Notebook: Grissom ahead of schedule

The Bulls enter fall practice relatively healthy, and USF coach Skip Holtz gave some more good news on the injury front on Tuesday.

Senior defensive tackle Cory Grissom, who broke his right ankle during spring practice, is "a lot farther along than I would've expected," Holtz said after practice on Tuesday.

"Watching him run around and some of the things he's doing, I would say he's definitely right on track and we just have to make sure we don't take any steps backward," Holtz said.

The Bulls do have a pretty good amount of depth at defensive tackle, with Luke Sager, Elkino Watson and Todd Chandler poised for big contributions this season. Grissom, though, is the most experienced of the bunch, starting all 25 games the last two years and setting career highs last season with 38 total tackles and six tackles for losses.

"We're going to still ease him into this process slowly, but I'm really encouraged with what I see out of him watching him run around for the first day," Holtz said.

Daniels candidate for awards

In addition to being named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award watch list, senior quarterback B.J. Daniels was also named a candidate for the candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which honors character, citizenship, leadership qualities, scholastic achievements and athletic accomplishments.

Daniels, a fifth-year senior who threw for 2585 yards last season, said he has a high sense of urgency in his final year in college.

"I have to hurry up and do something. It's my last opportunity to do whatever I can to win the Big East," Daniels said. "...This is my third year with coach (Skip) Holtz in the same offense. I'm able now to help the younger guys and things like that."

Etc

Freshman cornerback Chris Bivins, a 2012 signee who enrolled early but missed spring practice with a knee injury, is at full strength, Holtz said, putting Bivins in the group freshmen who can make an impact this season … Defensive end Julius Forte is day-to-day with an ankle sprain, but Holtz said he expects Forte to not miss significant time … The team arrived in Vero Beach Wednesday morning and will hold fall camp there for the next two weeks before returning to Tampa.