As the USF Bulls are gearing up for their packed football 2025 season, it’s never too early to start recruiting players who will join their team in the near-future. Head coach Alex Golesh has expressed that the program generally seeks recruits out of Florida and Georgia; however, they will look into other regions when the opportunities and connections present themselves.
With a fairly large class of graduating impact players, there’s no doubt that there will be many open positions and talent to be filled in The Bay. We know that USF likes to be prepared for any event. That often means that there’s always a backup plan with a player ready and equipped to spring into action. The Bulls are already working to fill any potential future gaps in their roster. With this in mind, let’s take a look at USF recruiting wins so far in 2026.
2026 USF Recruiting Overview
Quarterback
Quarterbacks are always in high demand, so having a strong group can never hurt. The current top prospect at the position in the 2026 class for the Bulls is Rhys Brush. Brush is a three-star QB out of Seffner, Florida.
As a junior, Brush led his high school team to an undefeated season and the regional finals of Florida’s 6A playoffs. In his 2024 season, he had a 62.5 completion rate, completing 137 out of 219 passes. He totaled 37 touchdowns with two interceptions and threw for 2,503 yards.
With these stats, Rhys has proven himself as an impactful player added to USF’s 2026 roster. He received offers from multiple programs, including Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, and Arkansas State. But for Rhys, USF just felt like the right place to be.
Running Back
The Bulls have been known for having an explosive running back room in past years. Keeping this tradition going is Qwantavius Wiggins, a three-star running back recruit from Fairburn, Georgia. Wiggins has received offers from 11 different schools, including FAU, FIU, and Memphis.
Qwantavius was predicted to accept an offer from Georgia State or Miami University. However, the Bulls were favored, and his commitment to USF was announced in late October 2024. Wiggins racked up 985 total yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 82.1 yards per game. He could have a large impact on the offensive side of the ball when he arrives in Tampa.
USF also added Jordan Thompson to their recruiting class on April 4. The Coconut Creek running back is a larger player at the position and hopes to bring some power and explosiveness to the Bulls’ backfield.
Wide Receiver
The first receiver USF could be bringing in next season is Moody, Alabama’s Josiah Dozier. Dozier is a big-bodied player, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighs 180 pounds. The 2026 three-star prospect is primarily a boundary receiver, known for making downfield catches or expected to win in jump ball moments. While he will need refinement in his route-running, Dozier’s presence could be helpful in the red zone for the Bulls.
Offensive line
The offensive line may be down several impactful players in the 2026 season. One player who could eventually help fill the void is Jordan Harrison, a three-star recruit out of Washington, D.C. Harrison stands at 6-foot-2 and weights 285 pounds and projected to be an interior offensive linemen in college.
Jordan effectively makes his presence known on the field and contributes heavily to the offensive line. He’s another player who had many school offers on the table, including Charlotte, Syracuse, and East Carolina. While Harrison expressed that he was intrigued with what Syracuse had to offer him, his visits to Tampa and conversations with USF football personnel made his decision to join the Bulls, a no-brainer.
EDGE
On the defensive side of the ball, one of the main recruits the Bulls will bring in is edge rusher Demetrius Geathers. A three-star recruit out of Boca Raton, Florida, Geathers has recorded a total of 10 sacks and 110 tackles, which have consisted of 60 solo and 50 assists.
Demetrius received offers from several schools, including Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, and FAU, but USF extended him an early offer in 2023. He visited several times before ultimately deciding to commit to the Bulls. Demetrius has expressed that the culture in the locker room and how this team works together are some of the main factors that won him over, and this was an opportunity that he just couldn’t pass up.
Defensive Back
One of the more recent 2026 recruit for the Bulls is cornerback Derrick Nichols III from Plantation, Florida. Looking to maintain their powerful defense, Nichols is an excellent addition among these recruits in order to sustain this momentum.
He received offers from several different programs, including FIU, Rutgers, and Western Kentucky. In his 17 varsity games played so far, Derrick recorded 59 tackles, consisting of 25 solo and 34 assists, as well as 5.0 tackles for loss. Ranked No. 6 at his position in the state, Nichols has proved that he can be a major contributor to the USF defense in the future.
Another defensive back the Bulls brought on is CJ Cresser from Lakeland, Florida. Cresser is a box safety who could play a “star” position in a defense – essentially a linebacker/safety hybrid. The Florida product is known for making big plays on the ball, and should be an excellent addition to the USF defense.
Final thoughts
2026 USF recruiting class is still in its early stages, the foundation has already been laid for a strong and competitive team in the seasons ahead. With the recruitment of high-impact players on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, USF football is preparing to maintain its success for the long term. Of course, there is still room to grow and spots to fill, but the Bulls are off to a great start, and the future is looking very bright.
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