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USF football continues to shape its future through high school recruiting under new head coach Brian Hartline. While the Bulls added a large group through the transfer portal, Hartline remains committed to building the program with prep talent. Recent recruiting activity shows that approach already taking shape. USF recently completed its third session of official on-campus visits for Class of 2027 prospects. According to Bulls247, seven recruits visited campus and received a firsthand look at the program. The visits produced an immediate result when safety Tony Brown from Fletcher High School in Jacksonville committed to the Bulls. Brown became another important addition to USF’s growing recruiting class. His commitment followed a strong weekend visit and highlighted the coaching staff’s ability to identify talent early. Brown may not carry a lengthy offer list, but the Bulls clearly see significant potential in his development.
Last season, Brown recorded 25 tackles in seven games for Fletcher High School. He also added five pass deflections and one fumble recovery. Those numbers helped establish him as one of the staff’s top defensive targets. Bulls247 described Brown as a possible “diamond in the rough,” a player who could outperform recruiting expectations. Brown’s high school coach, former Florida State running back Ciatrick Fason, praised his work ethic and attitude. Fason said Brown embraces coaching, loves football, and never shies away from hard work. Those qualities align closely with the culture Hartline wants to establish at USF. Meanwhile, USF landed another major recruiting victory when quarterback Kevin Verpaele flipped his commitment from Pittsburgh to the Bulls. Recruiting services differ on his evaluation. Bulls247 rates Verpaele as a three-star prospect, while On3 lists him as a four-star recruit. Regardless of the rating, Verpaele’s commitment represents an important win for the Bulls.
Quarterbacks often serve as the foundation of recruiting classes. Therefore, securing a talented signal-caller gives Hartline and his staff momentum moving forward. Although Hartline added 41 players through the transfer portal for the upcoming season, he continues to emphasize high school recruiting. He recently explained that his recruiting philosophy remains unchanged from his successful tenure at Ohio State. In an interview with Athlon Sports, Hartline said great recruiting extends beyond simply signing players. Instead, he believes coaches must help athletes maximize their potential after arriving on campus. His primary goal focuses on identifying the right people and helping them pursue their dreams. That philosophy reflects a long-term vision for the program. Rather than relying heavily on yearly transfer additions, Hartline wants to develop players over several seasons. Building relationships with high school recruits remains a critical part of that process.
However, circumstances forced USF to depend heavily on the portal after Hartline accepted the job. He arrived on December 3, the same day the Early Signing Period opened. The timing created immediate roster challenges. Three three-star recruits changed their commitments shortly afterward. Quarterback Rhys Bush, tight end Demarcus Broughton Jr., and defender Mykall Lundy-Foster all flipped from USF to Auburn. In addition, several current Bulls players transferred to Auburn. Consequently, Hartline and his staff needed to rebuild the roster quickly. The transfer portal provided the fastest solution. As a result, USF aggressively pursued experienced players and eventually brought in 41 transfers. Even so, Hartline does not expect that level of portal activity to continue. Instead, he plans a more balanced roster-building approach. Future recruiting efforts will focus more heavily on identifying high school prospects who fit the program’s culture and long-term goals.
Hartline explained that modern recruiting requires greater precision than ever before. Coaches must evaluate whether a player can contribute immediately or needs additional development time. Therefore, every scholarship decision carries significant importance. He noted that the staff now places greater emphasis on recruiting athletes with specific roles and clear developmental plans. That approach allows coaches to project how players will fit within the program over several years. As a result, commitments from prospects like Brown carry extra significance. USF’s staff believes strongly in his upside despite limited national attention. The coaches see traits that may eventually translate into high-level production. Ultimately, Hartline’s strategy centers on sustainable growth.
The transfer portal helped stabilize the roster during a challenging transition period. However, the program’s future will depend largely on recruiting and developing talented high school players. The recent commitments from Tony Brown and Kevin Verpaele offer encouraging signs. Both players represent the type of prospects Hartline hopes will form the foundation of USF football. If that approach succeeds, the Bulls could establish long-term stability and continued success in the years ahead.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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