USF has worked hard to bring in a top-flight quarterback in recent years, only to come up short on in-state prospects such as Cornelius Ingram (Florida), Brent Schaeffer (Tennessee), Adrian McPherson and Chris Davis (Florida State) and Jay Davis (N.C. State).

This time, the Bulls swung for the fences once again and finally connected by signing quarterback Carlton Hill out of Monticello Jefferson County High. From the time USF coach Jim Leavitt first saw film of Hill as a junior, he has been USF's top recruiting priority. In the end, Hill chose USF over Miami in a major recruiting coup for the Bulls.

"From that moment (we saw the film), we were on him," Leavitt said. "When I saw that film, I knew he was that good. ... It really feels good. It really does. It's a nice feeling because we worked so hard."

The USF coaches also worked to sign a class of 23 players that includes six of the top 47 prospects in the Florida according to the Tampa Tribune, seven of the top 100 according to the Orlando Sentinel and two of the top eight players in the Tampa Bay area -- defensive back R.J. Anderson and offensive tackle Danny Tolley -- according to the St. Petersburg Times.

In addition to Hill, USF also signed another highly-sought quarterback in Matt Grothe of Lakeland, Fla.

"I'm so excited about this group," Leavitt said. "There's so much hype about the recruiting class. Honestly, who ends up being the great players? How players develop is such a big thing. But we've got some awfully good football players."

QBs Carlton Hill and Matt Grothe -- Hill, a 6-3, 215-pound quarterback from Jefferson County High in Monticello, Fla., chose USF over Miami after throwing for 1,765 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2004 and earning all-state honors and a four-star ranking by Rivals.com. For all the attention focused on Hill, Grothe is also a big catch for the Bulls as the Class 4A Player of the Year from Lakeland, Fla. Ranked the 21st-best college prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune and 23rd by Orlando Sentinel after passing for 2,700 yards and running for 1,250 with 33 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns as a senior.

DB R.J. Anderson, Tampa -- Two-time all-state player in Class 4A at Armwood High and a member of back-to-back state championship teams. Ranked as 30th prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune and 37th by Orlando Sentinel.

OL Danny Tolley, Wesley Chapel, Fla. -- A 6-5, 300-pound tackle who earned first-team all-state honors at Wesley Chapel High.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It really helps. We never had the Big East to push, and we never had a building to walk in. People see progress, moving, and that's really important. I'm real excited about this group. There's so many playmakers, with size, and guys who could potentially help us, now. We really wanted to get a lot faster and a little more athletic, and I feel we accomplished that goal." -- USF coach Jim Leavitt on the impact of moving into the Big East and building a new football facility.

GLANCE AT 2005: The Bulls expect to return 17 starters, including nine on a defense that allowed 31.9 points per game. The offense is fortunate that RB Andre Hall decided to return for his senior season, but USF's ability to compete in the Big East in 2005 must start with major improvement on a defense that started 24 players throughout the 2004 season.

PRO POTENTIAL: OTs Derrick Saroski and Levi Newton -- Two marginal prospects who must answer a lot of questions in the coming months to work themselves into the late rounds of the draft.

ROSTER REPORT: LB C.J. Hunnicutt, one of USF's top recruits last season, left the program in January, gave up football and enlisted in the Army. In September, Hunnicutt was dismissed from the team and left school when he was one of three USF players charged with theft. The charges were later dropped and Hunnicutt was allowed to return, but decided he needed the discipline and direction offered by the Army. Both of his parents were in the military at one point. Also, freshman RB Andre Copeland left the team at the end of the season, junior WR C.J. Lewis announced his decision to transfer and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Danny Muy transferred from Nebraska to South Florida long enough to decide he no longer wanted to play football and quit before he ever stepped foot on the practice field.