The USF football team, which returns 93 percent of its offense and seven of its top nine tacklers from 2015’s bowl team, was picked to win the American Athletic Conference East Division by Athlon Sports in its 2016 College Football Preview magazine, which hit shelves this week.

The Bulls, who won seven of their last nine games in 2015 to finish 8-5, were picked to meet predicted West Division winner Houston (13-1 in 2015) in the second American Conference Championship Game. Houston was ranked No. 16 in Athlon’s preseason top 25 team rankings.

Athlon noted USF’s “exciting options at the skill positions” as it surmised, “USF could very well become one of the nation’s most dangerous teams.” The Bulls, which return program record-setting players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, led all American Conference teams with 10 players selected to Athlon’s preseason all-conference first and second teams. Houston was the next closest program with eight selections.

Back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack (Sarasota) was selected to the preseason all-conference first team and called “South Florida’s best player and a legitimate All-America candidate” by Athlon. He was joined on the preseason first team by senior tackle Kofi Amichia (Powder Springs, Ga.), who started all 13 games at left tackle in 2015, junior linebacker Auggie Sanchez (St. Petersburg), who led the Bulls and finished fourth in the conference with 117 tackles in 2015, and junior safety Tajee Fullwood (Tampa), who was named as a punt returner after finishing second in the conference in 2015 averaging 10.4 yards per return.

Record setting, junior quarterback Quinton Flowers (Miami) was noted as “the biggest impetus for (USF’s) turnaround,” in 2015 and selected to the preseason second team. He was joined by senior Rodney Adams (St. Petersburg), named a second-team pick at both wide receiver and kick returner, senior guard Dominique Threatt (Atlanta, Ga.), senior safety Nate Godwin (Tampa), junior defensive tackle Deadrin Senat (Immokalee) and junior cornerback Deatrick Nichols (Miami) as second-team selections.

USF’s running back unit, which includes Mack, senior Darius Tice (Miami) and junior D’Ernest Johnson (Immokalee), was selected the best in The American, while USF’s quarterbacks, linebackers and defensive backs were selected as the second-best units in the league.

USF will play seven home games in Raymond James Stadium in 2016, including a clash with Athlon’s preseason No. 2 Florida State among four 2015 bowl teams and a showdown with rival UCF. Fans can reserve seats in the 100 and 200 levels for Bulls’ games by purchasing season tickets or three-game flex plans, which include the ability to select any three home games. Season tickets and flex plans can be purchased at USFBullstix.com or by calling 1-800-GoBulls.

USF’s 2016 season ticket plans range from $150-$755 for a seven-game plan, while three-game flex plans range from $120-$168. USF alumni, faculty, and staff receive a 20 percent discount.

Coming off the program’s first bowl appearance in five years, USF returns school season record holders at quarterback, running back and wide receiver and four all-conference selections. The Bulls return 98 percent of rushing, 93 percent of passing and 86 percent of receiving yardage from a record smashing offense that posted school-records of 5,741 yards and 54 offensive touchdowns in 2015.

While the Bulls averaged 33.6 points and 441 yards of offense per game, the defense ranked in the Top 25 in the nation in interceptions (14th), turnovers gained (24th), and tackles for loss (13th), and in the top 35 of seven statistical categories. The Bulls return five of their top six tacklers (seven of the top 10) and players that accounted for 12 of their 17 interceptions and 16 of 25 turnovers gained.

Article provided and written by USF Ahtletics.