D.J. Crowther Leads South Florida Against UAB

When film study shifts from early-season rotation charts to late-October tendencies, individual workloads tell the true story of how an offense operates. Fresh off 14 days of rest after an Oct. 17 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes, the South Florida Bulls host the UAB Blazers, who come off 16 days of rest following an Oct. 15 win over the East Carolina Pirates. At the center of South Florida's game plan sits running back D.J. Crowther, whose recent four-game volume has anchored the Bulls' offensive balance.

D.J. Crowther and the Bulls' Ground Footprint

Over South Florida's last four games, D.J. Crowther has served as the primary engine on the ground, accumulating 77 rushing attempts for 336 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. His work out of the backfield extends into the passing game as well, where he has caught 5 passes for 37 receiving yards and another touchdown, giving him 4 total touchdowns over that span.

That consistent ground output creates clean looks for quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., who has executed with remarkable ball security. Across his last 4 games, Michael Van Buren Jr. is 62-of-99 passing for 627 yards, 3 touchdowns, and zero interceptions, while also adding 35 rushing attempts for 35 yards. He distributes the ball efficiently across a distinct receiving corps: Bryson Rodgers leads the group with 14 receptions for 159 yards and 1 touchdown, while Cameron Seldon has generated 9 receptions for 123 yards and 1 touchdown in 3 games. Mudia Reuben provides another steady downfield option with 8 receptions for 115 yards over 4 games, while Jason Collins Jr. offers backfield relief, contributing 16 carries for 95 yards alongside 6 receptions for 32 yards.

Ryder Burton and UAB's Dynamic Offense

On the opposite side, UAB quarterback Ryder Burton operates a high-volume passing game over his last 4 completed games. Ryder Burton has completed 50 of 95 pass attempts for 706 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, while recording 31 rushing attempts for -14 yards.

His primary downfield spark has been C.J. Smith, who has logged 14 receptions for 251 yards and 1 touchdown over 4 games, plus 1 rush for 22 yards. Companion receiver Tiaquelin Mims adds serious big-play threat with 11 receptions for 229 yards and 1 touchdown. In the backfield, UAB features a distinct committee approach. Roderick Robinson II leads in carries with 53 rushing attempts for 211 yards (0 rushing TDs) while adding 3 receptions for 27 yards and 1 touchdown catch. Meanwhile, Braylon McReynolds has been the primary red-zone finisher, turning 36 rushing attempts into 192 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns, plus 3 catches for 26 yards and 1 touchdown catch. Ja'Vin Simpkins rounds out the rotation with 24 carries for 119 yards and 1 touchdown.

Recent Production Overview

The matchup brings an intriguing contrast in play distribution. South Florida won the previous meeting between these teams 48-18 on Nov. 22, 2025. With current market lines setting South Florida as a -7.5 favorite (down from an open of 10.5) and the total sitting at 41.5 (up from an open of 35.5), both teams enter off extended preparation time.

Player	Team	Touches / Att	Total Yards	Total TDs
D.J. Crowther	South Florida Bulls	82 (77 rush / 5 rec)	373	4
Michael Van Buren Jr.	South Florida Bulls	99 pass / 35 rush	662	3
Ryder Burton	UAB Blazers	95 pass / 31 rush	692	4
Roderick Robinson II	UAB Blazers	56 (53 rush / 3 rec)	238	1
Braylon McReynolds	UAB Blazers	39 (36 rush / 3 rec)	218	4

With both coaching staffs holding over two weeks to refine packages, the efficiency of D.J. Crowther on early downs versus UAB's backfield rotation will dictate the tempo in Tampa.