| UCF quarterback Blake Bortles returns to lead the Knights' offense. (Joshua C. Cruey, Orlando Sentinel. ) |
Today at No. 44: UCF
Coach: George O'Leary (60-55, 10th season; 112-88 overall)
2012 record: 10-4 (7-1 Conference USA; first C-USA East)
Look back: UCF endured some disappointing moments early in the season, putting together a competitive showing but falling short on the road against an Ohio State team that finished the year undefeated and failing to close out a winnable game against Missouri at home. The Knights started to string together strong performances once C-USA play opened. The Knights' offense scored an average of 35 points per game. UCF's veteran defense was stout and proved especially adept at keeping teams out of the end zone. The result was six consecutive wins before a loss at Tulsa. The Knights came close to nipping the Golden Hurricane in the C-USA title game, but UCF lost in overtime. The Knights capped the year with a 38-17 win over Ball State in the Beef `O' Brady's Bowl.
Offensive starters returning: 6
Offensive starters lost: 5
Defensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters lost: 6
Key losses: RB Latavius Murray, DB Kemal Ishmael, DE Troy Davis, CB A.J. Bouye, LB Jonathan Davis, DL Victor Gray, OL Jordan Rae, LB Ray Shipman
Top returnees: QB Blake Bortles, OL Torrian Wilson, WR Breshad Perriman, OL Jordan McCray, OL Justin McCray, LB Terrance Plummer, DB Clayton Geathers, WR Jeff Godfrey, WR J.J. Worton, RB Storm Johnson, DL E.J. Dunston, DL Thomas Niles
Strengths: The offense will lead this team in 2013, with plenty of weapons available for starting QB Blake Bortles. He had a strong first season as a starter in 2012, passing for 3,059 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. Bortles protected the football, throwing just seven interceptions. Bortles, now a junior, can move in the pocket and rushed for eight touchdowns last season.
The Knights are deepest at wide receiver, where they boast four players capable of breaking open a big play. Sophomore WR Breshad Perriman, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound athlete who can use his size to rumble for yards inside and speed to make plays outside, leads the Knights' receiver unit. Perriman got better each week as a freshman, and the son of former NFL player Brett Perriman could become one of the top targets in the American Athletic Conference this season. Jeff Godfrey, a former quarterback who has converted to receiver, has a year under his belt at wideout and will be utilized in sweep plays. The Knights are looking to get Godfrey the ball in open space. Rannell Hall and J.J. Worton have been consistent receiving options during their time at UCF.
On the defensive side of the ball, MLB Terrance Plummer will look to hold together a unit replacing six starters. Torrian Wilson has proven to be a quality left tackle, and UCF will need him to continue his strong play this season as the Knights face off against South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney and USF's Aaron Lynch, two of the country's top pass rushers.
Weaknesses: Many of UCF's biggest issues come on the defensive side of the ball, most notably on the defensive line and in the secondary. The latter may be the biggest concern. UCF will be depending on unproven commodities, including CB Jacoby Glenn, who must prove he is capable of being a big-time college player. Glenn did not play as a freshman, but in his redshirt year the Knights will stick him at the field corner position and hope he can shut down one side of the field. On the opposite side, Brandon Alexander has starting experience but made some mistakes last season that cost UCF. Clayton Geathers returns at strong safety after a strong sophomore campaign, but he'll be without partner Kemal Ishmael, who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. Geathers will have to bring along either Drico Johnson or Nicco Whigham, the two top candidates to start at free safety.
On the defensive line, UCF is still in search of a true leader to take over the unit. Senior E.J. Dunston had a solid spring and pairing with fellow 300-pounder Demetris Anderson should provide a boost in the middle of the line. Ends Deion Green and Thomas Niles will look to replace the pass rushing production of Troy Davis. Storm Johnson has a chance to replace RB Latavius Murray, who was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, but he will have to prove he can be a consistent runner.
Outlook: After winning 10 games in 2012, UCF enters this fall with a chance to put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2009 and 2010 campaigns. To do so, the Knights need the defense to come together quickly in the first few weeks of the season to assist an offense capable of putting up 30-plus points per game. If UCF can pull off an early upset or two in the first six games of the season at Penn State, at Louisville or against South Carolina, the Knights could find themselves in the national conversation during the American Athletic Conference's final season as an automatic BCS qualifier. However, if the defense struggles, UCF will have to claw its way to bowl eligibility.
2013 schedule
Aug. 29 Akron
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