‘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