COLLEGE FOOTBALL COUNTDOWN: NO. 67 UCF
RBs key to Knights’ attack
Healthy Wilson, Stanback lead another title run
By Shannon Green Staff Writer
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2015-16 season. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 128 to our projected No.1 team.
Today at No. 67: UCF
Coach: George O’Leary (81-48, entering 12th season, 133-93 overall)
2014 record: 9-4, 7-1 in American Athletic Conference; tied for 1st place in American
Look back: A Fiesta Bowl win in 2013 earned UCF national attention and the school worked to build on the historic season in 2014. The ambition was challenged by a unique schedule, with the Knights starting the season against Penn State in Ireland and a heavy lineup of Thursday and Friday night games. Some key departures hurt, including the loss of Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and running back Storm Johnson. UCF hit some bumps along the way, including a painful 37-29 loss to struggling UConn on the road, but pulled it together to win a share of its second consecutive AAC title.
Offensive starters returning: 5
Offensive starters lost: 6
Defensive starters returning: 4
Defensive starters lost: 7
Key losses: LB Terrance Plummer, LB Troy Gray, S Clayton Geathers, S Brandon Alexander, CB Jacoby Glenn, CB Jordan Ozerities, OL Torrian Wilson, WR Breshad Perriman, WR Rannell Hall, WR J.J. Worton, WR Josh Reese, K Shawn Moffitt
Top returnees: QB Justin Holman, RB Will Stanback, WR Jordan Akins, OL Chavis Dickey, DL Thomas Niles, DL Jamiyus Pittman, LB Chequan Burkett
Strengths: Health issues, in part, hampered UCF’s run game last season, with sophomore starters Will Stanback and Dontravious Wilson often sidelined due to nagging injuries. The Knights will look for their core of talented running backs to serve as their strongest point on the offense. In addition to Stanback and Wilson, UCF should get some valuable contributions from freshman running back Taj McGowan. Quarterback Justin Holman improved throughout his rookie season in 2014, during which he led the Knights to a second consecutive league title. Holman collected 2,952 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Although a bevy of senior receivers graduated, the Knights still have some firepower in returning starter Jordan Akins and newcomer redshirt freshman Tre’Quan Smith. “We expect to win the conference every year. That’s something coach primes us to feel, say,” Holman said during spring drills. “We’re supposed to walk around like champions and just act like that in everyday things in the way we work in school, the way we work in the weight room.”
Weaknesses: UCF’s defense finished 2014 ranked No. 5 in total defense and that was due in large part to its talented secondary, which included fourth-round draft pick Clayton Geathers and All-American Jacoby Glenn. Glenn, a redshirt sophomore, declared early for the draft after collecting seven interceptions and earning AAC defensive player of the year honors. All four starting defensive backs have moved on. The Knights will be equally challenged to replace the team’s most valuable player from 2014, team captain and starting middle linebacker Terrance Plummer. Aside from some returning leaders on the defensive line, UCF will field a largely inexperienced defense under first-year defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan.
Outlook: It will be a challenge for UCF to win its third consecutive conferencechampionship. The Knights will face early league title favorite Cincinnati this season in the East Division after avoiding head-to-head matchups with the Bearcats during the past two seasons. UCF lost a great deal of experience on the defensive side of the ball and it will take some time for the replacements to adapt to their new roles. The dropoff, however, shouldn’t be too severe and a bowl bid should be within reach thanks to an experienced quarterback, some dependable skill players and a manageable schedule. sjowens@orlandosentinel.com
2015 schedule
Sept. 3 FIU Sept. 12 at Stanford Sept. 19 Furman Sept. 26 at South Carolina Oct. 3 at Tulane Oct. 10 UConn Oct. 17 at Temple Oct. 24 Houston Oct. 31 at Cincinnati Nov. 7 at Tulsa Nov. 19 East Carolina Nov. 27 USF
RBs key to Knights’ attack
Healthy Wilson, Stanback lead another title run
By Shannon Green Staff Writer
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2015-16 season. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 128 to our projected No.1 team.
Today at No. 67: UCF
Coach: George O’Leary (81-48, entering 12th season, 133-93 overall)
2014 record: 9-4, 7-1 in American Athletic Conference; tied for 1st place in American
Look back: A Fiesta Bowl win in 2013 earned UCF national attention and the school worked to build on the historic season in 2014. The ambition was challenged by a unique schedule, with the Knights starting the season against Penn State in Ireland and a heavy lineup of Thursday and Friday night games. Some key departures hurt, including the loss of Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and running back Storm Johnson. UCF hit some bumps along the way, including a painful 37-29 loss to struggling UConn on the road, but pulled it together to win a share of its second consecutive AAC title.
Offensive starters returning: 5
Offensive starters lost: 6
Defensive starters returning: 4
Defensive starters lost: 7
Key losses: LB Terrance Plummer, LB Troy Gray, S Clayton Geathers, S Brandon Alexander, CB Jacoby Glenn, CB Jordan Ozerities, OL Torrian Wilson, WR Breshad Perriman, WR Rannell Hall, WR J.J. Worton, WR Josh Reese, K Shawn Moffitt
Top returnees: QB Justin Holman, RB Will Stanback, WR Jordan Akins, OL Chavis Dickey, DL Thomas Niles, DL Jamiyus Pittman, LB Chequan Burkett
Strengths: Health issues, in part, hampered UCF’s run game last season, with sophomore starters Will Stanback and Dontravious Wilson often sidelined due to nagging injuries. The Knights will look for their core of talented running backs to serve as their strongest point on the offense. In addition to Stanback and Wilson, UCF should get some valuable contributions from freshman running back Taj McGowan. Quarterback Justin Holman improved throughout his rookie season in 2014, during which he led the Knights to a second consecutive league title. Holman collected 2,952 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Although a bevy of senior receivers graduated, the Knights still have some firepower in returning starter Jordan Akins and newcomer redshirt freshman Tre’Quan Smith. “We expect to win the conference every year. That’s something coach primes us to feel, say,” Holman said during spring drills. “We’re supposed to walk around like champions and just act like that in everyday things in the way we work in school, the way we work in the weight room.”
Weaknesses: UCF’s defense finished 2014 ranked No. 5 in total defense and that was due in large part to its talented secondary, which included fourth-round draft pick Clayton Geathers and All-American Jacoby Glenn. Glenn, a redshirt sophomore, declared early for the draft after collecting seven interceptions and earning AAC defensive player of the year honors. All four starting defensive backs have moved on. The Knights will be equally challenged to replace the team’s most valuable player from 2014, team captain and starting middle linebacker Terrance Plummer. Aside from some returning leaders on the defensive line, UCF will field a largely inexperienced defense under first-year defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan.
Outlook: It will be a challenge for UCF to win its third consecutive conferencechampionship. The Knights will face early league title favorite Cincinnati this season in the East Division after avoiding head-to-head matchups with the Bearcats during the past two seasons. UCF lost a great deal of experience on the defensive side of the ball and it will take some time for the replacements to adapt to their new roles. The dropoff, however, shouldn’t be too severe and a bowl bid should be within reach thanks to an experienced quarterback, some dependable skill players and a manageable schedule. sjowens@orlandosentinel.com
2015 schedule
Sept. 3 FIU Sept. 12 at Stanford Sept. 19 Furman Sept. 26 at South Carolina Oct. 3 at Tulane Oct. 10 UConn Oct. 17 at Temple Oct. 24 Houston Oct. 31 at Cincinnati Nov. 7 at Tulsa Nov. 19 East Carolina Nov. 27 USF
