USF football recruiting hits the gas and goes all out to win against the big boys

Not long after Will Muschamp was named the head football coach at the University of Florida in 2011, I joined a few other writers for a sit-down with the new arrival.

When asked about his perspective on recruiting, Muschamp's response was a revelation. He painted a picture of recruiting as a complex, intricate process, a veritable cottage industry that piques the interest of fans and media alike. His unique take on the subject was a refreshing departure from the norm.

He went on a jag about NFL teams often miss on No. 1 picks despite having a treasure trove of information gathered from extensive sources, including scouting combines and so on. Yet, he complained, a college coach can be vilified because he signed a player that some scouting service only rated two stars.

He has a point.

That’s a roundabout way of saying I’m skeptical in a get-off-my-lawn way about the obsession of whether an offensive tackle is judged the 35th best at his position or No. 50. I prefer to see them play before making too many judgments.

Yet, one cannot deny the undeniable. Since assuming the role of USF’s head football coach, Alex Golesh has been a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail. His relentless efforts have borne fruit, with his 2024 class being hailed as the best in the Group of Five. This is a testament to his promising recruiting and coaching strategies.

Golesh went all out this weekend as several prized recruits made their official visits to USF. Borrowing an idea notably used at the University of Texas, Mike Singer of On 3 reported that Golesh had multiple high-powered sports cars on the floor of Raymond James Stadium. Recruits could get their photos taken inside a sweet ride, along with the subliminal message that USF is racing to win.

While I may pay scant attention to three-star this and four-star that, I will admit that Golesh seems to have a built-in radar for talent. He also has the swagger to go after recruits even when logic suggests they will wind up in the SEC or Big Ten.

It is also interesting how he is building the team. There are five quarterbacks on the roster—four sophomores and one freshman. One of those sophomores is incumbent Byrum Brown, who, as a freshman, set 12 program records.

I mean, barring injuries or Joe Burrow showing up on campus with an extra year of eligibility, Brown will be the starter, and the other guys can take a seat for the next three seasons. At least, that’s how it used to be in college football.

Now, the transfer portal has changed everything.

Frankly, some USF backers were surprised when Brown came back for this season. He seems to be the kind of guy who will want to finish what he started at USF, but the lure of NIL money from other schools will always be something to watch.

College football and basketball now really is a year-to-year thing.

Ergo: If Brown one day leaves, the time to have an insurance policy at USF’s most important position is now rather than waiting too long and having to scramble.

By the way, when Brown graduated from high school in Rolesville, N.C., outside of Raleigh, none of the schools there seriously recruited him, and the ranked him 73nd in the 2022 quarterback class.

Just sayin’.