Stampeding Through the 2025 USF Football Roster: #35 CB Herlin Perry Jr.
This incoming freshman from Rhode Island was a surprise reclassification from the class of 2026.
PLAYER: Herlin Perry Jr.
POSITION: Cornerback
YEAR: Freshman
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5’11”, 170 lbs.
HOW DID HE GET HERE? Perry started his high school career at LaSalle Academy in Rhode Island before transferring to Miami Central in 2024. His recruitment started blowing up a bit once he arrived in Florida, as he reeled in offers from USF, Pitt, and Maryland, among a few others. He ended up committing to the Bulls relatively late in the process - late in November, just before early signing day, when he made things official. Perry’s commitment was a bit of a surprise, because he announced along with his pledge to the Bulls that he was reclassifying from the class of 2026 to the class of 2025, allowing him to graduate high school early and enroll in college a year earlier than anticipated.
It will absolutely stun you to learn that the recruiting services rated Perry a mid three-star prospect.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN 2025? Like the other true freshman fall enrollees in the secondary, we’ve yet to see any indication that Perry will be seeing immediate action this season. But in 2024, the Bulls had two true freshmen defensive backs - James Chenault and Fred Gaskin - make it into the two-deep and play regularly. The depth chart is a little bit harder to climb this season, but logic dictates that we’ll see at least one true freshman in the secondary rotation. Perhaps Perry can be that freshman.