane Herring

DT Josh Celiscar

LB Jhalyn Shuler

K Nico Gramatica