The USF Bulls head into the 2025 season without three of their top running backs from a year ago. This made head coach Alex Golesh go into the transfer portal. In it, he found a pair of running backs that are likely to be starting this upcoming season for the Bulls. The Bulls utilized a running-back-by-committee a season ago. This will likely be the same again with no clear front runner for the position.
Cartevious Norton, Charlotte/Iowa State Transfer
The first of the three is Cartevious Norton. Norton is a senior and has spent a year at Charlotte and two years at Iowa State. So far in his collegiate career, he has played in 31 games, tallying 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns. These stats could be massively raised as the Bulls are a run-heavy team.
All three of the Bulls’ trio a season ago (Kelly Joiner Jr., Nay’Quan Wright and Ta’ron Keith) finished the season with at least 415 yards rushing and eight touchdowns apiece. With the amount of carries that Norton will get, he could easily get the yards of last years’ backs or do even better.
Sam Franklin, Oklahoma/Tennessee-Martin Transfer
The other transfer running back the Bulls acquired in the offseason was Sam Franklin who spent three years between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. In his three seasons at FCS UT-Martin (including his red shirt season), he racked up 2,129 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns before he transferred to Norman, Okla.
At Oklahoma, his role was limited to just a reserve back role. Franklin had just 132 yards on 18 carries. He transferred to the Bulls shortly thereafter. Franklin is expected to carry the brunt of the carries alongside Norton.
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Alvon Isaac, USF
The USF Bulls used three running backs a season ago. While it isn’t certain that they will stick to that again, it wouldn’t be surprising. They have a lot of options for that third back spot. Currently, the favorite is sophomore Alvon Isaac. Unlike many of the other running backs vying for the third spot, he has been with the Bulls for a year already. In his freshman season, he played the maximum allowed four games, carrying the ball six times for 50 yards and a touchdown. While it was little experience, it does show the coaches some potential when he does get touches. If the Bulls do indeed go with three, Isaac could see his touches increase dramatically.
