The South Florida Bulls have to be college football’s version of LeBron James to Tampa Bay natives. The program cannot do enough right, but is highly criticized for not doing enough in Tampa Bay.

Late in the Jim Leavitt era to the present Skip Holtz days, the Bulls have done a much better job recruiting. They have signed a few big time players and brought in a few really good players. Yet, the Tampa Bay kids are not flooded on the USF roster. Or at least not the players the fans would want to see in USF Green and Gold.

I took the time to speak with Freedom 2013 prospects, LB Isaac Tanner and DB Nate Godwin. Both are Hillsborough County prospects being recruited by USF. Tanner presently grips a verbal offer form Ohio and Godwin is the owner of 13 verbal offers. The most noticeable offer from West Virginia.

Both prospects are excited to be recruited by the hometown program, but admit that USF fights an uphill battle recruiting Tampa Bay kids because of factors that are probably not in the Bulls control.

When asked about being recruited by the hometown Bulls, defensive back, Nate Godwin answers, “You feel great about it because it’s the hometown team. Everybody knows the Bulls. If you were to stay here you would have a lot fans support.”

USF has plenty to offer and the biggest draw seems to be, the ability of friends and family to see prospects play in person and often. “Everyone can come watch you play. It’s not that far. You can always go back home. Everything you need is right in your backyard,” states Tanner.

But, what is keeping USF from landing that big Tampa Bay recruiting class and following that up with another remarkable class flooded with Tampa Bay players? How can Miami do it and not USF? Or can it be done? “The biggest thing I think is, because USF hops on prospects a little late. It’s kinda seems like the out of state schools see what talent is in Tampa before the hometown teams does. I think a lot kids take that kinda bad! They should be the first team to notice them [Tampa Bay prospects]. Schools like Florida, Miami, Florida State, they can hope on late because they have that prestige,” Nate Godwin expresses.

Recently, USF became the first verbal offer for 2015 East Lake S, George Campbell. A member of the 2015 class who we feel will eventually become a national prospect. This was a significant move for South Florida and Tampa Bay. It shows the aggressiveness of the staff towards area prospects. But, first does not always equal favorite. “If you look at USF, it’s not really the same college feel that you would get if you were to go to a University of Florida or a Florida State,” states Tanner. “They’re a young program and haven’t been around as long as the ‘Big 3’. That plays a part because they don’t have the same prestige. But, they are building that right now. They have been far and have been ranked high. When that was happening, everybody was about USF. If they can keep that I think a lot of big things can happen.” Tanner feels that USF is doing some very good things. The hard USF critics would say, that the efforts are not good enough. But, the Bulls cannot control the college atmosphere. Or can they?

Central Florida broke ground on their on campus stadium years back and have rocked the house in that stadium on given game days. The feel of having a place to call home, seems to be important to some players and could be a roadblock that USF will have to get over or explore alternative solutions.

“Also if they had a stadium. A lot of people like to play in Raymond James and stuff, but it’s not your stadium. You’re playing in the Bucs stadium where it’s not as packed, not as crowed, not all USF people and USF stuff. I think that would make a big difference” ~ Isaac Tanner

Both prospects admit that USF is on the right track, but has a ways to go. It’s difficult in a state surrounded by three national champions all tugging at the same kids. Can USF build? Oh yea, “You’re going to start that. I think a lot of people would be fine with that. A lot people have already seen where other schools have had successes and want to be a part of that success, but they don’t want to help build it. It’s harder to build a team,” says Tanner. Tanner also gives USF a thumbs up on where they are now, compared to the past. “Ever since I have been in high school, they have made a lot of changes. Really ‘upped’ their game a lot with recruiting and all that. I think they are on the right path if they continue to grow and continue to get better, they can do a lot of big things!”

“USF has everything you need to develop athletically, mentally and academically, to be a good player. I say the biggest thing is, when you go to college, you want to get that college experience. You know, if I were to go to USF, I’d pack my bags and drive down the street.” Nate Godwin sees the mountain USF is trying to climb and some of the adversity USF is fighting is not in their control. All the Bulls can do, is keep working and winning.

So can the Bulls keep the Tampa Bay kids in Tampa? “They win games, they lose games. They beat Notre Dames a few years back. I mean they win games. I would say, they [prospects] just want to get away from Tampa.”