STORYLINES
USF won its first two American Athletic Conference games in 2013, but the Bulls enter the 2014 season looking to end a six-game slide.

Since 2007, USF has registered nonconference wins against Auburn, UCF, Clemson, Florida State, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, Northern Illinois and Notre Dame, among others.

The Bulls play five of their first six games at home in 2014.

OFFENSE
The Bulls return 10 offensive starters from last year.

Despite a year in which USF had four players make at least one start at quarterback, WR Andre Davis had a school-record 735 receiving yards last season. Davis ranks third on USF’s all-time chart (1,542 yards).

QB Mike White started the last five games of the 2013 season and emerged as the Bulls’ most reliable signal-caller as a freshman.

USF returns its entire starting offensive line from last season, which will be supported by a pair of solid tight ends. TE Mike McFarland earned second-team all-conference honors last season, while TE Sean Price was named to the 2014 Mackey Award preseason watch list.

DEFENSE
The Bulls return only four regular starters from last year’s defense.

The top returner is LB Reshard Cliett, who was second on the team in tackles (56) last year. Cliett added seven tackles for loss and three pass breakups.



The Bulls, who had just two defensive interceptions in 2012, registered 11 picks in 2013. S Hassan Childs led the squad with three interceptions.

The USF defense held a Michigan State squad that would go on to finish No. 3 in the nation to just 265 yards in last year’s matchup.

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Marvin Kloss, a finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2013, made 11 field goals of at least 40 or more yards — the most of any FBS player.

Kloss had a streak of 13 consecutive made field goals in 2013. Four of his five missed field goals from last year were from 49 yards or longer.

P Mattias Ciabatti returns as the regular punter after he averaged 40.2 yards per punt last season.

WR Chris Dunkley averaged 22.6 yards on kickoff returns.