When dual-sport athlete Bryce Archie arrived at USF in the spring of 2023, he wasn’t allowed to play baseball. 

After all, Bulls football coach Alex Golesh recruited him to play quarterback from Coastal Carolina – not pitcher.  That didn’t stop Archie from wanting to be both. 

“I was always told to do it until someone tells you to stop,” Archie, 20, said during a Tuesday press conference. “And no one has told me to stop.” 

Archie’s the unsung field general in two sports. He’s one of the quarterbacks and a starting pitcher. 

Related: USF’s Bryce Archie has been waiting to prove himself. Now is the time.

This time of year can be especially hectic. He balances spring football practices – which started Monday – with weekend baseball series. 

Golesh said Brown will return as next season’s starter, likely bumping Archie back down to the second-string position. 

Archie said his morning starts at 6 a.m. for pre-rehab on his throwing arm before football practice begins. Then there’s lunch before he starts baseball practice. 

There’s time for a bit of rest before schoolwork and meetings. 

“I’d be lying if I sat here and said it was easy,” Archie said. 

Archie saw limited action in both sports in 2023. He was behind starting quarterback Byrum Brown on the depth chart. Archie only pitched in 15 innings last season. 

Last year was different. 

When Brown went down with a leg injury last season, Archie made the remaining eight starts, guiding the Bulls to their second-straight bowl victory. 

But he’s now in the starting rotation on the baseball team this spring, boasting a 2.49 ERA. 

Archie said last season’s difficulties were primarily mental. Now in the second year of his dual-sport routine, the physical strain is what’s the hardest. He’s averaging 75 pitches per game. 

“I feel like I’m a lot more prepared this year,” he said. “I know what I have on the table. I know how to prepare for it.” 

Keeping Archie’s arm healthy is crucial for both sports. He said he’s grown accustomed to it being sore. Now, it’s about maximizing limited recovery time.

“I’m trying to keep those recovery days at a max,” he said. “I have to kind of stay on a base schedule and keep my arm healthy.” 

Archie’s not the only one who has to plan around two sports schedules — so do his coaches. 

Golesh said he spent 45 minutes meeting with baseball coach Mitch Hannahs on when to find time to let Archie rest. 

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“I feel like I go through this journey with [Archie] a little bit just because of how much time I spent with Mitch trying to map this out,” Golesh said. 

While other football players were enjoying their spring break, Archie was pitching against Maryland and UAB. He won both starts. 

Golesh said he noticed how “worn down” Archie was in 2024. Now, it’s about balance. 

“I think once you go through it a year, you kind of understand it,” Golesh said. “But I think it’s a lot, it really is.” 

Archie – who’s listed as a senior – said he’s open to playing either professional baseball or football when his time is up at USF. 

Until that day comes, he’s just living in the moment. 

“Right now I’m trying to put my head down, execute, and whenever I get to that day I’ll make that decision,” Archie said.