2008 UCF Knights Football
August 19, 2008
George O’Leary has the UCF Knights headed in the right direction entering his 5th year with the program. UCF went 10-4 last year, winning seven straight C-USA contests to end the regular season before losing to Mississippi State 3-10 in the Liberty Bowl. But Kevin Smith, last year’s leading rusher in the nation (2,567 yards) passed up his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. How can O’Leary make up for Smith’s absence with 15 returning starters to work with? The Info Plays team fills you in with their 2008 UCF Knights football predictions below.
Offense:
The Knights are looking at a major overhaul on offense. Kevin Smith is gone, and is quarterback Kyle Israel is out after throwing for 2,173 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final year. The spring offered no early answers for their replacements, largely due to injuries. Sophomore RV Phil Smith missed most of spring with a leg injury, and junior QB Michael Greco sustained a hip pointer and missed nearly all of the spring game. That game redshirt freshman Joe Weatherford, the younger brother of Florida State’s Drew Weatherford, a chance to make his case as the Knights’ starter.
Redshirt freshman Ronnie Weaver will compete for the running back spot, and more incoming freshman will get their shot as well. The Knights must find three new starters on the offensive line to join Patrick Brown, who has made 38 consecutive starts at tackle, and Cliff McCray, who had six starts as a sophomore last year. Senior Rocky Ross is the leading receiver back after catching 50 balls for 658 yards last season. Sophomore Kamar Aiken had 33 catches for 584 yards and a team-high five touchdowns grabs, and he’ll join Ross outside. The Knights will miss tight end Mike Merritt’s blocking in the running game, but junior Corey Rabazinski had 10 catches last year, just two short of Merritt’s 12 grabs.
Defense:
Defense will again be the strength of the team after leading Conference USA with 24 interceptions last year. Nine starters return, led by strong safety Sha’reff Rashad and his 103 tackles and end Bruce Miller, who had seven sacks as a freshman last year. Sophomore Derrick Hallman, junior Chance Henderson and senior Cory Hogue return intact at linebacker. Three other returning starters, seniors Joe Burnett, Jason Venson and Johnell Neal join Rashad in the secondary. Both Neal and Burnett tied for the team lead with six interceptions apiece. Burnett is an electrifying punt returner who considered entering the NFL Draft last year.
Junior Jordan Richards, sophomore Lawrence Young and junior Alex Thompson have starting experience at linebacker, giving the Knights much-needed depth there. Two new starters must be found for the D-Line. The Knights rotated eight players in the front four through last season, and four are back. Miller and junior Torrell Troup are returning starters at end and tackle, respectively. Senior defensive end Antonio Wallace and tackle Travis Timmons also have seen a ton of time on the field. The priority will be finding depth to continue their eight-man rotation.
UCF Football Predictions at Info Plays: 2nd Conference USA East Division
Heading into the summer, the Knights were dealing with the aftermath of the death of freshman receiver Ereck Plancher during workouts preceding spring practice. On the field, the Knights have to come up with the right answers on offense in order to defend the conference championship UCF won last season, the first in school history. Fore sure, an experience defense will keep the Knights from falling apart in a competitive East Division.
Get info on Tropical Storm Fay that is complicating matters for the UCF football team in 2008.
Conference USA Wins Expected in ‘08: SMU, EAST CAROLINA, SOUTHERN MISS, at Marshall, UAB
