The Bulls will look to replace the production of their top three rushers, their all-time leading passer and their top receiver from last season. USF has three returning starters on the offensive line, including offensive tackle Marcus Norman, who earned second team all-conference honors in 2017. Norman has started 22 games in the last two seasons. Wide receiver Tyre McCants had a team-high seven touchdown receptions and led the Bulls with 19.8 yards per catch in 2017. McCants leads a unit that has three of its top four receptions leaders back for 2018.

The Bulls lose a number of impact players on defense, including defensive tackle Deadrin Senat, who was a third-round pick in the NFL Draft, linebacker Auggie Sanchez, who is the school’s career tackles leader, and cornerback Deatrick Nichols, a two-time all-conference selection. Linebacker Nico Sawtelle had 54 tackles last season, the most among returning players. Linebacker Greg Reaves had a team-high 14.0 tackles for loss in 2017. Cornerback Mazzi Wilkins was second on the Bulls with 12 passes defended and three interceptions last season. Wilkins joins defensive back Ronnie Hoggins and S Jaymon Thomas to lead a talented and experienced secondary.

Charlie Strong, who is in his second season with the Bulls, has gone 22-3 in two years as an American Athletic Conference head coach. Strong was 12-1 with Louisville in 2013 and went 10-2 with USF last year. USF went 11-2 in 2016 and 10-2 last year for its only two seasons with double-digit wins in program history. The Bulls have gone 16-3 at home in the last three seasons. USF finished the 2017 season ranked No. 21 in the final national polls.