USF Bulls: Looking back at the 2025 American Kickoff

The USF Bulls are about to be off and running, as their first day of fall camp wrapped up today! However, the running took a quick pit stop in Charlotte for the American Conference Kickoff last week.

The League Winners had the opportunity to speak with head coach Alex Golesh, offensive lineman Cole Best, and defensive back De’Shawn Rucker during the two-day event. Coach Golesh then addressed the general media on Friday during his scheduled press conference ahead of fall camp and the general 2025 season.

It was a great event, and there is plenty of content to cover. So, without further ado, here is the recap of USF’s 2025 American Kickoff!

American Kickoff: USF Bulls Exclusive League Winners Interviews

To start things off was offensive lineman Cole Best, who spoke about a variety of different topics.

Regarding his injury, Best said that he is ready to go for fall camp. “It’s been great. I had surgery back in January, and it was a smooth recovery. I’m fully cleared, ready to roll, and I will be ready to go Week 1.”

Additionally, Best spoke about what he is most excited about in the offensive scheme.

“I’m excited to see, now in year three, especially with the guys that have been here and played in the offense, how we are all going to mesh and come together. Obviously, with any young program, early on it is about getting the X’s and O’s right. I feel like we are at a point now where we are all past that and are ready to go out and play. So I am really excited to see a lot of guys shine. We have a lot of talent coming up, so I am excited to see how we mesh together and roll.”

Next was defensive back De’Shawn Rucker. Asking about what it meant to represent the Bulls on this stage, Rucker had a great answer.

“I think it’s a big deal for me. Coming into college as a freshman, it was my mom’s dream for me to do this. They are here right now having fun. So, representing them well, representing USF, I think it is a big deal for me.”

We also asked Rucker about how he plans to elevate his game for the USF Bulls in the 2025 season.

“I think it is all about my process and trying to find how I can better myself on the field. So if it’s waking up an hour earlier to do things in the training room to help out my body or nutrition, I think those little things elevate your game so much. And I think another thing is being way more detailed with those aspects. Looking at different things to eat across the table, so you have protein, carbs, and different things like that. In the training room, you see different ways to rehab your body. You try things out and experience things, and I think that is going to elevate me more. Also, I am just trying ot be in the film room. Going up with the coaches, talking with them, and even meeting with an offensive coach to see how he looks at things so it can open up my brain. So that’s how I think I can elevate my game.”

Lastly, we spoke with USF’s head coach, Alex Golesh, about who has stepped up as a leader heading into fall camp.

“Naturally, I think Byrum Brown has done a really good job of continuing to grow as a leader. It’s hard from the sideline, and those last eight weeks for him were hard for him to continue to try to lead. He has taken this offseason to try to grow as a leader, to try to bring people along with him, certainly starting with the position group, the overall unit, and then the team. Offensively, there is a handful of guys. Derek Bowman, Zane Herring, these seniors that have played so much football for us have started to come on as leaders.

Mike Lofton has continued to be a very good leader. Jaden Alexis, who is another guy who has missed a bunch of time. He has tried to find his voice, and I have continued to encourage him to push through that way. We are trying to grow the young quarterbacks as leaders. But I think some of our best leaders are upfront right now. And that is what you want; you want your older guys that are playing their best football to be high-end leaders.”

On defense, Golesh highlighted multiple players who have stepped up as well.

“Mac Harris has done a really good job of trying to grow as a player and continue to try to bring the defense along. It is easy when you are at the second level and are involved with the front and back end. But he has done a really good job. Josh Celiscar came in the winter and has continued to try to push the envelope as a leader. He is a young man who was a captain at UCF, and I have pushed him as he has built relationships…I have been really proud of hopw Josh has pushed the envelope as a leader.

In the back end, Tavin Ward, who is not a vocal guy, is someone we continue to try to push. He is going into his thrid year starting, and he is the general in the back. We are counting on him to continue to be a leader and a communicator.”

Furthermore, Golesh highlighted freshman quarterback Locklan Hewlett as someone he has “put a lot on to continue to come along as a leader,” as one of the younger players on the team.

Media Day Presser

At his media day press conference, we asked Golesh about why he targeted specific players in the spring transfer portal and what he expects from them.

“We have tried to build in a facet where we needed guys that were ready to play right away. And by ready to play, I mean guys that have played college football, have film, and have been through the grind of what it is, while not sacrificing building from the ground up with the high school guys we bring in to develop. We went into the spring and knew that there were some holes and depth pieces that you were kind of anxious about. You wanted to see how the guys in these first two recruiting classes have come along.

And after the spring, we sat down and asked ourselves where we are lacking to go compete at a really, really high level right now. That’s where the pieces to compete on the defensive line and linebacker come in. Guys that have come in and infused competition, not allowing certain spots to be complacent. And more than anything else, they had to be guys who were adding to what we do from a cultural standpoint. They had to add player-driven leadership, be guys that wanted to be elite at their craft, and understand what the standards are in our program.”

Additionally, Golesh lauded the USF administration for its commitment to the Bulls football program and ensure that they build the new facilities at an “elite” clip.

The Bulls open up fall camp on Monday morning, and will open the 2025 regular season at Raymond James Stadium versus the Broncos of Boise State.