The 2025 football season hasn’t started yet, but USF is already building a strong recruiting class for 2026.
On3 Sports, which tracks recruiting nationwide, reported that the Bulls have 11 hard commitments for 2026. It rated USF’s class as the top in the American Athletic Conference so far, and 60th nationwide.
Eight of the 11 players are from Florida, and three are from the Tampa Bay area. That list includes quarterback Rhys Brush of the powerhouse Seffner Armwood program.
Softball team continues hot streak
USF improved to 36-12-1 overall and 12-5-1 in the AAC with a weekend sweep of conference rival Memphis.
That ran USF’s winning streak to six games.
On Saturday, pitcher Belle Sardja dominated the Tigers, allowing just one hit as the Bulls cruised to an 8-0 mercy-rule win.
USF is at Florida on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Gators, 39-10 overall, are No. 2 in the NCAA RPI rankings.
The Bulls are 41st in RPI.
Florida mercy-ruled USF 8-0 on February 9 in Tampa.
After the Florida game, USF heads to North Texas for a crucial three-game series starting Friday. The Mean Green sit in third place in the AAC, a half-game behind the Bulls.
Basebulls fall short of the sweep against Charlotte
After winning the first two games of the weekend series against AAC rival Charlotte, the Bulls dropped a 5-3 decision in the finale.
USF is 22-15 overall under first-year coach Mitch Hannahs and 10-5 in the AAC. The Bulls are in second place in the conference, two games behind UTSA.
The Bulls have a non-conference game Wednesday at Bethune-Cookman before heading to Wichita State for a three-game weekend series and Stetson for a single game on April 29.
They’ll return home on May 2 for a key three-game series against UTSA.
Lacrosse drops a game against powerful James Madison
James Madison, ranked No. 11 nationally in the NCAA RPI ratings, broke in front early against USF before fighting off a rally by the Bulls and eventually closing with a 20-6 win.
It’s the first time this season that the Bulls failed to score in double figures.
USF fell behind 6-1 after one period but pulled within 7-6 with 4:24 left in the second quarter.
James Madison dominated from there, however, outscoring USF 13-0 the rest of the way.
The Bulls remain in third place in the AAC standings and have already clinched spot in the postseason conference tournament.
USF returns home against Stetson on Saturday, April 23, in the final home game of the Bulls’ inaugural season.
Game time is 6 p.m.
Women’s basketball signs another international recruit
USF coach Jose Fernandez is well-known for signing players from outside North America, and he did it again with 5-10 guard Jelena Bulajic from Herceg Novi, Montenegro.
She has competed in six FIBA events with the Montenegro Junior National Team.
"Jelena brings experience at the guard position, having played with the Montenegro senior national team. She's a 3-point shooter who can stretch the floor,” Fernandez said. “She also has a good feel for the game and will fit well in our system."
Also, former Bull Romi Levy will play next season for Virginia after signing with the Cavaliers through the transfer portal.
In 2023-24, Levy was named the AAC Newcomer of the Year.
And, Sammie Puisis, USF’s leading scorer this season, has a training camp contract with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA.