Willie Taggart is doing more than just keeping the best local talent in town to play for him at USF.

The Bulls head coach is getting former Tampa Bay area stars to return home, too.

Two of the key players on the 2015 Bulls team will be Jamie Byrd and Rodney Adams- a pair that transferred from out of state colleges to USF last season.

Byrd and Adams were solid contributors last season, and both are expected to play even bigger roles in 2015.

"I'm ready to step up and be that big-time player in our offense," Adams said.  "Step up to what (departed leading receiver Andre Davis's) expectation was.  Whenever we need in that situation- I'm right here- just give me the ball."

"It's more guys that want to work for each other- not just for themselves." Byrd said.  "Everybody's out here fighting for a job.  But we're also respecting each other as teammates."

The Pasco High grad Byrd returns for his senior year after earning team defensive MVP honors as a junior.

Byrd spent two years at TCU, including a redshirt year, before transferring to junior college powerhouse Iowa Western.

The safety chose to transfer to USF due to his relationship with Taggart and relished the chance to play closer to home.

He made 12 starts as a junior, ranking second on the team with 95 tackles, and making two interceptions.

"What we're doing defensively (using 5 defensive backs in the base defense) is really going to play in big-time favor of Byrd and allow him to make a lot more plays than he did last year for us," Taggart said.

Adams was highly recruited out of St. Pete's Lakewood High School and chose to sign with Toledo.

After transferring to USF, Adams made 23 receptions as a sophomore, ranking second on the team with 323 receiving yards while scoring two touchdowns.

With Davis gone, Adams will likely be the go-to receiver in the Bulls offense this year.

"He's one of those guys who can make a guy miss and go the distance," Taggart said.  "And we need a lot more of those plays."

"So I'm really excited about Rodney.  His role's expanding."

Taggart has made a point to get as much Florida talent as he can on his roster.

Seventy-one of USF's 84 players come from the Sunshine State, and nearly half of those 71 played high school football in the Tampa Bay market.

 "From Day 1 we said that's something we wanted to do is try to keep our kids here- our local kids here- and build our team around that," Taggart said.  "And we've been doing it.  And those guys are playing and only getting better."

"And the more those guys play and make plays and we get better, I think the more guys will stay here as well."