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# Stampeding Through the 2025 USF Football Roster: #34 EDGE Rico Watson III
- URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/stampeding-through-the-2025-usf-football-7b0/
- Published: 2025-07-25T13:01:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T15:47:10.000Z
- Description: In which I gush about the concept of B-backers for a bit.
- Author: Collin Sherwin
- Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44

*Note: this is a particularly long entry, because this is the first appearance of the nebulous “B-backer” position in our countdown, and I feel the need to discuss exactly what that means in the context of USF’s defense. If you already know all that, or you just don’t care, you can skip all the italicized text below and go directly to the Rico Watson-specific portion.*

*We* [*briefly discussed*](https://thebayareaexaminer.substack.com/p/stampeding-through-the-2025-usf-football-8e5) *the intricacies of USF’s \~multiple\~ defensive scheme, but the B-backer is their most unusual position (at least nomenclature wise), so it bears some repeating here. USF’s “base defense” - as in, the defense that they list on their depth chart - most closely resembles a 4-2-5, but a couple of the positions are “hybrid” positions that aren’t easy to categorize. The defense (very loosely!) consists of:*

- *Three defensive linemen that usually line up with their hands in the dirt: on the interior, a big, space-eating *nose tackle* and a slightly smaller (but still quite large) *defensive tackle*, and on the exterior, a *defensive end* who resembles a typical 4-3 DE.*
- *A hybrid “*B-backer*.” The B-backer usually lines up standing upright, on the other side of the line from the defensive end. They’re generally a pass-rushing specialist, lighter than the DE but heftier than the linebackers. Though the B-backer’s predominant role is rushing the passer, Todd Orlando’s scheme will sometimes have them drop into coverage or occupy the center of the box like a traditional linebacker. This position is most similar to an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense - who these days are often referred to as the nebulous “EDGE” - so for simplicity’s sake, I will use “EDGE” when classifying B-backers in the post titles.*
- *Two traditional *linebackers*, who usually line up in the middle of the defensive box, as linebackers are wont to do.*
- *In the secondary, things are fairly standard: two *cornerbacks*, who are your traditional corners who line up across from the outside receivers, one *safety*, who usually lines up the deepest and plays a “centerfielder” type role, one *nickel* cornerback who lines up across from the slot receiver and is a frequent blitzer (think Daquan Evans), and one hybrid-ish *strong safety* who usually lines up in the box and plays a bit more like a linebacker - they blitz and play near the line of scrimmage much more than the other defensive backs (think Tawfiq Byard and Jaelen Stokes).*

*For context:*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/ae54d4e6-a918-41ff-825e-571e424bcc5b_2862x1434.png)

*Note #2: I am NOT a football schematic guru. I am simply a dude doing a very long countdown series. Please refer all further schematic questions to resident BAE genius Seth Varnadore.*

*Anyway! Let’s get to the good part.*

**PLAYER:** Rico Watson III

**POSITION:** B-backer

**YEAR:** Redshirt senior

**HEIGHT/WEIGHT:** 6’0”, 234 lbs.

**HOW DID HE GET HERE?** He started locally, playing linebacker at Armwood High School, where he was rated a low three-star prospect. He decided to walk on at Florida State and spent the 2019 season there, though he didn’t play. He transferred that offseason to FCS program Robert Morris, where he started as an edge rusher for three seasons and was quite productive, tallying 21.5 TFLs and 11.5 sacks in 24 career games for the Colonials. After the 2022 season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to the Bulls in February 2023\. His return home was pretty quiet at first - he had to sit out the 2023 season, presumably due to the NCAA transfer rules of the era. But the 2024 season gave him a chance to shine, and he took full advantage.

Note: perhaps due to the year off, which has since become anachronistic in today’s transfer-happy era, Watson flew under the radar a bit when he got to Tampa. But I must note: before the 2024 season began, I was quite intrigued by Rico Watson.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/02575d88-cb16-4c52-9aed-b8ae12048631_680x112.png)

Me, intrigued by Rico Watson, on August 21, 2024 at 2:03 PM.

Subscribe to the Bay Area Examiner for more hard-hitting reporting like this.

**HOW WAS HIS 2024 SEASON?** Watson instantly vaulted to the top of the depth chart at B-backer, starting the season opener against Bethune-Cookman and making his presence known with six tackles, two TFLs and half a sack. From there on out, he was a permanent fixture on the Bulls’ defensive front, appearing in all 13 games and starting ten. He ended the season with 36 tackles, six TFLs, and 2.5 sacks, and led the Bulls in snaps at B-backer by a comfortable margin.

One of his most notable plays of the season came against FAU, when USF had just kicked a field goal to go up 24-21 late in the third quarter. On the first play of the ensuing FAU series, Watson sprinted past Owls QB Cam Fancher, shook off his blocker, and worked himself back into the play to hit Fancher from behind, popping the ball into the air. USF recovered and scored a touchdown on their next drive, and the rout was on. You can relive the moment at around 9:22 in the video below:

Watson played the large majority of his 2024 snaps as an edge rusher, but the inherent flexibility of the B-backer position meant that he spent some time in a box linebacker-type role, and even in coverage. If you’re a totally normal person who gets excited about USF’s defensive wrinkles like me (there are dozens of us), you can see Rico in all sorts of different setups below:

Here, against Alabama, he’s in his typical B-backer position: near the line of scrimmage, but standing upright, like an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/ac84db75-3817-4841-9458-d2ce2eb81be1_2846x1268.png)

Sometimes, when the situation demanded it, he ended up in funkier positions. Against Navy’s triple option, USF often ran something similar to a 4-3, with Watson lining up alongside Mac Harris and Jhalyn Shuler as linebackers in place of one of the defensive backs. It’s a much beefier lineup than usual.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/2f5939c7-6a6b-4744-9ed2-d3d3803da1f7_2816x1152.png)

Finally, here’s a particularly fun one. With Charlotte facing an obvious passing situation below - third and long down several scores - the Bulls are lined up with only two true defensive linemen on the field, with Watson looking like a traditional box linebacker, and fellow B-backer Ira Singleton lined up as an edge rusher.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/8bc606e7-0c93-4646-bf5a-5ff5a68ff8c1_2854x1320.png)

I just think it’s neat!

**WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN 2025?** Are you still with me? Watson was USF’s first choice B-backer in 2024, and it stands to reason that he’ll top the depth chart again in 2025 (though I’d keep an eye on some of the talented rising sophomores like Ira Singleton and Ashton Mosley - but that’s a story for another post).

Watson was a really pleasant surprise for the Bulls in 2024, and it’d be even better if he could take another leap this season. USF’s defense is very blitz-happy and has not lacked for havoc plays, but in Todd Orlando’s two years as defensive coordinator, they haven’t had a tremendously productive edge rusher on the defensive line. Their most electric pass rushers of the past two seasons have been linebackers like Mac Harris (12 TFLs, four sacks in 2024) or safeties like Daquan Evans (14 and 4 in 2023). I’m certainly not complaining about the avant-garde blitz packages, but having a fearsome pass rusher on the defensive line could really help the defense take a big step forward. Maybe Watson can be that guy,

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