Getting the start

Saturday’s game against Connecticut marked the first career start for freshmen receivers Bruce Gipson and Travis Lipp. The Bulls’ offense started the game with five receivers and no running backs for the first snap of the game.

Lipp had one catch going into the game but was the game’s leading receiver with five catches for 59 yards and one touchdown.

Happy birthday

Freshman defensive back Javon Camon contributed five unassisted tackles to the Bulls’ defensive showing against UConn. The freshman also contributed two more assisted tackles Saturday, which was his 20th birthday.

Leader on the line

Junior defensive end Chris Daley showed leadership on the defense in the absence of Mitchell by tallying up three sacks for the loss of 18 yards. Daley has 7.5 sacks on the season and needs just one more to break the school single-season record of eight, set in 1997. Junior defensive lineman Greg Walls and sophomore linebacker Maurice Jones also contributed one sack each in Saturday’s win.

A not-so-positive first

A missed snap led to junior quarterback Marquel Blackwell batting the ball out of the back of USF’s end zone in the first quarter, resulting in a safety. This was the Bulls’ first illegal batting penalty in their five-year history.

Building blocks

Defensive back J.R. Reed blocked a punt at the 17-yard line in the first quarter. The ball was then returned by Robinson for the Bulls’ first touchdown. This was Reed’s second blocked punt on the season.

  • Jarrett Guthrie