If the 2010 spring practice was a "getting to know you" period for new coach Skip Holtz, his staff, and players, then 2011 apparently will have a theme of "getting to know all about you" at USF.

Holtz told the Tampa Tribune he plans to take a look at a lot of players at different positions as the Bulls opened workouts that are scheduled to end with the annual "Green and Gold Bowl" on April 9.

That doesn't mean fans should expect to see quarterback B.J. Daniels working at safety or receiver, but slightly less ambitious experiments, such as working offensive guards at tackle and linebackers moving inside or flopping sides.

"You're just looking at all the different ways to turn and make your team better and give everybody a roll," Holtz told the newspaper. "There will be a lot of evolving stuff. At the end of spring, that's when you're done playing around with everybody and taking a look."

The Bulls came out of the 2010 season with a pair of significant late-season wins that will provide some momentum for their second season under Holtz.

First was the overtime win at Miami in the next-to-last game of the season. It gave the Bulls a win over a program from the state of Florida's traditional "Big Three" for a second year in a row following the 2009 win at Florida State.

Then, after a close loss to Connecticut in the regular-season finale, the Bulls beat Clemson in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.

That resulted in an 8-5 overall record for the Bulls, their third such mark in a row. They have had six consecutive winning seasons following a 6-6 record in 2005.

Now the goal is to come up bigger in the Big East. They finished 3-4 in the conference, their third consecutive losing record in league play. They were 4-3 in each of their first three seasons as Big East members (2005-07).

"Our next hurdle is we have to represent the Big East," Holtz said after the bowl win. "We need to win the Big East. Those are the goals that we have and the things we talk about it, the things we want to accomplish.

"To get to where we want to be, I don't think there is any doubt that is the next step of where we need to go."

SIGNING DAY FLASHBACK

TOP OF THE CLASS

DT Elkino Watson (Washington High, Miami) -- Watson was an early Miami commitment but became a last-minute surprise by signing with the Bulls. He is the only four-star commit in the USF fold, according to Rivals.com, though Scout.com gave him only three.

WR Andre Davis (Jefferson High, Tampa) -- Davis' ratings were just the opposite of Watson's -- four stars by Scout.com, three by Rivals.com. Either way, Davis looks to get an early shot at playing time in the fall considering the Bulls' need at the position.

WR Ruben Gonzalez (Robinson High, Tampa) -- Like his fellow signee Davis, Gonzalez brings size to the position. Both are 6-2. Gonzalez gets a three-star rating from both Scout.com and Rivals.com.

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