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Preseason honors keep piling up for USF football

By Joe Henderson

Oct 21, 2023; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; South Florida Bulls running back Nay'Quan Wright (5) runs the ball for a touchdown against the UConn Huskies in the second half at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2023; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; South Florida Bulls running back Nay'Quan Wright (5) runs the ball for a touchdown against the UConn Huskies in the second half at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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USF football, already on the national radar as a program to watch, is now piling up individual accolades from multiple award watch lists.

The latest ones include spotlights on senior linebacker Jason Vaughn and senior wide receiver Sean Atkins.

Vaughn was named to the College Football Comeback Player of the Year watch list by the College Sports Communicators, Associated Press, and the Fiesta Bowl.

Atkins, meanwhile, caught the attention of the Biletnikoff Award committee, which named him to its watch list. The award, named for former FSU receiver and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Fred Biletnikoff, was created by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

It honors the top college FBS receiver.

Vaughn is attempting to return from a serious knee injury that limited him to only four games last season. He was off to a good start before the injury, having recorded ten tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, and having sacks against Florida A&M and Alabama.

Atkins, a former walk-on, emerged from obscurity to become quarterback Byrum Brown's favored receiving target last season. He set USF season records for receiving yards (1,054) and receptions (92) and became the Bulls’ first 1,000-yard receiver.

Before his breakout season, Atkins had just 29 catches and 332 yards in four seasons at USF.

USF players also were named to four other watch lists.

Brown was chosen for both the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award, while running back Nay’Quan Wright is on the Doak Walker Award list.

Guard Zane Herring is on the Outland Trophy watch list, which honors the top offensive lineman in college football.

Wright, who transferred to USF from Florida in 2023, finished last year with 797 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for more than 100 yards three times.

Herring, who transferred to USF from Florida State last year, was named to Lindy's and Athlon Sports' 2024 All-AAC first-team preseason rankings.

In 2023, Herring was named to the 2024 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.

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