USF football recruiting notebook: Bulls working on ACC flips, in pursuit of big-time local lineman, more

USF’s 2025 recruiting effort is in an interesting spot. The Bulls have 23 commitments — which is near capacity for what the staff wants in terms of high school recruiting — but there is still much movement to take place in the next three months before National Signing Day.

Alex Golesh and Co. are in communication with several prospects who picked other programs over the Bulls with the hopes of getting them to change their mind. But at the same time, there are other programs who are coming after USF pledges or will likely at some point in the future. As On3 outlined last week, big-time programs are coming after USF defensive back commit Antavious Richardson, who is likely to flip elsewhere.

Richardson and Miami Northwestern’s Tywan Cox are the Bulls’ cornerback commits currently, and the staff is working on two class of 2025 prospects at the position who are pledged to ACC programs.

Lake Worth (Fla.) Santaluces Community’s Caden Gordon, a three-star prospect and No. 58 cornerback nationally per On3, committed to NC State in mid June and had the Bulls on his list of finalists. Sources tell On3 that USF is still in communication with Gordon, and there’s a chance that the 6-1, 170-pounder makes a trip over to Tampa to see the Bulls in action this fall.

Another flip target for USF is Ocoee (Fla.) High’s Joshua Guerrier, the No. 659 overall prospect and No. 29 “athlete” in America per the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. And Guerrier was just at Raymond James Stadium last Saturday to see the Bulls blow out Bethune Cookman.

Guerrier visited USF twice over the summer — including an official visit — but committed to the Pittsburgh Panthers July 1. But the Bulls are hoping to keep the talented prospect in-state.

“I was impressed a lot with their nickelbacks; they made a lot of plays,” Guerrier told On3. “Coach [James] Rowe and I talked about that position and that what I was manly impressed by.”

The 5-11, 160-pounder noted that he felt welcomed by the USF staff during the trip. It’s a school that Guerrier is comfortable, especially considering the amount of times he’s met with the USF staff.

The Bulls have an uphill battle to ultimately land him, though. He says that his commitment remains “solid” with Pittsburgh and plans to visit there next weekend and in November for the Clemson game.

“Nothing has changed one bit,” he said regarding his commit status.

USF battling for impressive 2026 offensive lineman

The Bulls hosted Clearwater (Fla.) Calvary Christian class of 2026 offensive tackle Michael Ionata for a visit last Saturday as well, and it was a trip that went well. The 6-6, 295-pounder has a competitive recruitment, but it’s one that USF is not backing down from.

“The game was great,” Ionata told On3. “I had a great time. They really shocked me with how much they have developed since even a year ago. I got to talk to a bunch of the coaches like Hoodie (Tyler Hudanick) and Golesh, and I love those guys.”

Ionata, who does not have an On3 or On3 Industry Ranking yet, holds scholarships from Florida State, USF, Florida Atlantic, West Virginia and Kentucky, and it’s likely that he’ll have many more schools that join his offer sheet.

But the Bulls have the pitch of being the local option and are a program on the rise with the potential of joining a power conference in the near future.

“They are very active in my recruitment, and I really appreciate that they have taken so much interest in me,” Ionata said. “I love the coaching staff and Tampa is a great place to be. The way they are on the rise is exciting.”

USF extends intriguing new offer

Houston Mayde Creek class of 2025 EDGE Tobi Haastrup has caught the attention from college coaches across the country in the blink of an eye.

On Sept. 2, Hasstrup held zero scholarship offers at the Division I level. And today, he has Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Virginia, Illinois, Boise State, LSU, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and a few others on his offer sheet.

USF was offer No. 14 for the 6-4, 235-pounder, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him pass 30 offers in no time. Bulls’ director of scouting Alex Fagan extended the offer to Haastrup.

A native of London, England, Haastrup just played in his first game of high school football ever last Friday and posted five sacks in the game. At his size, he reportedly runs a 10.7 in the 100-meter race and benches 365 pounds.

The competition will be fierce to land Haastrup.