South Florida, Old Dominion flip to backup QBs for Cure Bowl

The South Florida Bulls will make a push for their 10th win this season in Wednesday’s Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla., but they will do it without the standout quarterback that led them through a season that had them ranked at one point.

Byrum Brown, the dual-threat quarterback who ran former coach Alex Golesh’s offense, will not play in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt). Brown turns the 9-3 American Conference squad over to senior Gaston Moore for his final college game.

Brown, who passed for 3,158 yards and rushed for 1,008, could head to the NFL draft, follow his former coach to Auburn or return to the Bulls, but he will have a new role in the postseason — assistant coach.

“Byrum continues to attend every team activity/practice and has been incredible in supporting his teammates as he always is,” USF’s CEO of athletics Rob Higgins said on Wednesday. “So much so, that we’ve asked Byrum to serve as a coach in the Cure Bowl to help us get our 10th win.”

Another victory would mark the third time in school history the Tampa school has reached double figures in wins. It did so under coach Charlie Strong in 2017 (10-2) and the year before with coach Willie Taggart (11-2), with both seasons ending with Birmingham Bowl triumphs.

A graduate transfer who played for the Tennessee Volunteers, Moore appeared in seven games this season and went 14-for-20 for 54 yards and a touchdown.

With Golesh gone, current Bulls defensive line coach Kevin Patrick is serving as interim head coach. Tight ends coach Jack Taylor will handle the offensive play-calling.

“(Moore’s) been in the system six years, coming from Tennessee. He’s played some valuable reps there,” Patrick said. “You go watch out at practice, and you talk to our defensive staff and the defensive backfield, I mean, the guy’s got an arm on him.

“He’s confident, and the guys are confident around him.”

Keshaun Singleton has been the Bulls’ top receiver this season, producing 877 yards on 50 receptions with eight TDs — all team highs — in 12 games.

Similarities exist between the two programs.

The Monarchs will be without its driving force and top producer, quarterback Colton Joseph, and also are seeking a 10-win campaign.

The multi-faceted sophomore accounted for 34 touchdowns (21 passing, 13 rushing) and totaled 2,624 passing yards and 1,007 rushing on his way to Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors.

However, the Newport Beach, Calif., product will take his throwing and running talents elsewhere in 2026, most likely a major Power 4 program, after announcing those intentions last Tuesday via social media.

Sophomore Quinn Henicle, Joseph’s backup, will lead the team in Orlando after playing in three games last season and starting the 2024 finale at Arkansas State, a 40-32 victory in which he was 9-of-12 passing for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 19 times for 206 yards and two scores.

The coaching staff has faith that the native of Downingtown, Pa., can be a suitable replacement for Joseph. Henicle is 6-of-15 passing for 57 yards along with 20 carries for 201 yards this season.

“Colt leaving was not a shocker to us,” said Old Dominion offensive coordinator Kevin Decker. “But nothing really changes. All year long, they’ve been 1-2 in practice. Quinn knows every single game plan.”

Trequan Jones has rushed for 736 yards on 97 carries (7.6 per rush) and five scores. Tre’ Brown III totaled 751 yards on 37 receptions (20.3 per catch) and four TDs.

–Field Level Media