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The college football offseason is in full swing after a historic season that saw the Indiana Hoosiers crowned as first-time national champions. For the rest of the country, the focus has shifted entirely to recruiting and the high-stakes world of the transfer portal. At the University of South Florida, a new era has arrived as the Bulls prepare for their first coaching change in three years. Following the departure of Alex Golesh to the Auburn Tigers, USF Vice President of Athletics Rob Higgins moved quickly to secure Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline as the program’s seventh head coach.
Coach Hartline has made an immediate impact, hauling in 41 new players to the roster. According to 247Sports, this group has secured the number one ranking in the American Athletic Conference, a milestone the Bulls haven’t reached in years. The incoming class is balanced across all phases, featuring 21 offensive players, 18 on defense, and two on special teams. These newcomers will join 54 returning players from a squad that went 9–4 last year and has appeared in three consecutive bowl games. Among the 41 additions are 12 four-star athletes and one five-star recruit, with 12 players already on campus as early enrollees.
The roster overhaul was necessitated by significant departures, most notably superstar quarterback Byrum Brown, who followed Golesh to Auburn along with receiver Locklan Hewlett. To fill the void under center, Hartline brought in four new signal-callers: four-star prospect Luke Kromenhoek from Mississippi State, Michael Van Buren from LSU, Jayden Bradford from Liberty, and KJ Cooper from Texas Southern. The offensive reload also includes six senior wide receivers—five of whom were four-star recruits—along with six offensive linemen, three tight ends, and two running backs.
Defensively, the Bulls are looking to build on last year’s strong performance with the addition of nine defensive backs, including three four-star recruits and eight players arriving from Power Four programs. The unit also welcomes four defensive linemen, two linebackers, and three edge rushers at the “JACK” position. New defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge will lead the group, highlighted by the biggest transfer in program history: five-star linebacker C.J. Hicks, who followed Hartline from Ohio State.
With an entirely new coaching staff in place, the goal remains clear: sustain and exceed the success of the last three seasons. The arrival of elite talent like Hicks has sparked a level of excitement in Tampa not seen in over a decade. Fans will get their first look at the new-look Bulls during spring practice in March, culminating in the spring game scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2025. This season will also mark a sentimental milestone as the Bulls play their final year at Raymond James Stadium before the long-awaited opening of their new 35,000-seat on-campus stadium in 2027.
Could these 41 new prospects help the USF Bulls’ success continue? Leave a comment below.
For all your NCAA football news, log on to ngscsports.com.
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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