TAMPA, Fla. — Football is back at USF. The Bulls reported to training camp Tuesday, with the first full day of practice on Wednesday.

USF is coming off of a 2-10 season under head coach Jeff Scott. 

Scott told Spectrum News on Media Day that the team’s mindset is focused on winning each day — not just the games.

“It’s always an exciting part of the year for everybody, as we get ready to get started with a new season, and we’re a month away,” he said.

This is yet another rebuilding year for the Bulls, but there is a different vibe heading into the start of this season. 

Entering his third year at the helm, Scott is battling a rebuild and the doubters. 

Preseason polls pick USF to finish ninth in the conference, but these Bulls are ready to silence the critics.

“The big focus is to win the day,” said Scott. “The way that you win the day is each of these meetings, I mean we’re gonna have hundreds of hours of meetings between now and the first game, so the attention to detail, improving the football knowledge, and bringing on some of the younger guys that are going to be able to add some depth.”

The Bulls will look to build with some significant returners like sophomore quarterback Timmy McClain, who earned the starting job in game 3 last year.

“I just kinda got into the groove of playing,” McClain said. “Got real comfortable in the system that we were in last year. This year, I feel like I’ve been in the system for a while, and I feel really confident about my play and about the team’s play.” 

McClain led USF in passing with almost 2,000 yards last season, but Scott said this year is a new slate.

There’s competition at the quarterback position with newcomer Gerry Bohanon, a transfer from Baylor.

“My expectation would be, just honestly come in, fill in whatever role I can be with the team, bring out my standards, my culture, apply it to the team and push everybody around me,” he said.

Regardless of who wins the starting job, Scott feels like he now has two quarterbacks who can help the team win. 

He said a big part of the team’s success this year will be having a player-led locker room, which he’s confident he has finally found.

“Overall, we’ve got a deeper room and deeper roster than we’ve had at any point since I’ve been here,” said Scott.

USF kicks off its season against BYU on Sept. 3.