Stampeding Through the 2025 USF Football Roster: #26 S Jermaine Dalias
Today's player is another freshman in the secondary.
PLAYER: Jermaine Dalias
POSITION: Safety
YEAR: Redshirt freshman
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'2", 195 lbs.
HOW DID HE GET HERE? Dalias went to American Heritage School outside of Fort Lauderdale, where he played across the secondary and was rated a mid three-star prospect. He earned offers from a smattering of G5 schools at first, but received interest from some big programs down the line as well (an offer from Miami, and interest from Wisconsin and Texas A&M). He committed to USF in October 2023, signed in December, and enrolled in the fall.
HOW WAS HIS 2024 SEASON? He took a redshirt season, appearing in three games in late-game duties and a bit on special teams. His most productive game came in the blowout against Tulsa - he notched three tackles, the first of his college career.
USF used Dalias in a few different positions in the secondary, but he saw the majority of his snaps as a strong safety playing in the box, like Tawfiq Byard or Jaelen Stokes. That may be where USF sees him in the future.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN 2025? USF’s two-deep at safety will be hard to break into, with Tavin Ward, Fred Gaskin, Jaelen Stokes and McNeese transfer Boogsie Silvera likely comprising the top two units in some order. Dalias will likely be battling for snaps with some exciting newcomers, like freshmen Jeremiah Jones and Jermichael Gillis and UCF transfer Cedrick Hawkins. If Dalias can emerge at the top of that bunch, he’ll be in line for a good uptick in playing time in 2025.