Notebook: Four goals this fall

Sunday marked the first day of fall camp, as players reported and USF coach Skip Holtz took the microphone for his first press conference of camp. The third-year head coach outlined many aspects of his football team, with a main focus on four important goals he would like to address with his team during camp.

"I want to build togetherness with this football team and leadership," Holtz said. "… Second, there are some holes in the depth chart we have to fill. Thirdly, we've got some schematical things, offensively and defensively, that we have to put together and sharpen up. The last main goal is the special teams. Special teams is an area I feel we can make huge strides and I'm really excited about the depth we have to be able to help from a special teams standpoint."

Holtz said he hopes his team's return trip to Vero Beach for fall camp with help with team chemistry. The Bulls will practice at USF Monday and Tuesday before starting practice in Vero on Wednesday. Friday will be the team's first padded practice, and next Monday will be the team's first scrimmage.

"That's one of the advantages of going to Vero Beach. For ten days we're going to have 105 players and 15 coaches spending ten days straight within about 300 yards of each other," Holtz said. "There will a lot of things we'll be able to develop on."

In regards to the depth chart, Holtz said the biggest position battle on offense is backup quarterback, with redshirt freshman Matt Floyd battling junior Bobby Eveld.

"Both had good springs, but I don't think either one had a good enough spring to take over that position," Holtz said.

Bulls open camp relatively healthy

Defensive tackle Cory Grissom is still limited after breaking his right ankle during the spring, but Holtz said he expects him to be ready to go by the team's Sept. 1 opener against UT-Chattanooga. Defensive lineman Anthony Hill could return midseason, according to Holtz, if everything goes well in his rehab from a torn ACL.

"Both are doing extremely well," Holtz said, adding everybody else is ready to go for fall camp.

Roster changes

Holtz there have been six "deletions" since spring practice. Defensive backs Spencer Boyd and Ricardo Dixon are transferring, as previously reported, and OL John McGhin, wide receiver Stephen Bravo-Brown and tight end Isaac Virgin won't be with the team Also, 2012 signee Jarvis McCall, a defensive back out of Armwood High School, "had a situation arise this summer" and will enroll next spring, Holtz said.

Etc

The team is still awaiting word from the NCAA on a waiver that would grant defensive end Aaron Lynch, the touted Notre Dame transfer, eligibility to play this season … Holtz said he also is waiting on a waiver that would allow junior walk-on receiver Jonny Sitton, who played for the Bulls in 2010 and spent last season at NAIA Shorter University, to play this season after transferring back to USF. Holtz extended condolences to Sitton and his family, after older brother, Matthew Sitton, died this week while serving in Afghanistan.