TAMPA, Fla. — As the sun began to set on the USF football spring game Friday night, the Corbett Stadium lights shined bright on a halftime flag football game that brought former South Florida players together for a night to remember. 

What You Need To Know

  •  USF football alums held flag football game during spring football game event

  •  Former players like BJ Daniels and Marquez Valdes-Scantling sounded off on the new era of Bulls

  •  Alumni shared wise words of wisdom to new class

Former USF wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling told Spectrum Sports 360's Katya Guillaume, “This is huge. I love this place. This place means so much to me and being able to come back and just be around the guys, support, watch them work, it’s been fun.”

It’s been a few years since former players like BJ Daniels and Valdes-Scantling stepped foot on a USF football field, but Friday night felt like old times. 

Daniels added, “It’s awesome. It’s awesome, and I grew up at this school as a young man and to be able to be back and help out our players and bring former players back, it’s amazing.” 

While the former quarterback hadn’t played in a professional game since 2020, he showed he still had game. 

On the sidelines, Valdes-Scantling, current wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs and the honorary captain, took some time to show the fans some love, but the night was more than just signing autographs. It was about having fun, reminiscing, and looking forward to the future of South Florida football, like the addition of the new on-campus football stadium.

“It was just a matter of time. Just seeing the indoor go up and them talking about building the stadium right behind that, I’m super excited because you know all the groundwork we’ve put in to be here. It’s just a testament to the guys that came before us," Valdes-Scantling said.

The men also shared a few words of encouragement to the new class of USF Bulls as they embark on this new chapter under a new head coach.

“I really just talk about the things that I did wrong," Daniels, who spent five seasons in the NFL said. "The things that I struggled with and the things I had to overcome. The Super Bowl is great and all that kind of stuff but at the same time, I understand what they are going through because I lived their life.”

Some wise words from a man whose current goal is to help elevate this group of guys.