UCF Game Notes - Stanford
Knights travel to California for a Saturday evening matchup with the Cardinal.
Sept. 6, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF will embark on its first trip to California when it clashes with Stanford Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on FOX Sports 1.
UCF Game Notes in PDF Format
Game Details:
Saturday - Stanford, Calif. - 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT
2015 Records:
UCF - 0-1 Overall, 0-0 American
Stanford - 0-1 Overall, 0-0 Pac-12
Stadium:
Stanford Stadium (50,424)
Series:
First Meeting
Live Coverage:
740-AM - Orlando
Twitter.com/UCF_Football
Television:
FOX Sports 1
Team Notes
WELL THIS IS DIFFERENT
• Saturday marks UCF's first game against a school from California, and its first in the Golden State.
• Dating back to its first season in 1891, Stanford has never played a team from the Sunshine State.
TRAVELING MEN
• Hopping on long plane rides has been nothing new to the Knights, who have visited Ireland, Arizona, and Utah in recent years.
• Longest trips in UCF history (according to TravelMath - distance by air):
Opponent/Game - Season - City - Miles
T1) Sheraton Hawaii Bowl - 2005 - Honolulu - 4,747
T1) Hawaii - 1995 - Honolulu - 4,747
3) Croke Park Classic - 2014 - Dublin - 4,071
4) Stanford - 2015 - Stanford - 2,427
5) Utah State - 2001 - Logan - 1,935
6) BYU - 2011 - Provo - 1,896
7) Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - 2013 - Glendale - 1,853
8) Arizona State - 2002 - Tempe - 1,836
9) New Mexico - 1996 - Albuquerque - 1,549
10) UTEP - 2008, `12 - El Paso - 1,516
HITTING THE ROAD
• UCF is 9-2 in true road games the last two seasons (not counting neutral sites), and 12-4 in its last 16 road contests.
BOUNCING BACK
• In the previous two seasons UCF lost its opener (2005 and 2013), the Knights came back to be bowl eligible.
• In 2005, UCF went on to win the C-USA East Division en route to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
• In 2013, the Black and Gold won a share of the American Athletic Conference title and earn a spot in the St. Petersburg Bowl.
KEEP PENALTIES LOW
• The Knights committed just three penalties in the season opener, highlighted by none in the first half.
• It was the second straight game UCF had only three penalties dating back to last year.
• The last time UCF had a season opener with three or fewer penalties was only two years ago when it had just one vs. Akron in 2013.
HITTING ATTENDANCE MARKS
• UCF eclipsed the 2 million mark in total attendance at Bright House Networks Stadium vs. FIU. The facility opened in 2007.
• Dating back to its first year in 1979, a total of 9,965,647 fans have attended all UCF games (home, away, neutral and one exhibition), which is 34,353 short of the 10 million mark.
VERY YOUNG
• UCF ranks tied for third in the FBS with just nine seniors overall (scholarship and non-scholarship):
School - Seniors
1) Wake Forest - 6
2) Wyoming - 8
3) UCF - 9
3) Vanderbilt - 9
• The Knights were tied for second with only eight seniors in 2013 (South Carolina had five).
UCF-STANFORD CONNECTIONS
• UCF volleyball senior Abbie Fleener's first cousin is Coby Fleener, who is currently with the Indianapolis Colts and attended Stanford.
• Head Coach George O'Leary was the leader at Georgia Tech in 2001 and coached the Yellow Jackets' first 12 games of the year, but did not serve as head coach for the 2001 Seattle Bowl when GT defeated Stanford, 24-14.
• O'Leary was Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator when it topped Stanford in the 1991 Aloha Bowl, 18-17.
• Freshman walk-on offensive lineman Jake Brown is the only Knight from California (Encinitas/La Costa Canyon High School).
• Stanford has three players from Florida: Ben Edwards (Jacksonville), Noor Davis (Leesburg) and Jesse Burkett (St. Augustine).
Offense Notes
BREAK-OUT GAME
• There was a lot of talk in the offseason about how UCF could replace a heavy wide receiver class from 2014. Three Knights stepped up against FIU.
• Comparing sophomore Jordan Akins from last year to just one game in 2015:
GP - REC - YDS - TD
True Freshman - 2014 - 13 - 12 - 135 - 0
Sophomore - 2015 - 1 - 9 - 104 - 2
• Redshirt freshman Tre'Quan Smith may be a new name for UCF fans, but he was the 2014 UCF Scout Team Player of the Year. So it came as no surprise to the coaching staff he duplicated Akins with nine catches for 104 yards vs. the Panthers.
• It was the 22nd time in UCF history that two Knights had at least 100 receiving yards in the same game.
• Walk-on Chris Johnson burst on to the scene in preseason camp, and had three catches for 32 yards including a diving snag on Sept. 3. This is his third year with the Knights, and was a defensive back in 2015 spring camp.
SMOOTH OPERATOR
• Junior quarterback Justin Holman's highest completion percentages last year came against USF (69.0), SMU (68.2) and Penn State (64.3).
• Against FIU, he finished 23-for-34 for a 67.6 percentage.
• Holman also had 249 passing yards, which was the seventh time in his last eight outings he had at least 200 yards through the air.
FIND THE ENDZONE
• With two against FIU, Justin Holman extended his streak to 14 straight games with a passing touchdown.
• Consecutive games with a touchdown pass by a Knight:
Player - Games - Dates
1) Ryan Schneider - 28 - 9/22/01-11/1/03
2) Daunte Culpepper - 22 - 11/2/96-10/31/98
3) Justin Holman - 14 - 8/30/14-Present
• UCF's overall streak of consecutive contests with a touchdown pass is 15 dating back to 2013.
NO. 13 IS CLIMBING
• Justin Holman needed just one full season as the starting quarterback to close in on career top 10 lists at UCF. Now a junior, he is poised to crack these charts in 2015:
- Attempts: 440 - 10th place has 474.
- Completions: 255 - 10th place has 321.
- Yards: 3,276 - 10th place has 3,867.
• Holman already sits eighth in passing touchdowns (26), ninth in 300-yard passing games (two) and ninth in completion percentage (58.0).
THE NEW WILD KNIGHT
• After starting his career at Boise State and then working as the backup quarterback at UCF a year ago, junior Nick Patti moved to wide receiver over the summer.
• The Orlando native took a couple of snaps in the Wild Knight package, and also chipped in a reception for six yards in the 2015 opener.
• UCF switching a signal-caller to wide receiver is nothing new lately. Pete DiNovo has also made the switch for 2015, while Rob Calabrese and Jeff Godfreywere utilized as wide receivers and Wild Knight quarterbacks late in their careers.
FRESH FACES
• First UCF starts on offense in the 2015 opener:
-RSo. WR Chris Johnson
-RFr. RT Luke Palmer
-RJr. WR Nick Patti
-RFr. WR Tre'Quan Smith
• Knights who made their collegiate debuts against FIU:
-Fr. RG Tyler Hudanick
-RSo. WR Chris Johnson
-RFr. RB C.J. Jones
-RFr. RT Luke Palmer
-Fr. WR Tristan Payton
-RFr. WR Tre'Quan Smith
Defense Notes
TAKING OVER
• Junior cornerback Shaquill Griffin received substantial playing time for the Knights last year even though they had four experienced starters in the secondary.
• The St. Petersburg native collected 17 tackles in 12 games, but came through vs. FIU with a team-best nine tackles (tied with Mark Rucker). Griffin also posted his second career break-up.
NOT OFF THE BENCH ANYMORE
• Outside linebacker Mark Rucker brought in nine total tackles from the previous two seasons. He ended the FIU game by matching that with nine.
• In the middle, Maurice Russell had five tackles from 2013-14. Against the Panthers, he finished with seven.
• UCF's other outside linebacker, Chequan Burkett, brought in the most experience this year, but he did register his first career forced fumble in the opener.
FRESH FACES
• First UCF starts on defense in the 2015 opener:
-RJr. FS Drico Johnson
-Jr. CB D.J. Killings
-Sr. DT Lance McDowdell
-RFr. SS Tre Neal
-RJr. OLB Mark Rucker
-RJr. MLB Maurice Russell
• Knights who made their collegiate debuts against FIU:
-Jr. CB Jeremy Boykins
-Jr. SS Jerod Boykins
-RJr. LB Demeitre Brim
-Fr. DE Titus Davis
-RSo. DT Tony Guerad
-Fr. LB Quintin Hampton
-Fr. LB Pat Jasinski
-RFr. SS Tre Neal
BUSY UP FRONT
• The trio of defensive tackles Jamiyus Pittman (four), Lance McDowdell (five) and Tony Guerad (four) combined for 13 tackles against FIU, while Pittman chipped in a blocked field goal.
• Each Knight set career-highs in tackles, while it was Guerad's first collegiate game.
SENIOR CLASS - DEFENSE
• There are five seniors on the Knights defense in 2015:
-LB Domenic Spencer
-DB Brendin Straubel
-DL Demetris Anderson (out with an injury)
-DL Lance McDowdell
-DL Thomas Niles
Special Teams Notes
MAKING THEM COUNT
• Junior Caleb Houston had seven punts against FIU, averaging 44.7 per boot and placing four inside the 20.
• After a Houston punt, FIU never started its ensuing drive further than its own 26-yard line.
• Houston had one boot of 53 yards, which matched his longest punt from all of 2014.
GETTING THE RETURN GAME GOING
• Jordan Akins may not have returned a kickoff vs. FIU, but a pair of Knights got into the action instead.
• Dontravious Wilson did have four returns a year ago, but added three returns for 72 yards vs. the Panthers.
• Redshirt freshman C.J. Jones also had a return for 28 yards in his first collegiate game.
• Over in the punt return game, Akins got into the act with two returns for 15 yards. It was his first punt returns of his career as he is replacing four-year standout J.J. Worton.
Knights travel to California for a Saturday evening matchup with the Cardinal.
Sept. 6, 2015
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF will embark on its first trip to California when it clashes with Stanford Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on FOX Sports 1.
UCF Game Notes in PDF Format
Game Details:
Saturday - Stanford, Calif. - 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT
2015 Records:
UCF - 0-1 Overall, 0-0 American
Stanford - 0-1 Overall, 0-0 Pac-12
Stadium:
Stanford Stadium (50,424)
Series:
First Meeting
Live Coverage:
740-AM - Orlando
Twitter.com/UCF_Football
Television:
FOX Sports 1
Team Notes
WELL THIS IS DIFFERENT
• Saturday marks UCF's first game against a school from California, and its first in the Golden State.
• Dating back to its first season in 1891, Stanford has never played a team from the Sunshine State.
TRAVELING MEN
• Hopping on long plane rides has been nothing new to the Knights, who have visited Ireland, Arizona, and Utah in recent years.
• Longest trips in UCF history (according to TravelMath - distance by air):
Opponent/Game - Season - City - Miles
T1) Sheraton Hawaii Bowl - 2005 - Honolulu - 4,747
T1) Hawaii - 1995 - Honolulu - 4,747
3) Croke Park Classic - 2014 - Dublin - 4,071
4) Stanford - 2015 - Stanford - 2,427
5) Utah State - 2001 - Logan - 1,935
6) BYU - 2011 - Provo - 1,896
7) Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - 2013 - Glendale - 1,853
8) Arizona State - 2002 - Tempe - 1,836
9) New Mexico - 1996 - Albuquerque - 1,549
10) UTEP - 2008, `12 - El Paso - 1,516
HITTING THE ROAD
• UCF is 9-2 in true road games the last two seasons (not counting neutral sites), and 12-4 in its last 16 road contests.
BOUNCING BACK
• In the previous two seasons UCF lost its opener (2005 and 2013), the Knights came back to be bowl eligible.
• In 2005, UCF went on to win the C-USA East Division en route to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
• In 2013, the Black and Gold won a share of the American Athletic Conference title and earn a spot in the St. Petersburg Bowl.
KEEP PENALTIES LOW
• The Knights committed just three penalties in the season opener, highlighted by none in the first half.
• It was the second straight game UCF had only three penalties dating back to last year.
• The last time UCF had a season opener with three or fewer penalties was only two years ago when it had just one vs. Akron in 2013.
HITTING ATTENDANCE MARKS
• UCF eclipsed the 2 million mark in total attendance at Bright House Networks Stadium vs. FIU. The facility opened in 2007.
• Dating back to its first year in 1979, a total of 9,965,647 fans have attended all UCF games (home, away, neutral and one exhibition), which is 34,353 short of the 10 million mark.
VERY YOUNG
• UCF ranks tied for third in the FBS with just nine seniors overall (scholarship and non-scholarship):
School - Seniors
1) Wake Forest - 6
2) Wyoming - 8
3) UCF - 9
3) Vanderbilt - 9
• The Knights were tied for second with only eight seniors in 2013 (South Carolina had five).
UCF-STANFORD CONNECTIONS
• UCF volleyball senior Abbie Fleener's first cousin is Coby Fleener, who is currently with the Indianapolis Colts and attended Stanford.
• Head Coach George O'Leary was the leader at Georgia Tech in 2001 and coached the Yellow Jackets' first 12 games of the year, but did not serve as head coach for the 2001 Seattle Bowl when GT defeated Stanford, 24-14.
• O'Leary was Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator when it topped Stanford in the 1991 Aloha Bowl, 18-17.
• Freshman walk-on offensive lineman Jake Brown is the only Knight from California (Encinitas/La Costa Canyon High School).
• Stanford has three players from Florida: Ben Edwards (Jacksonville), Noor Davis (Leesburg) and Jesse Burkett (St. Augustine).
Offense Notes
BREAK-OUT GAME
• There was a lot of talk in the offseason about how UCF could replace a heavy wide receiver class from 2014. Three Knights stepped up against FIU.
• Comparing sophomore Jordan Akins from last year to just one game in 2015:
GP - REC - YDS - TD
True Freshman - 2014 - 13 - 12 - 135 - 0
Sophomore - 2015 - 1 - 9 - 104 - 2
• Redshirt freshman Tre'Quan Smith may be a new name for UCF fans, but he was the 2014 UCF Scout Team Player of the Year. So it came as no surprise to the coaching staff he duplicated Akins with nine catches for 104 yards vs. the Panthers.
• It was the 22nd time in UCF history that two Knights had at least 100 receiving yards in the same game.
• Walk-on Chris Johnson burst on to the scene in preseason camp, and had three catches for 32 yards including a diving snag on Sept. 3. This is his third year with the Knights, and was a defensive back in 2015 spring camp.
SMOOTH OPERATOR
• Junior quarterback Justin Holman's highest completion percentages last year came against USF (69.0), SMU (68.2) and Penn State (64.3).
• Against FIU, he finished 23-for-34 for a 67.6 percentage.
• Holman also had 249 passing yards, which was the seventh time in his last eight outings he had at least 200 yards through the air.
FIND THE ENDZONE
• With two against FIU, Justin Holman extended his streak to 14 straight games with a passing touchdown.
• Consecutive games with a touchdown pass by a Knight:
Player - Games - Dates
1) Ryan Schneider - 28 - 9/22/01-11/1/03
2) Daunte Culpepper - 22 - 11/2/96-10/31/98
3) Justin Holman - 14 - 8/30/14-Present
• UCF's overall streak of consecutive contests with a touchdown pass is 15 dating back to 2013.
NO. 13 IS CLIMBING
• Justin Holman needed just one full season as the starting quarterback to close in on career top 10 lists at UCF. Now a junior, he is poised to crack these charts in 2015:
- Attempts: 440 - 10th place has 474.
- Completions: 255 - 10th place has 321.
- Yards: 3,276 - 10th place has 3,867.
• Holman already sits eighth in passing touchdowns (26), ninth in 300-yard passing games (two) and ninth in completion percentage (58.0).
THE NEW WILD KNIGHT
• After starting his career at Boise State and then working as the backup quarterback at UCF a year ago, junior Nick Patti moved to wide receiver over the summer.
• The Orlando native took a couple of snaps in the Wild Knight package, and also chipped in a reception for six yards in the 2015 opener.
• UCF switching a signal-caller to wide receiver is nothing new lately. Pete DiNovo has also made the switch for 2015, while Rob Calabrese and Jeff Godfreywere utilized as wide receivers and Wild Knight quarterbacks late in their careers.
FRESH FACES
• First UCF starts on offense in the 2015 opener:
-RSo. WR Chris Johnson
-RFr. RT Luke Palmer
-RJr. WR Nick Patti
-RFr. WR Tre'Quan Smith
• Knights who made their collegiate debuts against FIU:
-Fr. RG Tyler Hudanick
-RSo. WR Chris Johnson
-RFr. RB C.J. Jones
-RFr. RT Luke Palmer
-Fr. WR Tristan Payton
-RFr. WR Tre'Quan Smith
Defense Notes
TAKING OVER
• Junior cornerback Shaquill Griffin received substantial playing time for the Knights last year even though they had four experienced starters in the secondary.
• The St. Petersburg native collected 17 tackles in 12 games, but came through vs. FIU with a team-best nine tackles (tied with Mark Rucker). Griffin also posted his second career break-up.
NOT OFF THE BENCH ANYMORE
• Outside linebacker Mark Rucker brought in nine total tackles from the previous two seasons. He ended the FIU game by matching that with nine.
• In the middle, Maurice Russell had five tackles from 2013-14. Against the Panthers, he finished with seven.
• UCF's other outside linebacker, Chequan Burkett, brought in the most experience this year, but he did register his first career forced fumble in the opener.
FRESH FACES
• First UCF starts on defense in the 2015 opener:
-RJr. FS Drico Johnson
-Jr. CB D.J. Killings
-Sr. DT Lance McDowdell
-RFr. SS Tre Neal
-RJr. OLB Mark Rucker
-RJr. MLB Maurice Russell
• Knights who made their collegiate debuts against FIU:
-Jr. CB Jeremy Boykins
-Jr. SS Jerod Boykins
-RJr. LB Demeitre Brim
-Fr. DE Titus Davis
-RSo. DT Tony Guerad
-Fr. LB Quintin Hampton
-Fr. LB Pat Jasinski
-RFr. SS Tre Neal
BUSY UP FRONT
• The trio of defensive tackles Jamiyus Pittman (four), Lance McDowdell (five) and Tony Guerad (four) combined for 13 tackles against FIU, while Pittman chipped in a blocked field goal.
• Each Knight set career-highs in tackles, while it was Guerad's first collegiate game.
SENIOR CLASS - DEFENSE
• There are five seniors on the Knights defense in 2015:
-LB Domenic Spencer
-DB Brendin Straubel
-DL Demetris Anderson (out with an injury)
-DL Lance McDowdell
-DL Thomas Niles
Special Teams Notes
MAKING THEM COUNT
• Junior Caleb Houston had seven punts against FIU, averaging 44.7 per boot and placing four inside the 20.
• After a Houston punt, FIU never started its ensuing drive further than its own 26-yard line.
• Houston had one boot of 53 yards, which matched his longest punt from all of 2014.
GETTING THE RETURN GAME GOING
• Jordan Akins may not have returned a kickoff vs. FIU, but a pair of Knights got into the action instead.
• Dontravious Wilson did have four returns a year ago, but added three returns for 72 yards vs. the Panthers.
• Redshirt freshman C.J. Jones also had a return for 28 yards in his first collegiate game.
• Over in the punt return game, Akins got into the act with two returns for 15 yards. It was his first punt returns of his career as he is replacing four-year standout J.J. Worton.
