Four University of South Florida football players have earned NFL opportunities immediately following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Five-year starting center Brad Cecil (Jacksonville) was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions. Cecil played in 53 career games and made 50 starts (both second all-time at USF) while serving as the Bulls' primary starting center from 2018-22 (with an extra Covid year) and blocking for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.
Two-year starting tackle Demontrey Jacobs (Gonzales, La.) was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos. Jacobs started all 12 games in 2022, playing at both left and right tackle, and finished his three-year career at USF (after transferring from Grambling) with 25 starts. He helped plow the way for Brian Battie to become just the sixth USF player to post a 1,000-yard rushing season at USF in 2022.
Four-year starting linebacker Dwayne Boyles (Miami) earned a minicamp invitation from the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Boyles played in a record 54 games at USF and made 43 starts while posting 315 career tackles (7th all-time) and 31.5 tackles for loss, and logging a team-best 108 tackles in 2022 (9th-most all-time).
Two-time all-conference selection Demetris Harris (Jacksonville) earned a minicamp invitation from the Seattle Seahawks. Harris finished his career as the Bulls' all-time leader in career starts with 53, including a string of 30 straight to end his career, and tied for second all-time in games played with 53 while blocking for two 1,000-yard rushers.
USF opens the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at Western Kentucky before the first of six games at Raymond James Stadium on Sept. 9 vs. Florida A&M. Eighteen-time national champion Alabama and Nick Saban come to Ray Jay on Sept. 16 and USF will host conference games vs. Charlotte, FAU, Rice and Temple.