Porter's Playbook | The Coaching Career of DJ Porter

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Nov 2025, 12:07

USF should be a fun one. Going to be interesting how you build this program.

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 01 Nov 2025, 13:17

3-3-5 is what I've been running since the new games came out. Just gotta make sure you recruit enough DTs because some of the sets it won't let you sub in DEs as DT's, it goes by the NT spot on the depth chart that doesn't let you add DEs to it just an fyi

Post by **djp73** » 01 Nov 2025, 14:42

Captain Canada wrote: ↑
01 Nov 2025, 12:07
USF should be a fun one. Going to be interesting how you build this program.

yeah looking forward to playing in a new conference and in Florida
a few pieces here and there to work with on the roster but its pretty desolate overall

Post by **djp73** » 01 Nov 2025, 14:43

redsox907 wrote: ↑
01 Nov 2025, 13:17
3-3-5 is what I've been running since the new games came out. Just gotta make sure you recruit enough DTs because some of the sets it won't let you sub in DEs as DT's, it goes by the NT spot on the depth chart that doesn't let you add DEs to it just an fyi

yeah been playing around with that a bit, not sure how the players we have will fit into the spots but we will figure it out I think. always been partial to a 4 man front myself. #diversify

Post by **djp73** » 01 Nov 2025, 16:06

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

AMERICAN CONFERENCE RECRUITING REPORT

TULANE CB COMMIT TRENT DOYLE IS THE CONFERENCE'S HIGHEST RATED RECRUIT

North Texas leads the way with Navy and USF right on their heels

The 2026 recruiting cycle brought plenty of change across the American Athletic Conference, with new coaches, transfer activity, and roster rebuilds shaping the league’s future. While North Texas claimed the top spot among AAC programs, the story of the offseason belonged to South Florida, which stormed from the bottom of the league to a top-60 national finish under new head coach DJ Porter.

Porter inherited a class in disarray when he arrived in January, but his staff’s quick work paid off. The Bulls finished with 21 total signees, including 15 three-star prospects, ranking third in the conference behind North Texas and Navy.

Porter emphasized recruiting within Florida, landing several key in-state players and transfers who bring experience to both sides of the ball.

“We wanted guys who believe in what we’re building,” Porter said. “The stars don’t matter, fit and toughness do.”

The 167.20 team rating marked USF’s strongest recruiting finish in over a decade.

North Texas continues to thrive under steady leadership, signing a massive 27-player class balanced between 13 three-stars and 14 two-stars, the largest in the conference. Navy followed closely behind, sticking to its developmental formula with nine three-stars in a compact 13-player group.

Tulsa finished fourth in the league with 13 three-stars in an 18-man class, showing their program’s quiet but effective recruiting stability. East Carolina and Florida Atlantic also posted strong results, focusing on volume and balance across positions.

Army’s 30-player haul led the AAC in total signees but leaned heavily on developmental prospects, while UTSA and Memphis maintained mid-tier consistency.

At the bottom of the table, Tulane and Temple struggled to gain traction, ranking 115th and 110th nationally, respectively. The Green Wave signed just eight players, though they landed three solid four-stars led by halfback J. Williams and corner T. Doyle. Both teams face a long offseason ahead to fill roster needs.

With multiple new coaches and an influx of transfer talent, the AAC looks set for one of its most competitive seasons yet. USF’s rise, paired with North Texas and Navy’s consistency, hints at a changing of the guard in the conference hierarchy, and a rejuvenated South Florida program ready to compete again.

“We’re not done,” Porter said. “This is just the start of what we’re building here.”

American Conference Recruiting Rankings

Rank	Team	Total	4★	3★	2★	1★	Points
56	North Texas	27	0	13	14	0	167.55
57	Navy	13	4	9	0	0	167.45
60	USF	21	0	15	6	0	167.20
69	Tulsa	18	0	13	5	0	160.45
73	East Carolina	19	0	11	7	1	158.05
74	Army	30	0	9	21	0	158.00
75	Florida Atlantic	21	0	10	9	2	157.00
84	UTSA	16	0	10	5	1	149.25
89	Memphis	15	0	9	6	0	145.30
93	Rice	17	0	7	10	0	142.85
107	UAB	11	0	9	2	0	130.00
110	Temple	14	0	6	5	3	125.10
113	Charlotte	14	0	5	6	3	120.80
115	Tulane	8	3	4	1	0	119.30

Post by **djp73** » 01 Nov 2025, 16:06

USF BULLS SPRING ROSTER PREVIEW

Former Delaware offensive coordinator has inherited a USF roster that has a few potential stars on it but is mainly comprised of young, unproven players. The coaching staff that Porter has assembled will be tasked with finding the proper roles for players and coaching them up to make their systems work with the players they have to work with. Some positions will be better off than others.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS
#15 | Joshua Brantley | 6'3” | 221 | SO(RS)
#12 | Trey Chancellor | 6'1” | 203 | FR(RS)
#-- | Branden Duff | 6'1” | 180 | FR
#13 | Damarious Friend | 6'1” | 203 | FR(RS)
#11 | Locklan Hewlett | 6'1” | 196 | SO(RS)
#7 | TJ Stanley | 6'2” | 215 | SO(RS)
>>Despite having a proven starter in Locklan Hewlet in place (3,432 Yds 30 TD 3 Int in 2026) Porter still elected to bring in transfer TJ Stanley from Georgia State (3,436 yards 27 TD 11 Int in 2026) to compete for the starting job. Joshua Brantley is also expected to figure into the QB competition this spring while the others provide depth and youth at the position.
“Each of these guys has a skill set that's a bit different than the others so we will see who can make the most of opportunities throughout spring and fall camp and set themselves apart. We're not against running a multiple QB system if that's what best benefits the team.” Porter explained.

RUNNINGBACKS
#-- | Richard Boireau | 5'09” | 203 | FR
#32 | Nicholas Daniel | 6'0” | 187 | SO
#-- | George Foucha | 5'11” | 180 | FR
#34 | George Shembo | 6'0” | 203 | SO
#31 | Steven Snead | 5'10” | 192 | SO
#28 | Connor Suggs | 5'08” | 197 | FR(RS)
#23 | Elton York | 6'1” | 171 | SO
>>George Shembo is the returning leading rusher (601 Yds 9 TD in 2026) while Snead also contributed (267 Yds 7 TD in 2026). Daniel, Suggs and York all have show flashes of explosiveness and could contribute if they are able to show the coaching staff that they're capable in camp. Foucha and Boireau are unlikely to log significant playing time this season. Freshman Jalen Stevens is listed as a CB currently but was recruited as an athlete and played significant time at RB as a senior.
“We're looking at ways that different guys can contribute as runners.” Hall Simmons said. “It's always a benefit to have multiple options at runningback and if those guys can do things in different ways and give you some flex there its beneficial.”

WIDE RECEIVERS
#-- | Jordyn Bridgewater | 6'0” | 171 | JR(RS)
#-- | Gerald Camarda | 6'1” | 167 | FR
#86 | Lyle Dragos | 6'2” | 168 | FR(RS)
#18 | Kyrie Michaels | 6'5” | 189 | FR(RS)
#87 | Dalton Sahara | 6'5” | 199 | FR(RS)
#3 | Jeremiah Stoneburner | 6'5” | 197 | JR(RS)
#8 | Dawann Troup | 6'3” | 202 | FR(RS)
#7 | Tyler Williams | 6'3” | 212 | SR(RS)
#82 | Daidren Zipperer | 6'0” | 172 | SR(RS)
>>Wide receiver is one of the positions with the most talent on the roster, though it is a little top heavy with a significant talent drop off after Williams (39 Rec 467 Yds 1 TD in 2026) and newcomer Bridgewater (67 Rec 883 Yds 5 TD at UCF in 2026). The coaches will be looking for Zipperer to step up as a senior and see who asserts themselves behind them. With a very thin group of Tight Ends it's likely that one or more of the bigger bodied receivers could be asked to move.
“We have some talent and experience here for sure.” Said Sean Goldrich. “We're waiting to see what the depth looks like behind those guys at the top. It's up to them to earn the reps in camp.”

TIGHT ENDS
#84 | Henry Gregory | 6'6” | 215 | SO(RS)
#48 | Turner McLaughlin | 6'1” | 221 | JR(RS)
>>Tight end is one of the thinnest positions on the offensive side of the ball with just two players returning at the position. McLaughlin caught
passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns in 2026 while Gregory did not record a catch. Gregory is the stronger route runner and has ideal TE size while McLaughlin is more suited as an inline blocker and possible as a lead blocker in the backfield.
“From a numbers standpoint we're pretty light, we've got to see if we have guys listed at other positions that can help us bolster that depth and provide us with some snaps at tight end.” Jack Cosgrove explained when asked about the state of the position.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
#75 | Keelan Dennis | 6'4” | 306 | FR(RS)
#72 | Connor Doyle | 6'4” | 311 | SR
#69 | Jakhari Goodley | 6'4” | 321 | JR(RS)
#78 | Cliff Jean-Pierre | 6'4” | 304 | SO
#79 | Clint Kendricks | 6'5” | 321 | FR(RS)
#70 | Adrian Laborn | 6'5” | 282 | FR(RS)
#77 | Tyreek Majors | 6'6” | 321 | JR(RS)
#71 | John Olumba | 6'4” | 285 | FR(RS)
#-- | Cary Penny | 6'7” | 305 | FR
#73 | Daryl Treadwell | 6'6” | 298 | SO
#-- | Josh Yachty | 6'7” | 312 | FR

OFFENSIVE GUARDS
#57 | Pat Agude | 6'3” | 300 | SO
#64 | Adam Forbes | 6'2” | 314 | SO(RS)
#-- | Chester Knapp | 6'3” | 279 | FR
#58 | TJ Lawrence | 6'5” | 311 | JR(RS)
#50 | Lamar Muamba | 6'0” | 288 | FR(RS)
#52 | Emmett Parks | 6'3” | 292 | SO(RS)
#-- | Matt Toure | 6'2” | 307 | FR

CENTERS
#-- | Oliver Ellefson | 6'4” | 280 | FR
#66 | Teriyan Morman | 6'5” | 353 | JR(RS)
#-- | Darren Sumner | 6'4” | 294 | FR
>>With 21 players listed at offensive line the coaching staff will have options to try to put together the best unit they can. Expect a lot of tinkering with different combinations throughout the spring and into the fall.
“We've got a huge OL room. That's a big bonus for us cause they can all push each other and make each other better every day. We'll have a lot of flexibility and we will work hard to get the best fit out there this fall.” OL Coach AJ Hopp explained.

DEFENSE

EDGE
#-- | Greg DeMorat | 6'2” | 245 | FR
#96 | Quandre Dwumfour | 6'2” | 238 | FR(RS)
#73 | Danny Felton | 6'3” | 256 | JR(RS)
#91 | Chad Harbor | 6'3” | 235 | SO
#90 | Matthew Hoppes | 6'3” | 227 | FR(RS)
#-- | Connor Nicks | 6'2” | 234 | FR
#-- | David Nwaneri | 6'5” | 245 | FR
#95 | Kaleb Short | 6'4” | 219 | JR(RS)
#10 | Ira Singleton | 6'5” | 226 | JR(RS)
#98 | Kyle Spade | 6'2” | 212 | FR(RS)
#94 | Quincey Werner | 6'5” | 214 | FR(RS)

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
#92 | Marlon Doyle | 6'4” | 286 | SO
#50 | DiNellson Exume | 6'4” | 273 | SR
#97 | Jahari Grant | 6'2” | 316 | JR(RS)
#99 | Dom Nickey | 6'2” | 290 | SO
>>With defensive coordinator Tony While bringing his 3-3-5 tite defensive scheme over from Florida State the defensive coaching staff, especially for the front six, will have a tall task to fit the “round pegs” into the “square holes” the system requires. Grant is a solid fit at nose tackle but aside from him it will be tough to fill the other positions along the defensive line. Expect players to be shuffled around to different positions this spring and fall as the staff works to fill the roles they need to in order to make the defense work.
“You look at the roster and you don't necessarily see the guys you'd want for some of these roles in an ideal situation. The fact of the matter is we don't have the pick of the litter from a personnel standpoint so it's up to us as coaches to prove ourselves and get guys in the spots where they can help this defense the most.” Defensive line coach Terrance Knighton told us.

LINEBACKERS
#25 | Divaad Apple | 6'1” | 212 | SO
#59 | Antoine Brock | 6'1” | 206 | FR(RS)
#11 | Frank Droege | 5'11” | 215 | SO
#52 | Garrison LaRue | 6'2” | 228 | FR(RS)
#31 | Derrick McCormick | 6'1” | 206 | JR(RS)
#-- | Eric Rance | 5'11” | 233 | JR
>>Linebacker is another position with some talent but low numbers. Ernie Sims and Patrick Surtain have already indicated that they could be looking at a lot of position flexibility from the linebacker and secondary in order to get the best fits on the field.
“Like Coach Knighton said about the line we're in a situation where we've go who we've got and we need to coach them to success.” Coach Sims said.

CORNERBACKS
#-- | Matt Ansah | 6'0” | 160 | FR
#20 | Cordell Folkerts | 5'11 | FR(RS)
#27 | Izaiah Guy | 6'2” | 201 | SR(RS)
#4 | David Igbinoghene | 6'2” | 190 | SO
#3 | Gavin Jenkins | 6'2” | 170 | SO(RS)
#6 | Devin Nowell | 6'2” | 178 | FR(RS)
#-- | Jalen Stevens | 5'10” | 181 | FR*

FREE SAFETIES
#26 | Jermaine Dalias | 6'2” | 195 | JR(RS)
#30 | Cedrick Hawkins | 6'0” | 186 | SR(RS)
#13 | Cary Magoolaghan | 5'11” | 197 | FR(RS)
#0 | George Tull | 5'9” | 205 | FR(RS)
#5 | George Vales | 5'11” | 206 | FR(RS)

STRONG SAFETIES
#2 | Sidney James | 5'11” | 189 | SO
#-- | Nick Jones | 6'2” | 191 | FR
>>The secondary has some talent in depth in some spots but is thinner at others. With the linebacker group so thin it's likely that safeties could move up and corners could shift into safety roles in the spring.
“We've got some dudes here so we're looking forward to getting them out there and letting them ball out. Some of them may not fit the traditional roles but ballers ball so we're going to get them coached up to do that.” Defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain said.

SPECIALISTS

KICKERS
#25 | Nico Gramatica | 5'8” | 167 | SR
#42 | Adam Zouagui | 5'11” | 176 | SR(RS)

PUNTERS
#39 | Luke Goater | 6'2” | 196 | SO(RS)
#-- | Dorian McSurdy | 6'5” | 216 | SO
>>The specialists may be the most stable of all the position groups with Gramatica's strong leg and steady aim available to put points on the board when the offense falters. Tony White, the team's defensive coordinator, was adamant about pursuing former Florida State punter Dorian McSurdy in the portal.
“These guys did a good job for us last season and I am excited to work with them again and bring Dorian into the mix.” Chad Creamer, the special teams coach and only holdover from USF's 2026 coaching staff.

Post by **djp73** » 01 Nov 2025, 21:46

2027 AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM PREVIEW SERIES

SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS

NATIONAL RANK: 113 | AMERICAN CONFERENCE PREDICTION: 12 | 2025 RECORD: 5-7 (4-4, 8th in American)

Head Coach: DJ Porter, 1st Season
Offensive Coordinator: DJ Porter, 1st Season
Defensive Coordinator: Tony White, 1st Season

USF finished 5-7 last year with a middling 4-4 record in conference games. The powers that be looked to give the program a shot in the arm by hiring up and coming OC DJ Porter from Delaware and giving him free reign to bring in a great coaching staff around him, which he promptly did. While the cupboard is bare at several positions the coaching staff will look to get the most out of the players they do have in year one while working to shape the roster in their vision through recruiting.

OFFENSE
Despite a strong season from last year's starter Locklan Hewlett and a good backup in Joshua Brantley Coach Porter and his staff still pursued Georgia State transfer TJ Stanley, giving them three viable options to start.

George Shembo and Steven Snead combined for 868 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground last season but neither provided a home run threat at the RB position. Porter and co will look for Nicholas Daniel, Connor Suggs or Elton York to provide a change of pace. Overall the position has depth and serviceable players but no standouts.

Wide receiver is one of the more talented position groups for the Bulls despite losing their top three from 2026. Senior Tyler Williams looks to be the leader at the position with dangerous speed and some of the best hands in the conference if not the entire nation. Behind him is incoming transfer Jordyn Bridgewater who caught 99 passes for 1,286 yards and 8 touchdowns in two seasons at UCF. Behind them the talent drops off some but senior Daidren Zipperer and redshirt freshman Dawann Troup are good options for the third and fourth receiver spots. Depth beyond that is a bit of a concern.

Tight end is a position with a lot more questions than answers for the Bulls as Turner McLaughlin is the only one on the roster with any receptions at the collegiate level and his 27 for 275 yards and three touchdowns in 2026 is hardly a large body of work. McLaughlin has primarily been used as a blocker and that is his best fit. Henry Gregory has yet to catch a pass in college but he has the size and route running ability to be a viable option in the passing game.

USF already possessed a large offensive line corps before the offseason but Porter and his staff still chose to bolster the group with six incoming players, all high school players aside from Cliff Jean-Pierre who comes in as a junior after two seasons at Blinn CC in Texas. With 21 players available to mix and match into various lineups it leads one to believe they should be able to assemble a solid group. Connor Doyle is the only senior in the room and he will likely be tasked with leading and anchoring the line.

DEFENSE
Tony White brings his somewhat unique 3-3-5 Tite defensive scheme along with him and USF just plain does not have the ideal players to run it. They will be undersized along the defensive line with only Jahari Grant checking in at over 300 pounds while the scheme calls for several players of his stature in order to clog up the middle. Weather or not undersized players can hold their own in the system will be a big factor in how well White's defense does in year one.

While the situation at linebacker may not be as dire from an ability standpoint the numbers are a concern. With only six players currently listed as linebackers on the spring roster White and linebackers coach Ernie Sims will have to get creative to fill those needs. A bright spot should be Penn State transfer Eric Rance.

The secondary, which will be coached by Patrick Surtain, has a lot of unknowns with Izaiah Guy, who missed half the season last year due to injuries, being the only returning starter at CB. Surtain will need to do his best to coach up the guys behind him to find at least two more starters. On the back end Cedrick Hawkins returns as the leader of the group while Sidney James is likely to claim one of the other starting positions. The third spot will be up for grabs and the staff hopes that Nick Jones, their highest ranked incoming freshman, will fit right in this spring.

SPECIAL TEAMS
If there's a coach on the USF staff who's sleeping well at night it's probably special team coordinator Chad Creamer, the lone returning coach from USF's 2026 staff. Creamer has returning senior kicker Nico Gramatica coming back off a 20/24 season in 2026. Defensive coordinator Tony White was high on former FSU punter Dorian McSurdy, who the team was able to sign. Adam Zouagui and Luke Goater give them depth at both positions. Creamer will use the spring camp session to determine his returners as only Elton York has experience in the role on the roster and a more explosive option would be a nice upgrade.

SEASON OUTLOOK
USF's 2027 performance will depend heavily on the coaching staff's ability to fill roles that are currently question marks and get the most out of a roster that looks to have middle of the road talent for the American conference. Expect 3-5 total wins and a bunch of close losses due to growing pains associated with the transition to both coordinators systems, moreso on the defensive side of the ball.

2026 SEASON SCHEDULE AND RESULTS – 5-7(4-4)
Sat, Sep 5 – Florida International – L 42–34
Sat, Sep 12 – at Alabama – L 45–24
Sat, Sep 19 – FCS Southeast – W 36–24
Thu, Sep 24 – at Navy – W 34–31
Sat, Oct 3 – Temple – W 36–10
Sat, Oct 10 – at LSU – L 48–17
Sat, Oct 17 – at North Texas – L 52–30
Sat, Oct 31 – Charlotte – W 45–39
Sat, Nov 7 – at Tulsa – W 40–14
Sat, Nov 14 – Florida Atlantic – L 50–49
Thu, Nov 19 – UAB – L 30–28
Sat, Nov 28 – Tulane – L 45–28

2027 SCHEDULE
Sat, Aug 28 – at Northern Illinois – 12:00 PM
Sat, Sep 4 – vs Louisville – 7:00 PM
Sat, Sep 11 – at Boise State – 6:00 PM
Sat, Sep 18 – vs FCS Southeast – 12:00 PM
Sat, Oct 2 – at Charlotte – 8:00 PM
Sat, Oct 9 – vs East Carolina – 7:00 PM
Sat, Oct 23 – at Florida Atlantic – 3:15 PM
Sat, Oct 30 – at Rice – 3:30 PM
Sat, Nov 6 – vs North Texas – 3:00 PM
Sat, Nov 13 – vs Navy – 12:30 PM
Sat, Nov 20 – vs UTSA – 3:30 PM
Sat, Nov 27 – vs Army – 1:30 PM

TOP 10 HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITS
(Per On3)
1. SS Nick Jones – ★★★ – #488 NATL, #49 STATE, #8 POS – 6'2" 191 – HS – Atlanta, GA
2. QB Branden Duff – ★★★ – #499 NATL, #14 STATE, #30 POS – 6'1" 180 – HS – Inman, SC
3. ATH (HB/DB) Jalen Stevens – ★★★ – #532 NATL, #67 STATE, #60 POS – 5'10" 181 – HS – Winter Garden, FL
4. C Darren Sumner – ★★★ – #587 NATL, #57 STATE, #13 POS – 6'4" 294 – HS – Covington, GA
5. CB Matt Ansah – ★★★ – #842 NATL, #115 STATE, #83 POS – 6'0" 160 – HS – Lakeland, FL
6. RG Chester Knapp – ★★★ – #1049 NATL, #33 STATE, #51 POS – 6'3" 279 – HS – Memphis, TN
7. C Oliver Ellefson – ★★★ – #1202 NATL, #152 STATE, #32 POS – 6'4" 280 – HS – Deerfield Beach, FL
8. REDG Greg Demorat – ★★★ – #1240 NATL, #157 STATE, #105 POS – 6'2" 245 – HS – Miami, FL
9. RG Matt Toure – ★★★ – #1360 NATL, #115 STATE, #59 POS – 6'2" 307 – HS – Valdosta, GA
10. WR Gerald Camarda – ★★★ – #1549 NATL, #41 STATE, #277 POS – 6'1" 167 – HS – Hartsville, SC

SCOUTING THE BULLS
“I think they have assembled an outstanding staff. You've got Porter all full of energy and innovation and then he brought in basically an entire ACC defensive staff that's very comfortable in the Florida recruiting scene. It will probably take them a few seasons but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're the class of that conference before we know it.”
-Anonymous CFB Analyst-

Post by **The JZA** » 01 Nov 2025, 23:08

Bro had his fill of chicken. Now he's off to South Beach to teach them young bulls how to Jameis Winston the snow bunnies

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 02 Nov 2025, 11:13

I predict a fair number of high scoring games this season, that defense is abysmal

Post by **djp73** » 02 Nov 2025, 20:47

The JZA wrote: ↑
01 Nov 2025, 23:08
Bro had his fill of chicken. Now he's off to South Beach to teach them young bulls how to Jameis Winston the snow bunnies

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