USF’s compact, power-built freshman back with weight-room edge
Connor Matthews entered the 2026 season as a redshirt freshman at South Florida after not seeing game action in 2025, but his calling card is obvious: a sturdy 5-foot-8, 205-pound frame, a proven high school production track, and elite strength numbers that scream contact balance and downhill pop. In 2024, he rushed for 1,245 yards and 13 touchdowns at Niceville, while his 2023 tape showed 1,500 yards and 24 scores; he also earned 247Sports’ Freaks List nod and a Florida 3A state title in weightlifting, so the upside is real for a team wanting a physical, low-center-of-gravity runner with room to grow.
