USF safety Jaelen Stokes [Photo courtesy of USF Athletics]
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
USF safety Jaelen Stokes has plenty of highlight-reel moments — 10 solo tackles against Navy and a sack in the Boca Raton Bowl, to name a few.
The 2025–26 season is his last, two years before USF opens its first on-campus stadium in fall 2027.
Yet, he’ll be a part of that highlight too.
He’s accomplishing that through a DuCon Construction mentorship program, where more than a dozen USF student-athletes — not just football players — are learning the full process of building the 35,000-seat facility: bidding on construction materials, ordering supplies, on-site project management, community outreach and more.
“Until this internship, I didn’t fully understand how much detail went into projects like this one,” said Tyra Thomas, who runs the 100-meter hurdles for track and field. “It’s been exciting to learn about.”
Tyra Thomas [Photo by Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing]
The mentorship program was the idea of Ernest DuBose II, CEO of DuCon, which is partnering with Manhattan Construction Company and H.J. Russell & Company to manage the building of the stadium, which will also host lacrosse games, concerts and festivals.
“My mom graduated from USF. My son, Deric, played football for USF,” said DuBose, a former University of Florida football player. “So, this is my dream project. I wanted to share that dream by providing opportunities to USF student-athletes.”
Each student-athlete first receives a construction team mentor who meets with them every few weeks to explain the ins and outs of the industry. If the intern then expresses interest in construction management as a career, they get an even more thorough look at it by shadowing different DuCon , Manhattan and Russellemployees to learn every facet of the industry. Stokes has been doing so for five months, and Thomas since the start of August.
“The ideal situation we want is for them to go from internship to career,” DuBose said. “Whether they continue to work for us on the stadium or another project, or work with one of our subcontractors, we want to help them get hired.”
Ernest DuBose II [Photo by Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing]
The program has certainly piqued Stokes’ interest. Prior to the internship, his post-football aspirations included law enforcement or coaching. Now, he sees a possible future in construction management.
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing the process,” Stokes said. “Most people just hear about the stadium and then see it finished, like it just went up overnight. I’m learning about all the long, hard steps in between.”
Thomas was already interested in the trade.
“It’s in my family,” she said.
One uncle oversees home building in Polk County; another the construction of apartment complexes and retail centers throughout Tampa. She hopes to work for DuCon and then, once experienced enough, venture out on her own.
“I have a dream of going to college towns, finding abandoned properties, purchasing and fixing them as affordable rentals for student-athletes,” Thomas said. “Between classes, practice, travel, and the season, it is hard for student-athletes to find enough time to work and afford a nice place. I’ve dealt with that. Now, I want to help others.”
Tyra Thomas and Ernest DuBose II [Photo by Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing]
For DuBose, the parallels between being a student-athlete and working in construction management are everywhere. The discipline, the preparation, the reliance on every team member’s strengths—he sees it all as part of the same playbook.
“I was a student-athlete, my project manager, Clayton Brown, was a student-athlete, and my superintendent, Issac Ricks, was a student-athlete,” he said. “Just like in sports, success here depends on teamwork, trust and knowing your role. Everyone has a position based on their skills and experience, and when each person plays to their strengths, the whole team wins.”
Stokes echoed that sentiment.
“The teamwork needed for building a stadium and playing in one are so much alike,” he said. “I can’t wait to come back and visit the new stadium and say I was part of it.”
USF football kicks off the season Aug. 28 at Raymond James Stadium as the Bulls take on Boise State.