Tampa: USF Walk-On Had A Record-Breaking Season
The University of South Florida will wrap up their season this week when they take on Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl. For one Bulls player in particular, it will be another chance to continue to continue to shine. That is because walk-on junior receiver Sean Atkins has been having a record-breaking season with USF this year.
By The Numbers
Atkins wears number 38, which is an uncommon number for his position. Perhaps that is because Atkins plays the position unlike many of the rest. He’s an underdog who thrives under that label. At five-foot nine, 172 pounds, Atkins is considered to be on the smaller size for any college football player. However, in heart, #38 is leading the league.
This season, Atkins had 86 catches for 961 yards and 5 touchdowns. For those keeping score at home, this was enough to put Atkins in the USF record books. Both his receptions and yards gained statistics were single season highs for any Bulls player in history. In addition, he averaged over 11 yards per catch, which resulted in an incredible number of first downs. However, this was an accomplishment that Atkins had experience in.
“He broke every conceivable receiving record at Viera High School on Florida’s Space Coast and was twice named second-team all-state,” a recent Go Bulls profile states.
Walking On From The East Coast Of Florida To USF
Despite his stellar high school football career, Atkins did not receive any Division 1 scholarship offers. Although many players in the Melbourne area were getting looked at to play at top-level programs, not many of them had the high school success that Atkins had. However, they had a size advantage.
Ultimately, Atkins stayed true to himself and was confident in his abilities that he chose to walk-on at USF. Now in his fourth full season for the Bulls, Atkins worked his way to being named second team All-AAC, and one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy (given to the best walk-on player of the season).
“After my first day at USF, I said to myself, ‘I’m here to stay. I can do this,'” Atkins told Go Bulls last month. With a record-breaking 2023 season at USF, he certain did just that.
