The South Florida football team’s summer hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing.

While headlines at the Big East school in Tampa, Fla., revolved around a new baseball coach, negative news emerged in early July after one of the football program’s top talents found himself in legal trouble, then a slew of recruits failed to qualify academically.

Carlton Hill, who chose USF over Miami in 2004, was arrested in late June and charged with possession of marijuana. Soon after, Hill transferred to Pearl River Community College, where he plans to play quarterback before joining the Bulls and coach Jim Leavitt once again.

“We want to help him out and get him back to coach Leavitt in May,” Pearl River coach Tim Hatten told the Tampa Tribune. “We’re excited to have him.”

Hill passed for 135 yards, rushed for 94 and caught three passes for 19 yards in limited action last season, but came into spring drills as the projected starting quarterback. Academics held him out for most of the spring, and it was announced he was yanked from the position altogether after the legal run-in. He transferred about a month later.

The loss potentially puts a bigger question mark at quarterback for USF – though the mystery slinger does have some nice targets.

Pat Julmiste, a senior with 23 career starts, now appears to be the frontrunner at quarterback. The Bulls’ offense, once known for its running because of tailback Andre Hall’s credentials, may see passing as a better alternative in ’06.

Amp Hill could lead that aerial attack. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound transfer from LSU, Hill was highly decorated coming out of high school in Jacksonville, Fla., and spent two years in Baton Rouge – including a national championship year – before a coaching change and stacked receiver position caused him to transfer. He caught a team-high eight passes for 87 yards in USF’s spring game in April.

Another Hill – tight end Cedric Hill – could become a bigger option for USF’s quarterback. Cedric Hill originally signed with Miami, but went to USF instead and caught 10 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown as a freshman.

The Bulls’ current parts in place might have to carry the load, considering the newcomers are thin. The St. Petersburg Times reported that 10 players from the February signing class didn’t make it to the USF campus, most failing to reach NCAA academic standards.

Like Kansas University, South Florida will have three games before the Sept. 23 meeting in Lawrence. On Sept. 2, the Bulls will play McNeese State, followed by a home game with Florida International and a road game at Central Florida on Sept. 16.