Every week, UCF Mike from the Sons of UCF presents a UCF related Top 5 list.

This week's list is Top 5 Interceptions.

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There is a lot of transition on the UCF Knights defense, specifically at the linebacker position. Considered a position of weakness a year ago, UCF bolstered the group from the transfer portal, including veteran Deshawn Pace. After spending the first part of his career at Cincinnati, the versatile and athletic Pace is excited to get started in Orlando.

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UCF is looking to Louisiana for one of their top defensive end targets in the 2025 class.

Reshad Sterling, a native of Lutcher, received his UCF offer in January and made his first-ever visit this past weekend.

"Everything started with (UCF cornerbacks coach) Trovon Reed," Sterling said. "We started talking on the phone, then I made the connection with (UCF defensive ends coach Kenny) Ingram. I got offered and I was trying to make arrangements to come visit."

That visit took place on Saturday.

"It was fantastic," Sterling said. "They toured me around, showed me everything on campus. I learned so much about the program and got to hang out with the coaches."

What stood out from the tour?

"My favorite part was the weight room," Sterling said. "It's really nice."

Sterling said he really felt a close connection with the coaches.

"I spent a good time with everyone," he said. "Coach Ingram has great energy, so does Coach Reed. Coach Ingram was telling me about a program he leads with the team called 'Manhood.' It's about helping the players become men."

UCF likes Sterling in the "buck" position.

"They said my role would be similar to Malachi Lawrence who is there now," Sterling said. "I actually got to meet him. UCF said they can see from my film that I want it bad on the field. I attack the QB and can stop the run too. I always hear that from coaches."

In addition to meeting Malachi Lawrence, Sterling said he met RJ Harvey and a few other players.

"That was nice," he said. "I haven't done that on any other visit. They were real cool."

Sterling particularly enjoyed meeting head coach Gus Malzahn.

"That was just terrific," Sterling said. "You can tell he's a terrific coach just by the energy he gives off. He keeps it real with you. Personally, I feel like that's a head coach you want to play for."

Of his offers, Sterling said he's liking UCF, Houston and Tulane the most right now.

"UCF's campus was very nice," he said. "We watched a video and I didn't know their stadium moves. They call it the Bounce House because their fans are so into it. I really think the UCF program is growing. It's going to be something big."

Sterling is planning to visit Tulane this Saturday to watch their spring practice. He already has an official visit locked in with Houston the weekend of June 14. He says UCF wants him back for an OV too.

"I really like the coaches at all three of those schools (UCF, Houston, Tulane)," Sterling said. "I love all those guys. My decision will be based on where I can play. You've got to have film on Saturday to play on Sundays. I also want to go to a team where the guys want to win. Not just happy to be there. They want to dominate. I like playing with dominant people."

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With players like Brandon Marshall and Mike Sims-Walker among its alumni, UCF has built a reputation as "Wide Receiver U." The man responsible for developing that talent is Sean Beckton, who himself was a standout receiver in his day and is a member of the UCF Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Beckton will be tasked with replacing five wide receivers, including longtime key contributors such as J.J. Worton, Rannell Hall, Josh Reese and Breshad Perriman, so it was paramount to sign receivers in this class who could contribute immediately. UCF ended up with three new additions: Cameron Stewart, Tristan Payton and D'erren Wilson.

Recruiting Q&A with Coach Beckton

Big 12 Media days get underway Tuesday in Las Vegas, and the Sons of UCF got some quick thoughts from Commissioner Brett Yormark on the eve of the event.

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The Sons of UCF participated in day 1 of the 2024 Big 12 media sessions, which included opportunities to talk with Cincinnati, Utah, Arizona State, TCU, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State. As UCF embarks on year 2 of the Big 12, their scheduled opponents know that UCF will be a challenge to play in 2024. Interviews include: Scott Satterfield, Matt Campbell, Kenny Dillingham, Sonny Dykes, Cam Rising, and more.

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I'm going with WVU, TTU, and Pokes (space).

• WVU - The white facemask on white helmut looks good, but the full black and gold UCF decal is better than the gold outline decal from the Kansas game.
• TTU - Same color scheme as some other games, but the white XII logo looks good.
• OSU - Space game helmuts were sweet this year.

https://www.helmethistory.com/ucf.html

Missing from the lineup: Think I remember that someone inside the program doesn't like the old state of FL logo. Regardless, would like to see it make a comeback - particularly for homecoming.

Welcome to The Knighted One’s Podcast, Episode number 46. We are the ONLY podcast that features a former UCF National Champion, a former UCF radio host, an ESPN Analyst and Hoops Player, a INfamous rapper, and an IG star, shooting the breeze, talking UCF Sports.

This week The Utah Man Podcast Joins Us! We also go over some stellar new football recruits, some humble brags, a big hooper coming to town, and we dust off our ACT scores.


Please comment for subjects that we should cover in our Intern Re-Education segment!


Introductions
We Welcome The Utah Man Himself, Cameron. - 00:04:37
Talkin' Utes - 00:05:49
- The Utah Game Day Experience
- Buzz On The Fanbase
- The Art of The Shotski
- How Did Utah Handle Realignment?
- A Similar Journey of Our Own
- A Bigger, Better Conference
- A New Reason To Spend Money
- Looking Towards The Next FB Season
- Head Coach Controversy
- Where To Find The Utah Man
UCF Football: The Stars Are Aligning! - 00:46:24
- A Stud WR Flips From Miami To Us
- A Stacked OL Room
- The Desir Twins Are Double The Trouble
- A New Edge To Our Defense
- A Stellar DL Gets Knighted
- A Double Threat Gets Added To The Roster
- Lotta Moves In A Short Amount of Time
- Our Standards Have Changed
- Ben's Tall Take
- Josh's Throat (Pause)
- Long Way From Diamond Mining
Hoopin' N' Hollerin': Chargin' Up For Double A? - 01:08:26
- Stats On Amari Allen
- We're In The Mix
- Gotta Keep Our Recruiting Game Strong
- We've Got Good Odds
- Ben's Humble Brag
Allen's Oxymoronic Stats Of The Week - 01:17:20
- Flexing Our Recruit Ranking
Josh's Sometimes Funny Fact of The Week - 01:21:50
- ACT Scores
UCF Athletic Sports Update - 01:28:07
- Big Props For Rayniah Jones
Final Thoughts / Listener Love - 01:28:45

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Welcome to The Knighted One’s Podcast, Episode number 46. We are the ONLY podcast that features a former UCF National Champion, a former UCF radio host, an ESPN Analyst and Hoops Player, a INfamous rapper, and an IG star, shooting the breeze, talking UCF Sports.

This week The Utah Man Podcast Joins Us! We also go over some stellar new football recruits, some humble brags, a big hooper coming to town, and we dust off our ACT scores.


Please comment for subjects that we should cover in our Intern Re-Education segment!


Introductions
We Welcome The Utah Man Himself, Cameron. - 00:04:37
Talkin' Utes - 00:05:49
- The Utah Game Day Experience
- Buzz On The Fanbase
- The Art of The Shotski
- How Did Utah Handle Realignment?
- A Similar Journey of Our Own
- A Bigger, Better Conference
- A New Reason To Spend Money
- Looking Towards The Next FB Season
- Head Coach Controversy
- Where To Find The Utah Man
UCF Football: The Stars Are Aligning! - 00:46:24
- A Stud WR Flips From Miami To Us
- A Stacked OL Room
- The Desir Twins Are Double The Trouble
- A New Edge To Our Defense
- A Stellar DL Gets Knighted
- A Double Threat Gets Added To The Roster
- Lotta Moves In A Short Amount of Time
- Our Standards Have Changed
- Ben's Tall Take
- Josh's Throat (Pause)
- Long Way From Diamond Mining
Hoopin' N' Hollerin': Chargin' Up For Double A? - 01:08:26
- Stats On Amari Allen
- We're In The Mix
- Gotta Keep Our Recruiting Game Strong
- We've Got Good Odds
- Ben's Humble Brag
Allen's Oxymoronic Stats Of The Week - 01:17:20
- Flexing Our Recruit Ranking
Josh's Sometimes Funny Fact of The Week - 01:21:50
- ACT Scores
UCF Athletic Sports Update - 01:28:07
- Big Props For Rayniah Jones
Final Thoughts / Listener Love - 01:28:45

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New Top 5 list for the week. Enjoy and discuss.

Click the link below

Top 5 Interceptions

It boasts maybe the two best running backs in the country. It has the most proven quarterbacks outside of the SEC. Its September slate is magnificent. Its conference race could feature as many as eight contenders, maybe 10.

The Big 12 probably won't have a national title contender in 2024, or in most coming seasons. It just lost its two biggest brands -- and, by nature, most likely annual contenders -- to the SEC. In, perhaps, the most compelling conference in the sport, its champion will be battle-tested, confident and capable of making some playoff noise. It will almost certainly be the most entertaining. Conference realignment has been a destructive force for this sport in countless ways, but it did gift us with a magnificently messy Big 12. Let's count our blessings. And let's preview the Big 12!

The Sons of UCF report from Day 1 of BIG 12 Media Days in Las Vegas.

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The Sons are "LIVE" this week talking about some 4th of July traditions, and of course, discovering "what's in the box" sponsored by Charlie Hustle.

PLUS: The Sons reveal some exciting news about their upcoming schedule - VIVA SONS VEGAS!

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I know there’s a schedule thread but this deserves its own discussion

We’re so ****ing back

This kid’s dad wants him to go to UCF! My next door neighbor.

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What do I tell him are his next steps?

What are the protocols all you COVIDIOTs are still rooting for at the stadium this year? Maybe we can get the resident effiminate Nurse to lead a focus group for recommendations.

Quintuple jabs with documentation required? 8 foot spacing instead of 6 foot? Quintuple masking instead of double masking? Hand sanitizer misting machines throughout the Bounce House? Can’t be too safe. Better to follow the science and get mandates in place now to save you COVIDIOTs from yourselves. Maybe some bird flu protocol mandates too. How have we even survived to this point to witness another season?

The spring transfer portal has been open for a week and will continue for one more week. Here's a look of where we currently are.

7 UCF scholarship players have entered the portal:

QB Timmy McClain
S Nikai Martinez
WR Stephen Martin
WR Goldie Lawrence
DB Ja'Maric Morris
DB Jason Duclona
DE Zavier Carter

No major surprises on the list. It was always expected Timmy McClain would enter the portal. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't do it last December. My guess is they wanted clarity on the two-time transfer rule.

Nikai Martinez, from what I'm told, saw the writing on the wall in terms of his starter status and playing time. He would have been a contributor in some form or fashion, but it remains to be seen if he would have retained his starting job. He struggled vs. Big 12 competition last year and was the team's worst-graded tackler.

Stephen Martin is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship. He definitely would have played on special teams and possibly cracked the WR rotation, though he was looking for a bigger opportunity with more playing time.

The other players didn't make much of an impression in the spring. I don't think any were on the two-deep.

UCF has received a commitment from 2 spring transfer portal players:

S Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State)
DE Nyjalik Kelly (Miami)

By my count, UCF has 79 players on scholarship (returners, signees, transfer commits) which leaves 7 open spots for portal additions.

UCF's spring portal needs:

Quarterback - UCF's QB room is KJ Jefferson and three freshmen (Dylan Rizk, Riley Trujillo, EJ Colson). Most teams would be in trouble if the starting QB went down, but UCF's situation is especially precarious.

Transfer Name to Watch - Jacurri Brown (Miami)

Brown is set to visit this week. He would essentially be signing up to be UCF's backup, though you never how the season will go. He could end up playing a major role and set himself up to be the 2025 starter.

Running Back - On the surface, this does not appear to be a major need assuming UCF is returning RJ Harvey, Johnny Richardson and Myles Montgomery, though UCF apparently feels otherwise as evident by offers.

Transfer Names to Watch - Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams (UMass), Trent Howland (Indiana).

Lynch-Adams is scheduled to visit UCF this upcoming weekend. He has a midweek visit to Michigan State. Howland is looking at UCF, Ole Miss, Duke and Oklahoma State.

Wide Receiver - UCF is looking for an experienced player (or two) in the portal. Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend are UCF's only established receiving threats. Beyond those two, the rotation is shaping up to include Jarrad Baker, Trent Whittemore, Chauncey Magwood and freshman Bredell Richardson.

Transfer Names to Watch - Ja'Varrius Johnson (Auburn), Jay Fair (Auburn), Justus Ross-Simmons (Colorado State), Dalevon Campbell (Nevada), Elijah Badger (Arizona State), Justin Robinson (Mississippi State), Jacoby Jones (Ohio), Tyler Williams (Georgia), Raymond Cottrell Jr. (Texas A&M/Kentucky), Tar'Varish Dawson (Auburn/Colorado), Sam Brown (Houston).

There's a lot of names here and there will be top competition for the first few names on the list.

Offensive Line - UCF is searching for additional depth at all positions. Center remains a question mark. Caden Kitler seemingly won the job in the spring. Jabari Brooks was moved to guard. Waltclaire Flynn could be the future, but he's a freshman. Could UCF look to add an additional center for provide preseason competition?

Transfer Names to Watch: Jason Zandamela (USC), Gabriel Arena (Virginia Tech), Joe Borjon (Arizona), Derrick Graham (Troy/Texas A&M), DJ Geth (North Carolina).

Defensive End - Malachi Lawrence is coming off a breakout season. Beyond that, the current rotation is mostly younger unproven players and an FCS transfer (Kaven Call, Jamaal Johnson, Isaiah Nixon, Daylon Dotson).

Transfer Names to Watch - Nyjalik Kelly (Miami), Eddie Kelly (Georgia Tech), Rene Konga (Rutgers), DJ Allen (Purdue).

Nyjalik Kelly committed to UCF on Tuesday.

Linebacker - UCF has seemed pleased with Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt) and Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati) this spring, though UCF is still recruiting linebackers in the spring portal.

Transfer Name to Watch - Myles Jernigan (California).

Jernigan has OVs scheduled to Kansas State, Louisville, UCF and Duke.

Secondary - UCF has already added Cedrick Hawkins and could look for additional depth.

Transfer Names to Watch: Tre'Quon Fegans (USC), Cormani McClain (Colorado), Kaleb Spencer (Miami).

Lots of questions surrounding McClain, UCF is definitely doing their due diligence. It could happen.

==

QB (4)

KJ Jefferson (Arkansas)**
Dylan Rizk
Riley Trujillo*
EJ Colson*

RB (5)

RJ Harvey
Johnny Richardson
Myles Montgomery (Cincinnati)**
Stacy Gage*
Frankie Arthur*

WR (10)

Kobe Hudson
Xavier Townsend
Trent Whittemore
Chauncey Magwood
Jarrad Baker
Tyree Patterson
Bredell Richardson*
Kylan Fox*
Jordyn Bridgewater*
Kason Stokes*

TE (4)

Randy Pittman Jr.
Jordan Davis
Evan Morris (Michigan State)**
Grant Stevens

OL (13)

Amari Kight
Marcellus Marshall
Adrian Medley
Caden Kitler
Paul Rubelt
Jabari Brooks (Samford)**
Wes Dorsey (Western Kentucky)**
Cameron Kinnie
Johnathan Cline
Keyon Cox
Patrick Barnett
Waltclaire Flynn*
Chase Malamala*

DT (7)

Ricky Barber
Lee Hunter
John Walker
Matthew Alexander
Derrick LeBlanc
Andrew Rumph
Marcus Downs*

DE (6)

Malachi Lawrence
Nyjalik Kelly (Miami)**
Daylan Dotson (UT Martin)**
Jamaal Johnson
Isaiah Nixon
Kaven Call

LB (10)

Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt)**
Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati)**
Jesiah Pierre (Texas Tech)**
Xe'ree Alexander (Idaho)**
Andrew Harris
Kam Moore
TJ Bullard
Troy Ford Jr.
Qua Birdsong*
DJ McCormick*

S (9)

Bryon Threats (Cincinnati)**
Demari Henderson
Quadric Bullard
William Wells
Xavier Williams
Christian Peterson*
Jashad Presley*
Jakob Gude*
Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State)**

CB (7)

Brandon Adams
Ja'Cari Henderson
Ladarius Tennison (Ole Miss)**
Braeden Marshall
Antione Jackson (ECU)**
Chasen Johnson*
Jaylen Heyward*

Specialists (4)

K Colton Boomer
K Grant Reddick
P Mitch McCarthy
LS Gage King

I posted this in the Bourbon thread, but I am guessing some of you may not drink bourbon so I figured I would give it, its own thread.


My home for the next three weeks is the Holiday Inn Express Dunedin.

Any suggestions would be great.

• Bars – Preferably with Music
• Restaurants
• Breweries – There’s a bunch, but if you have a favorite
• Liquor stores with a good selection of bourbon
• Cigar Shops/Bars
• If any of you live over here and happen to have a boat and are going fishing on Sunday and needs somebody to pay for gas, beer, cigars, food, I’m your guy.
• Anything else that I should do while here – I have my bicycle, so I plan on riding the trail.
• Clear Water and Tarpon Springs are also easily accessible by Bike, Truck or Trolly.

prospects to list them in their top 5,10,etc? I can see how it’s beneficial for a program to want the best prospects to be considering their school that is of no cost to the player. Ie if a player knows they are going to school X or Y, they could charge schools to be put in their top 5. This benefits both parties. TBC this is very deceptive/wrong but with no regulation I was wondering if this sort of thing happens?

Who wins the ACC this year?
NC State looks promising especially with Grayson McCall leading the offense. Can FSU repeat? Is Cam Ward the answer in South Florida? Can Dabo rise like the phoenix?

Big 12 Media days get underway Tuesday in Las Vegas, and the Sons of UCF got some quick thoughts from Commissioner Brett Yormark on the eve of the event.

Click here for more.

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