With multiple sports in the midst of their 2024 season, several USF athletes have made their case for why they could be considered the best at their university.

This year’s power rankings feature a diverse mix of talent, each dominating their sport and elevating USF Athletics to new heights. 

Before I get into the rankings, there are a couple of ground rules: 

To be considered, I am only evaluating an athlete’s play in a Bulls uniform. If they haven’t suited up for USF yet, you won’t find them here.

The list is based on the cumulative careers of these athletes at South Florida. However, their ranking is mostly influenced by their current level of play.

Without further ado, here are the five best athletes at USF

5. Sammie Puisis – Women’s Basketball

Graduate forward Sammie Puisis is undeniably a lights out shooter – she shot 38% from the 3-point line in the 2022-23 season. 

She finished with 105 three-pointers that same year – good enough for fifth in the country.

Puisis was the 3rd leading scorer for the Bulls that year, pouring in 15.1 points per game. 

Puisis was in prime position to be USF’s star last season, but she didn’t get the chance as she was held back by a knee injury. 

She played one game for the Bulls last season before being ruled out the rest of the year. 

Related: Sammie Puisis’ injury status unclear after USF wins against Texas Arlington

With Puisis being out for the 2023-24 year, she has to settle for spot number five on the list, as she needs to prove she still has one of the greatest shooting touches the school has ever seen.

4. Sean Atkins – Football

Graduate wide receiver Sean Atkins is arguably the best at his position in USF’s history. 

The former walk-on had a 2023 season for the ages, becoming the school’s first 1,000-yard receiver, in addition to a record-setting 92 catches in one season.

But Atkins has been decent at best in 2024, which is why he only places fourth in the rankings.

Through seven games, Atkins has only gone over 50 yards once, with 125 yards in a loss to No. 8 Miami. 

The wide receiver remains the most consistent target for the Bulls offense, but more is to be desired after such a promising year in 2023.

3. Maria Clara Andrade – Volleyball

Since her freshman year in 2022, junior outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade has been a consistent force for Bulls volleyball. 

Last year, Andrade finished in the top five of multiple categories for USF. On offense, she ranked second in kills and points, while defensively she finished third in both digs and blocks.

In the 2024 season, Andrade has captained the AAC’s top team with a huge year on offense. She’s the team leader by a wide margin in both kills and points, with a plus 50 difference in both stats.

Andrade also is steadily climbing into the all-time record books for USF. She has 1,013 kills, just outside the top 10 all-time for USF volleyball. Andrade said her goal was to reach 1,500.

Related: USF volleyball secures best conference start since 2002

If she is able to reach that number, that’ll place her 5th in the record books for all-time kills

2.Byrum Brown – Football

Junior quarterback Byrum Brown has had a shaky start to his 2024 season. 

His completion percentage is an abysmal 53% and he’s only logged two passing touchdowns through the five games he’s appeared in. The quarterback has also missed two straight matches due to injury this year.

With all that being said, a masterful season from Brown in 2023 still secures him a spot in the top three. 

Entering the 2024 season, Brown held 12 USF program records. This includes the most passing yards in a season with 3,292, as well as the most passing touchdowns in a single season with 26. 

He also helped lead the Bulls to a 7-6 record last year, their first campaign over .500 since 2018.

Will Brown return to his top form when he comes back this season? The answer to that remains to be seen but his current body of work is undeniable.

1. Abdul-Rasheed Saminu – Track and Field

Junior sprinter Abdul-Rasheed Saminu may have had the best season of any USF athlete ever in 2023-24.

At every major competition, Saminu dominated, setting school records in the process.

The first school record Saminu captured was the indoor 60-meter dash, running a 6.57 at the American Track and Field Championships on Feb. 24.

At the South Florida Invitational on April 5, the Ghana native ran a wind-aided 9.95 100-meter dash – the best mark in school history, and a then-NCAA leading time for the season.

During the 2024 AAC outdoor championships in May, Saminu brought home three gold medals. He placed first in the 100- and 200-meter dash, as well as the 4×100 relay (gaining another school record).

With at least two more seasons at USF, the 2024 Paris Olympian may only get faster as he continues to develop. 

For now, he is just quick enough to run away with the top spot in this year’s ranking.