USF coach Charlie Strong is expected to dismiss 11 players who were suspended for the Bulls' Gasparilla Bowl matchup against Marshall, according to a report from the Tampa Bay Times.
Strong is also expected to dismiss four assistant coaches, according to a source close to the situation.
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Those suspended: receivers Darnell Salomon, DeVontres Dukes and Deangelo Antoine; running backs Elijah Mack and Duran Bell; defensive backs Donelle Thomas and Naytron Culpepper; defensive linemen Brandon Boyce, Armon Williams and Marquies Price; and offensive linemen Jeremiah Stafford.
The source said they did not suit up for the game for a violation of unspecified team rules. Those issues reportedly began after the Bulls' 57-36 loss to Houston, the first of six consecutive losses to end the season after USF started the year 7-0.
Strong has not confirmed whether he will dismiss the players or assistants, though the Times source said the players are not expected to return for the 2019 season. Additionally, Strong told Times columnist Martin Fennelly he intended to "clean up" the USF program in the aftermath of a 38-20 bowl loss to Marshall.
"I'm telling you right now, we're going to clean up this whole program," Strong told Fennelly. "A lot of guys will be leaving. We need a good washing."
If Strong dismisses the players and assistants, it would be the third time of his head coaching career. He dismissed nine Longhorns players during his three-year Texas tenure, and got rid of three Bulls players before coaching a game at USF.
