The University of South Florida took the field against Florida State University last year without several of its key defensive starters including linebacker Nigel Harris, who was suspended for violating unspecified team rules.  To add to the challenges the Bulls faced against the Seminoles staunch running attack, USF lost linebacker Auggie Sanchez late in the third quarter for a targeting penalty (the call was later reversed).  Sanchez said that now the Bull Shark defense is looking to Saturday’s showdown versus the Noles as an opportunity for redemption. 

“We were in kind of a bad situation with a lot of young guys in there.  And, it was still kind of a new defense.  It was the second game we were in the 4-2-5 defense.  We’ve had some down years.  And, we’re just trying to get back to where we were.”

Defensive Coordinator Raymond Woodie said although the defense now has another year of experience under its belt in the 4-2-5 defense, the most important thing is for the team to be ready regardless of who is on the field.

“You have to be ready for any given situation.  Those young guys didn’t know until a week before the game last year that they were going to be starters.  It’s now to our advantage, and we’re also in a situation where we have more depth now.”  

That depth includes Harris.  Harris is leading the Bulls in tackles for loss this season and said his success starts with a defensive line that he believes has corrected the mental lapses from a year ago.

“The lapses were just people being out of the gaps.  That’s all it really was.  So, this year we have to be disciplined, play our game, and see if we can get the job done.”

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