With classes officially beginning this week, Saturday marked the unofficial end of UCF's preseason camp.
The team was scheduled to continue camp practices on Monday and Tuesday before beginning preparations for the season opener against FIU on Wednesday, but their entire day won't revolve around the football facilities like it has been for the past two and a half weeks.
Following Saturday's closed scrimmage, quarterback Justin Holman spoke a bit about camp and a couple of the fast-rising wide receivers that may become some of his favorite targets this season.
"I felt good about camp," Holman said. "This was a big chemistry camp. That was the big thing. Everybody getting on the same page. Everybody working together towards the same goal to get that conference championship.
"The biggest challenge is just time. It's so grouped here during camp. The DBs stick with the DBs. The wide receivers stick with the wide receivers because they're going through the same grind together. They can relate to each other. The biggest thing is getting everybody on the same page. The offensive line with the receivers, the linebackers with the safeties. Just getting everybody on the same page."
George O'Leary says the quarterback should always be a leader. On that note, Holman says he's trying to show he's more than just talk.
"It's not always being a big vocal guy, but doing the right things," Holman said. "Guys aren't going to follow you if you can't go out there and perform the task yourself. Going out there and leading by example. It's more than just words."
What needs to happen before toe meets rubber a week from Thursday?
"Now we need to work on execution," Holman said. "We got everything in. We're giving effort and attitude. We need to work on execution and fine tuning all the little things and we should be fine."
Since past practices were closed, one move that came as a minor surprise during the open workout last Friday was the promotion of walk-on Chris Johnson to first team wide receiver.
"That's what I've always expected from that guy," Holman said. "I've known him for a long time... I met him when he first came here. He went to the same high school as my roommate, D.J. Killings. The biggest thing is he's consistent. He shows up with the same attitude every day. Same work mindset. And consistency. That gets you on the field... He's a playmaker. I'm looking forward to big things from him."
Another wide receiver who seems to have earned a travel spot with a strong camp is Nick Patti, who just this past spring had been the backup quarterback to Holman.
"He's had a great camp, the guy is a great athlete," Holman said. "When I still have problems with some things in my mechanics or anything I can go to him. We have another former quarterback at wide receiver, Kyle Coltrain. He used to be a quarterback. I would go to him over the spring and summer. Coltrain really helped me. Patti, Pete (DiNovo), Coltrain, those are all smart guys that know how to play the game of football."
