As USF coach Skip Holtz sorts out his plans to play certain freshman this season, two names stand out.

Expect freshman quarterback Bobby Eveld and freshman receiver Steven Bravo-Brown, both walk-ons, to play a significant role this year, Holtz said at Tuesday’s press conference.

Eveld, a former Jesuit star, will back up redshirt sophomore B.J. Daniels at quarterback, Holtz said, while Bravo-Brown is pushing for time at wide receiver.

“Both will play … They will both definitely play,” Holtz said Tuesday. “If given an opportunity, I’d love to give (Eveld) some game experience because it’s going to be a long year, and I don’t want to wait for something to happen to B.J. (Daniels) to get him ready.”

“They will be two of those guys who we will be talking about that will be going from walk-on to scholarship player one day,” he said.

The Bulls are stretched so thin at wide receiver that Bravo-Brown, 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, has competed against sophomore T.J. Knowles for a second-team spot. Wide receivers coach Phil McGeoghan said he’s picking up the offense like an upperclassmen.

“He’s doing all the right things,” McGeoghan said. “Young guys usually get flustered when they start to go live and do different things when people are flying around. I’ve seen him make a great adjustment to the college game from being a true freshman walk-on.

“He’s got great work ethic, great skill set. He does what you tell him to do.”

On the Bubble

OL Quinterrious Eatmon, WR Deonte Welch, QB Jamius Gunsby and CB Terrence Mitchell are names Holtz said he’s on the fence with regarding a redshirt.

“I don’t want to play them early and then all of a sudden have it to where, ‘Well, I’m not 100 percent sure they’re ready’ and then pull them back off and see a guy waste a year because he played 20 plays,” Holtz said.

Other than Bravo-Brown and Eveld, running back Marcus Shaw and safety Mark Joyce are the other two freshmen likely to play this year, Holtz said.

Look for the run

Against Stony Brook, the Bulls will have to defend against the rushing attack, Holtz said.

Stony Brook averaged 164 rushing yards per game in 2009, and returned junior Edwin Gowins, who averaged 6.1 yards per carry last season.

“(The offensive line) comes off the ball, they hit you in the mouth and run the ball. That’s what they do,” Holtz said.

Etc.

Senior center Sampson Genus, senior cornerback Mistral Raymond and senior linebacker Jacquian Williams were named captains for the season opener … Holtz said he’s looking to put one more player on scholarship before the season starts, and mentioned Eveld, Bravo-Brown and senior kicker Eric Schwartz as possible candidates … Holtz said that it isn’t settled, but he’s leaning toward Schwartz handling field goal duties and sophomore Maikon Bonani handling kickoffs … The Bulls will practice today and take Thursday and Friday off.