2009 OUTLOOK
UCF KNIGHTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1-50
1 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-12 13 14-15 16-19 20-21 22-23 24-25 26 27 28-29 30-31 32-33 34-35 36-37 38-39 40-41 42-45 46-47 48-49 50
51-64 52 53 54-55 56-59 60-61 62 63 64
THIS IS UCF FOOTBALL
This is UCF Football Gameday Excitement Bright House Networks Stadium America’s Most Convenient Layout A Championship Program Honors & Awards Campus Spirit Academic & Community Success From UCF to the NFL Strength & Condi�oning Sports Medicine Equipment Services UCF Sports Video Walk-On Success UCF - The Opportunity of a Life�me Campus Life Prominent Alumni Wayne Densch Sports Center Nicholson Fieldhouse Athle�c Facili�es The Towers at Knights Plaza City of Orlando Conference USA Winning Experience Media Spotlight
158-160 161 162-163 164 165 166 167-170 171-175 176 177 178-181 182-185 186-195 196-199 200-201 202-203 204-205
All-Americans All-Conference UCF Athle�cs Hall of Fame Daunte Culpepper Kevin Smith Joe Burne� Year-By-Year Results All-Time Le�ermen Florida Citrus Bowl Single-Game Records Single-Season Records Career Records NFL Player Profiles UCF’s Pro Football Roster Hawaii Bowl Recap Liberty Bowl Recap TV Appearances
206-208 MEDIA INFORMATION 206 207 208
ISP/UCF Athle�cs Communica�ons Media edia Policies Direc�ons/Map
OUTLOOK
Table of Contents Quick Facts George O’Leary Q&A Season Outlook Roster Geographical Roster Knights By Class Depth Chart
65-128 PLAYER PROFILES 66-110 111-117 118-123 124-126 127-128
Returning Le�erwinners Other Returning Players UCF’s Signing Class Other Squad Members Career Highs
129-148 COACHING STAFF 130-133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143-148
George O’Leary Sean Beckton Geoff Collins George Godsey Dave Huxtable David Kelly Brent Key Jim Panagos Tim Salem Charlie Taaffe Support Staff
149-152 ADMINISTRATION 149 150 151-152 152
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President Dr. John C. Hi� Director of Athle�cs Keith R. Tribble Senior Associate ADs AD Staff
153-205 HISTORY
154-157 UCF Football Timeline
DERRICK HALLMAN
CREDITS
The 2009 UCF football yearbook was wri�en, edited and designed by the UCF athle�cs communica�ons office. UCF ac�on photography provided by Todd Drexler/ Sideline Sports, Romeo Guzman, Brandon Helwig, Chris Schubert, Paul Chapman, C.W. Pack and UCF marke�ng. UCF photographs provided by UCF marke�ng. Orlando photographs provided by the Orlando/Orange County Conven�on and Visitors Bureau. Special thanks to the Na�onal Football League, Major League Baseball, NASCAR and Disney’s Wide World of Sports for use of their photos.
FOOTBALL
QUICK FACTS GENERAL INFORMATION
School University of Central Florida City/Zip Orlando, Florida 32816 Founded 1963 Enrollment 50,254 Nickname Knights School Colors Black and Gold Stadium (Capacity): Bright House Networks Stadium (45,323) Surface 419 Bermuda Grass Affilia�on NCAA Division I Conference Conference USA President Dr. John C. Hi� (Aus�n College, ‘62) Director of Athle�cs Keith R. Tribble (Florida, ‘77) Athle�c Department Phone 407-823-3213 Ticket Office Phone 407-823-1000
ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS Director - Football SID Office Phone Cell Phone E-mail Associate Director Office Phone Cell Phone E-mail Assistant Director Office Phone Cell Phone E-mail Assistant Director Office Phone Cell Phone E-mail Assistant Director Office Phone Cell Phone E-mail Athle�cs Communica�ons Fax Press Box Phone Website
Leigh Torbin 407-823-0994 407-325-5703 ltorbin@athle�cs.ucf.edu Doug Richards 407-823-2142 407-405-5823 drichards@athle�cs.ucf.edu Brian Ormiston 407-823-2409 407-920-1233 bormiston@athle�cs.ucf.edu Sarah Tarasewicz 407-823-6489 407-462-3214 sarah@athle�cs.ucf.edu Andrew Gavin 407-823-2464 407-405-5821 agavin@athle�cs.ucf.edu 407-823-5293 407-882-0386 UCFAthle�cs.com
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach George O’Leary Alma Mater/Year New Hampshire, ‘69 Record at UCF 26-36 (.419) (Sixth Season) Career Record (yrs) 78-69 (.531) (13th Season) Football Office Phone 407-823-5397 Best Time to Call Contact SID Assistant Coaches (Alma Mater/Year) Defensive Backs Sean Beckton (UCF, ‘93) Linebackers/Recrui�ng Coor. Geoff Collins (Western Carolina, ‘94) Running Backs George Godsey (Georgia Tech, ‘00) Defensive Coordinator Dave Huxtable (E. Illinois, ‘79) Wide Receivers/Asst. Head Coach David Kelly (Furman, ‘79) Offensive Line Brent Key (Georgia Tech, ‘01) Defensive Line Jim Panagos (Maryland, ‘96) Tight Ends/Special Teams Tim Salem (Arizona St.,‘85) Offensive Coordinator/QBs Charlie Taaffe (Siena, ‘73)
HISTORY
First Year of Football First Year of Division I-A Football Overall All-Time Record FBS Era Record (Since 1996) Overall All-Time Citrus Bowl Record Overall All-Time BHNS Record
TEAM INFORMATION
2008 Overall Record C-USA Record Basic Offense Basic Defense Le�erwinners Returning/Lost Offensive Le�erwinners Returning/Lost Defensive Le�erwinners Returning/Lost Special Teams Le�erwinners Returning/Lost Starters Returning/Lost Offensive Starters Returning/Lost Defensive Starters Returning/Lost Specialty Starters Returning/Lost
1979 1996 169-166-1 (.504) 72-80 (.474) 112-59-1 (.654) 8-5 (.615)
4-8 (.333) 3-5 (.375) Mul�ple Mul�ple, 4-3 44/12 25/5 16/6 3/1 20/9 10/1 6/5 4/3
COREY RABAZINSKI A.J. GUYTON
53
UCF KNIGHTS THE WORD FROM THE HEAD COACH George O’Leary on the offense: “We only lose one player who was in the two deep and everyone else is returning. Obviously I expect to see a lot of progress with all of those players returning and especially the young players who were handling the ball last year. We had true freshmen at quarterback and running back. I saw great improvement in the spring in terms of compe��veness and maturity. I hope to see the same growth this preseason and con�nuing on into the season. “I do expect us to be a lot more scoring poten�al on the field with the addi�on of a new offensive coordinator in Charlie Taaffe. He’s a coach who has a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. He’s coached the power game, the op�on game, the drop back passing game – he has experiences in all areas. I expect to see a lot more mul�ple situa�ons from an offensive scheme standpoint. I do expect our offense to progress from what they did in the spring and become an offense that can move the ball and put points on the board.” George O’Leary on new offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe: “Charlie is a very experienced coach who understands the game and also understands personali�es. Some kids learn by watching it. Some kids learn when you draw it on the board. Some kids you just talk to and they can picture it. I think he has a clear understanding of how the quarterbacks react and what the best teaching way to reach each is. I think he has a great progression about him in terms of his method of teaching things. I think that’s the way to do everything, teach it step-by-step and see them progress from there.” George O’Leary on the offensive skill posi�ons: “The most improved player in the spring was (quarterback) Rob Calabrese. The light came on. Playing as a true freshman is very difficult. I saw a lot of reten�on carrying over from the fall. He has a lot more maturity and poise now. I do expect Rob to be greatly improved athle�cally, in the passing game, and with his overall fieldmanship. The receivers are all back and I expect them all to be involved. Rocky Ross, Brian Wa�ers and Kamar Aiken have the most experience coming back but any name I can men�on caught the ball last year and they’re all returning for their third or fourth season. That is a group that has done well in the offseason. They had a much be�er spring efficiency wise, catching the ball and ge�ng some yards a�er the catch. I would expect that group to improve with a lot more depth. Last year we played with four freshman running backs. Brynn Harvey was one that came on very well at the end of the season and that con�nued on through spring ball. With Ronnie Weaver, James Poe, Brandon Davis, Brendan Kelly, there’s a number of them that I expect to see playing. I don’t think that we’re going to be a one-back team. We’ll be a two-back team where different guys will carry the load based on what the situa�on is. I’ve been very pleased with the progress that the skilled athletes have made on offense.” George O’Leary on the depth at quarterback: “It is Rob Calabrese’s job. He is the starter right now. We have four scholarship quarterbacks in camp in Rob, Joe Weatherford, Bre� Hodges and Nico Flores. Right now it’s Rob’s job leaving the spring but I think the final decision on that posi�on will come from Charlie Taaffe in consulta�on with others. The other guys will have every opportunity to win that job and whoever gets it will be a guy who we feel can win consistently for us and move the team offensively.” George O’Leary on the offensive line: “One of the areas that I was most disappointed in last year was our lack of movement at the line of scrimmage. With the excep�on of Pat Brown, who graduated, everybody’s back and we brought some more help in with Abré Leggins and Cliff McCray. They add some depth at that posi�on. I thought that the line was greatly
ROB CALABRESE
54
FOOTBALL
improved in the spring. They were pre�y compe��ve with a pre�y good defensive line. There’s some all-conference players over there and they prac�ce that way too. That’s only made us be�er on offense. The offensive line is a big ingredient in any improvement we make and I have been very pleased with the spring and summer improvement. Is it where it needs to be? No, but I think it is a lot be�er than it had been. I think that increased girth, size and strength shows with the offensive line. I think two-deep that we have a line that can help us win a game or sustain a win. I have been very pleased with them.” George O’Leary on the defense: “Defensively, we return everybody up front. We have the whole two-deep back up front except for one player and we are also fortunate to get back Darius Nall for that spot, a freshman all-conference player who is returning a�er a year out. In the secondary we graduated four seniors but we have a lot of athle�cism at those posi�ons and a lot of those players have played in games here so I’m pleased with that.” George O’Leary on All-Conference USA defensive linemen Torrell Troup and Bruce Miller: “In Torrell and Bruce you have two dominant defensive linemen and that does a lot for you in terms of establishing the run defense and establishing the passing defense. I expect them to have good seasons and con�nue the growth that we’ve seen the past two seasons playing together. They are both all-conference material. They’ve been produc�ve on the field and I expect them to get things done. We are also surrounding them with a lot of players who have played a lot of football for us. I’m very comfortable with the front seven two-deep, not just the front seven starters. I expect them to control the line of scrimmage and keep some pressure on the quarterbacks because we have so many good quarterbacks in this conference.” George O’Leary on who will get a shot at replacing All-America punt returner Joe Burne�: “There are three or four that will be looked at. The most important ability of any returner is being able to catch the ball. Right now, if everything works out the way I think it should work out, it will come down to either Rocky Ross, Josh Robinson and Brian Wa�ers. There’s athletes there but the preseason will tell us more about who will be out there based on what we see.” George O’Leary on the benefits of having seven home games at Bright House Networks Stadium: “It’s a great home field advantage. Our fan base has done an outstanding job. Our student body has done an outstanding job of suppor�ng the program. I think it’s a great Saturday a�ernoon as far as the tailga�ng and crowd noise. People just enjoy themselves. I think if you talk to the rest of the conference teams that have been to Bright House they will tell you that it is a very difficult place to play from a crowd noise stand point. We look forward to taking advantage of that. There’s no ques�on Bright House is a tough place to play. It has been in the past and hopefully will con�nue to be this year.” George O’Leary on UCF’s a�tude heading into the season: “I like that this team has a chip on its shoulder. I saw that in the spring and summer. They understand what took place last year. They know what could have been that didn’t happen. The biggest thing last year was that we were coaching two different teams because of all of the youth on offense while the defense was more experienced and successful. The coaches have handled the offseason well. The a�tude has been great from the team and I am really looking forward to ge�ng the season started. “There are three kinds of people. Angry people live in the past. Fearful people live in the future. The ones I’m looking at are excited. They live for today. That’s how I look at this football team. I’m excited about what’s happening and what’s going on here. You have to take care of today and that’s what I preach to my team all of the �me.”
DARIUS NALL
55
UCF KNIGHTS 2009 SEASON OUTLOOK The Wayne Densch Sports Center was filled with posi�ve energy this summer and for good reason. With tremendous gains made in the weight room, a roster laden with returning veterans, the core of Conference USA’s best defense back and an exci�ng new offensive system in place, there is ample cause for op�mism in Orlando.
DEFENSE
While Conference USA has built a reputa�on on some flashy offenses, the Knights have consistently excelled at stopping them for the past several seasons. UCF brings back six of the seven starters, and 13 of the 14 members of the two-deep, from a front seven that helped the Knights lead C-USA in rushing defense (126.08 yards per game) and passing efficiency defense (107.46 ra�ng) last fall while ranking second in the league in total defense (333.75 ypg) and scoring defense (24.08 points per game). UCF also welcomes back one of its best-known faces to lead the young secondary in former player and assistant coach Sean Beckton. UCF’s new assistant coach immediately clicked with his unit, one which will be crucial for the Knights’ defensive success in 2009.
DEFENSIVE LINE
UCF’s secondary stole a lot of headlines last year but the team was every bit as dominant in the trenches, the place where so many games o�en are ul�mately won and lost. The Knights ranked third in the na�on last fall by averaging 8.17 tackles for loss per game. UCF also ranked 26th na�onally in sacks. This pass-disrup�ng pressure helped the UCF secondary account for its high intercep�on total and also disturbed opposing ground a�acks as well. UCF led Conference USA in rushing defense, yielding just 126.08 yards per game on the ground. The unit was so deep entering the 2009 spring prac�ce that head coach George O’Leary had the luxury of moving Theo Goins to the offensive line to help sure up that area. Wes Tunuufi Sauvao also made that switch for the spring and summer but is back on defense now that the offense has added a pair of veteran linemen in �me for the fall to help solidify that area. Two reasons for the strength of the line are returning All-Conference USA selec�ons Bruce Miller and Torrell Troup. Both were also named first-team preseason AllConference USA this summer as well with Troup earning the addi�onal honor of a spot on the Outland Trophy’s na�onal watch list. Miller showed versa�lity in 2008, playing at both end and tackle, a look which gave UCF more speed and allowed Jarvis Geathers to get more involved in the unit. Miller is back at the end posi�on as the curtain rises on the 2009 season. In 2008, he recorded 17 tackles for loss which �ed for the C-USA lead. Troup shed a lot of weight from what he ini�ally arrived at UCF weighing and the improved fitness paid off in 2008. Sure to garner considerable interest from NFL scouts this fall, Troup started all 12 games at tackle and a�racted double teams all season, allowing others to roam free. S�ll, Troup made 12.5 TFLs himself to �e for fourth in C-USA. Travis Timmons, who started seven games at tackle last year, again is going to be looked upon at that spot. David Williams who started six games at end and Geathers, who started the final five games at end, also return to help bolster the outside. The most amazing and inspira�onal returner of the unit though is Darius Nall, a 2007 Conference USA All-Freshman team member, who prac�ced fully during this past spring a�er missing the en�re 2008 campaign while undergoing treatments for cancer. Rashidi Haughton and greyshirted true freshman Chris Mar�n are presently slated as backup tackles.
LINEBACKERS
UCF’s defense was amongst the na�onal leaders in both intercep�ons and tackles for loss last fall. That can’t happen without good linebacking play helping on both ends of that equa�on. Lawrence Young is back from a break-through season where he started all 12 games and picked up honorable men�on AllC-USA accolades. Young was third on the team with 10.5 TFLs and leads all 2009 season returnees with 72 total tackles. The Knights will welcome back a pair of players lost to injury early last season in Cory Hogue and Jordan Richards. Both can help strengthen an all ready strong unit at the core of the Knight defense. The two are both fi�h-year seniors and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the linebacking corps. Hogue is also an emo�onal leader for the group a�er surviving an excep�onally rare bout with compartment syndrome in both of his calves last season. Also strengthening the middle is Chance Henderson who started 11 games for UCF
LAWRENCE YOUNG 56
FOOTBALL
in that spot last fall and was fourth on the team with both his 57 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Another fi�h-year senior, Gainesville’s Alex Thompson, is poised to step up and nail down a spot in the two-deep while sophomore Josh Linam will get the first crack at the top backup role in the middle behind Hogue. A mul�tude of young players could help form the backbone of an extremely strong linebacking corps for UCF in 2009.
SECONDARY
Many eyes will be on the secondary this season as the unit looks to sustain itself amidst the gradua�on loss of four starters, Joe Burne�, Johnell Neal, Sha’reff Rashad and Jason Venson, a quartet who combined to start 183 games for the black and gold and intercept a total of 50 passes as Knights. Each of the four was named at least to the honorable men�on All-Conference USA team a year ago and rank amongst the UCF career top 10 in intercep�ons. All four also graduated on �me. Each will be missed. However, UCF made very good use of its nickel and dime packages last fall in an a�empt to get some playing �me for the poten�al replacements for this fine group. The Knights also gave many young defensive backs ample reps on special teams. As a result, the names in the star�ng lineup will be new, but the faces will be familiar ones who bring some playing experience to the table. In addi�on to the familiar faces from 2008, UCF has also brought in two early enrolled true freshmen to the mix in Josh Robinson and Jarre� Swaby, while also conver�ng 2008 star�ng outside linebacker Derrick Hallman to a safety. With this influx of talent, the hope is that the unit will once again be a stout one in 2009. Four of the early projected two-deep members, Emery Allen, Darin Baldwin, Jus�n Boddie and Reggie Weams, are amongst those understudies who learned much about the posi�on and UCF’s system on the prac�ce field last fall from the depar�ng seniors while also ge�ng some ac�on in games. Hallman earned honorable men�on All-C-USA recogni�on as a linebacker, making 57 tackles, including eight TFLs, with one intercep�on and a fumble return for a touchdown. His athle�cism will help the Knights as a safety, the posi�on he excelled at playing for Fort Pierce Central High School, solidifying UCF’s defensive backfield. Robinson and Swaby immediately became prime compe�tors for a prominent role with their play during spring prac�ce as each demonstrated the ability that UCF was so eager to see when they enrolled in January. Both are expected to bolster the final two-deep however it may shake out between now and the season opener against Samford on Sept. 5. Another new addi�on to the group is former quarterback Michael Greco. Greco’s athle�c ability and familiarity with different coverages from his quarterbacking experience helped him make a fairly seamless transi�on to his new post and he is a prime candidate for a spot in the two-deep this fall.
OFFENSE
This fall UCF fans can expect to see one of Conference USA’s most experienced offenses running some exci�ng new schemes drawn up by first-year offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe. UCF lost just one starter from last year’s unit in le� tackle Patrick Brown. The Knights also get back three starters in wide receivers A.J. Guyton and Rocky Ross and �ght end Corey Rabazinski who all missed at least half of the 2008 season due to injury. The result is a glut of talent under the guidance of a versa�le offensive mind who will know how to u�lize it.
QUARTERBACKS
Three different Knights saw ac�on at the quarterback posi�on last fall but it was Rob Calabrese who asserted himself and, on the heels of a strong spring prac�ce and tremendous summer workout season, is ready to hold the reigns of the offense entering his second year as a Knight. Calabrese started eight games a year ago as a true freshman, becoming
RONNIE WEAVER
57
UCF KNIGHTS
one of just four true freshmen to serve as their school’s primary star�ng quarterback in 2008. While s�ll learning the offense fresh from East Islip High School on Long Island, Calabrese completed 65-of-165 passes as a rookie for 664 yards with seven touchdowns and five intercep�ons. Joe Weatherford also saw �me in three games as a backup quarterback and enters the 2009 campaign a year wiser as a redshirt sophomore. Weatherford completed 15-of-36 passes a year ago for 160 yards. The Knights welcome Wake Forest transfer Bre� Hodges immediately into the mix as well. Hodges, a fi�h-year senior who graduated in four years and is able to transfer without penalty to study in UCF’s forensics program, was a part of some of the most successful teams in Demon Deacon history, including their 2006 ACC Championship squad. The Winter Springs na�ve played in 11 contests for Wake Forest, including a pair of starts in 2007 against Boston College and Nebraska. True freshman Nico Flores of North Miami Beach High School is also in the mix at the quarterbacking spot. Hodges is one of three transfers in the unit but the lone one who will be eligible to play in 2009. UCF also welcomed L.D. Crow (Stanford) and Brian Taaffe (Fordham) to Orlando during the offseason. Andy Slowik also proved to be a steady hand during spring drills.
RUNNING BACKS
UCF returns a deep stable of sophomore tailbacks in 2009 as four different freshmen got a shot at filling the shoes of departed consensus All-America Kevin Smith in 2008. By the end of the year, Brynn Harvey had emerged as the starter and ended up leading the Knights with 125 a�empts and 519 yards, averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry. He showed a flash of what may be to come with a 50-yard touchdown scamper that helped seal UCF’s win at Marshall and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team. Ronnie Weaver started each of the first six games and gained 348 yards on his 102 carries, scoring twice. Brandon Davis also saw ac�on in six games as a true freshman, rushing the ball 24 �mes for 68 yards. Joining the group this spring was James Poe, a big back at 6-4, 230 pounds. A graduate of Orlando’s Freedom High School who later a�ended Georgia Military College, Poe will also get plenty of reps during preseason camp as the Knights try and se�le out the depth and roles at this posi�on. Brendan Kelly, a redshirt freshman, is also going to get some backup tailback considera�on, adding to the op�ons at the disposal of Taaffe and posi�on coach George Godsey.
OFFENSIVE LINE
UCF boasted an excep�onally young offensive line a year ago with four first-year starters, two of them redshirt freshmen. The unit is back in 2008 (except for four-year starter Patrick Brown at le� tackle) and, a year stronger and wiser, the linemen will look to make a giant step forward under the tutelage of Brent Key, an All-ACC lineman in his playing days at Georgia Tech. Addi�onally, UCF has welcomed back a starter from the 2007 Conference USA Championship squad and a junior college transfer who has Big Ten experience. The unit has taken well to Key’s guidance and is expected to be vastly improved from last fall, allowing the whole offense to work more cohesively and, with that, the whole team. Nick Pieschel, who started each of the final seven games of the season at le� guard, moved over to the le� tackle post for the spring season and seemed quite comfortable in that role. Pieschel is one of many Knights who also had a great offseason in the weight room. UCF took advantage of some of its tremendous defensive line depth to help bolster its offensive line during the spring and part of that was moving Theo Goins across to the other side of the ball to play on the le� side of the line as well. Abré Leggins is a massive and experienced 6-4, 317 pound transfer from CopiahLincoln Junior College in Mississippi who has immediately stepped into the top spot at le� guard. Leggins, an Orlando na�ve, spent two seasons at Michigan State before working his way back home. Belle Glade’s Jarien Moreland, weighing in at 321 pounds, will likely hold down the backup role at le� guard. Ian Bus�llo started seven games at center in 2008 and is poised to hold down that role again this year with Zac Norris presently slated to be his backup. Powerful redshirt freshman Steven Robinson of Tallahassee will get his crack at the star�ng right guard posi�on but he will be challenged by a new yet-familiar face to the program. The Knights welcomed back Cliff McCray over the summer a�er missing the 2008 season. McCray appeared in 12 games in 2007 with seven starts, including the Conference USA Championship Game and AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Fourth-year junior Jah Reid will shi� back outside from right guard to right tackle in 2009 where he expects to start. The 6-7 Reid started the first four games last fall at right tackle and then each of the last six at right guard for 10 total starts. Redshirt freshman Chad Hounshell and fourth-year junior Mike Buxton expect to compete to be the top reserves behind Reid.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Once again, UCF has great depth at the wide receiver posi�on which will give the coaching staff several op�ons when it comes �me to set a lineup. Overall, UCF returns players who accounted for all but three of the team’s 2008 season recep�ons. In addi�on to what UCF had at the end of the 2008 season, the unit is that much deeper with the return of A.J. Guyton and Rocky Ross from injuries and the addi�on of true freshman Marquee
ROCKY ROSS 58
FOOTBALL
Williams who had a promising spring. Guyton was one of the team’s top receivers in 2007 but missed the en�re 2008 campaign with a knee injury while Ross broke his clavicle at UTEP last September and the UCF offense was not the same without him in the final eight games. Brian Wa�ers started all 12 games a year ago as a wide receiver and led the Knights with 42 catches and 594 yards while sharing the team lead with Khymest Williams with three scores. Williams started a pair of games last fall and appeared in all 12. Kamar Aiken saw ac�on in the final nine games a�er suffering a preseason injury and hauled in 20 passes for UCF. Jamar Newsome (four recep�ons, 81 yards, one touchdown), Notre Dame transfer Richard Jackson (seven games played, two recep�ons) and J.T. McArthur also saw playing �me for the Knights at wide receiver in 2009 as a part of a deep unit. In addi�on to Williams, several true freshmen will also get a good audi�on at receiver in preseason camp, including the fleet-footed Quincy McDuffie.
TIGHT ENDS/H�BACKS
UCF’s core of �ght ends and H-Backs are also back intact from last year and will addi�onally benefit from the return of Corey Rabazinski who caught nine passes, including a touchdown, before suffering a season-ending injury at Miami. Rabazinski will head into the season as the top H-Back ahead of redshirt freshman Billy Giovane�. That group also features Ricky Kay who has played extensively for the Knights as an H-Back and fullback, star�ng four games a year ago and catching seven passes, one of which was a touchdown. Adam Nissley, who played at both offensive tackle and �ght end last year, is back in the �ght end mix as the 2009 season approaches. The redshirt sophomore started six games at each posi�on in 2008. Alongside Nissley at the �ght end post is Willie Gaetjens.
SPECIAL TEAMS
One of the areas to watch during the preseason will be the compe��on at kickoff and punt returner. UCF lost an all�me great in first-team All-American Burne� who set the Conference USA career punt return yardage record last fall. A number of players could emerge to be the Knights’ leader in either role. Nick Ca�oi was one of two Knights to see ac�on as a place kicker last year and is the lone scholarship returnee at that post. Ca�oi hit 4-of-6 field goals in 2008 and 9-of-10 extra point tries. The pun�ng chores are in the hands of junior Blake Clingan who has been UCF’s starter in that discipline for each of the past two years and boasts a 40.6-yard career average. True freshman Jamie Boyle is the backup in each discipline. Walk-on wide receiver Aus�n Hudson and Hodges will compete to be the holder for place kicks, a job Clingan assumed midway through the 2008 season. Charley Hughle� will be snapping the ball back to Clingan for the second consecu�ve year, a role he filled ably in 2008 and earned C-USA All-Freshman recogni�on for his abili�es. James Getsee is his backup.
KAMAR AIKEN
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UCF KNIGHTS 2009 ROSTER INFORMATION No. 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 11 12 13 13 14 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
60
Name Pos. Michael Greco S A.J. Guyton WR Rob Calabrese QB Rocky Ross WR Brian Wa�ers WR Brandon Davis RB Jamar Newsome WR Nico Flores QB Bre� Hodges QB Richard Jackson WR Marquee Williams WR Dontravius Floyd WR Brian Taaffe QB Quincy McDuffie WR L.D. Crow QB Chad Alexander LB Nick Ca�oi PK Joe Weatherford QB Kemal Ishmael DB Andy Slowik QB A.J. Bouye DB Josh Robinson CB Darin Baldwin DB Emery Allen CB Jus�n Boddie DB Brendan Kelly RB Jarre� Swaby S Jordan Becker LB Jonathan Davis RB Jamie Boyle PK/P Lyle Dankenbring DB David Bohner PK/P Aus�n Hudson WR Corey Ammons DB Billy Giovane� RB Nick Giovane� DB Brynn Harvey RB Ronnie Weaver RB James Poe RB Rashad Shaheed DB Henry Wright DB Derrick Hallman S Omar Hansborough DB Reggie Weams DB Blake Clingan P Nick Black LB Loren Robinson LB Ricky Kay HB Brandon Bryant DL Javen Harris LB Rashidi Haughton DE T.J. Harnden DT David Williams DE Bruce Miller DE Josh Linam LB
Ht. 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-2 5-9 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-4 5-10 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-4 5-11 6-0 6-0 5-10 5-11 5-9 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-4 5-9 5-10 5-10 6-0 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-1 6-0 6-4 5-9 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-4 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-3
Wt. 217 195 213 209 190 194 198 199 191 205 200 216 215 172 228 218 210 200 197 190 180 189 197 182 190 228 189 220 195 182 190 171 192 172 225 190 205 206 232 178 215 212 181 191 229 231 201 239 269 232 285 244 238 253 234
Year RSr. RSo. So. RSr. RJr. So. RJr. Fr. RSr. RJr. Fr. Fr. FRr. Fr. RSo. RSo. So. RSo. Fr. RSo. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. RFr. Fr. RSo. Fr. Fr. RFr. RSo. RJr. Fr. RFr. RSo. So. RSo. RSo. Sr. Fr. Jr. RSo. Jr. Jr. RFr. RFr. Jr. Fr. Fr. RJr. RSr. RJr. RJr. So.
Hometown/High School (Previous School) Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons (Pearl River C.C.) Homestead, Fla./Homestead Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles School Rome, Ga./Rome Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge St. Petersburg, Fla./Boca Ciega Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Springs (Wake Forest) Clermont, Fla./East Ridge (Notre Dame) Ocala, Fla./Vanguard Homestead, Fla./South Dade Clarksville, Md./St. Paul’s (Fordham) Orlando, Fla./Edgewater Palm Harbor, Fla./Countryside (Stanford) Lake Wales, Fla./Lake Wales Tampa, Fla./Gaither Land O’Lakes, Fla./Land O’Lakes Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch Tucker, Ga./Tucker Sunrise, Fla./Planta�on Homestead, Fla./South Dade Milton, Fla./Milton Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Day Clearwater, Fla./Central Catholic Lawrenceville, Ga./Tucker Central Valley, N.Y. / Monroe-Woodbury Stuart, Fla./Mar�n County Ma�hews, N.C./Sun Valley (Navy) Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz (Air Force) Miami, Fla./Archbishop Carroll Winter Park, Fla./Bishop Moore Winter Park, Fla./Bishop Moore (Georgia Southern) Largo, Fla./Largo Wabasso, Fla./Vero Beach Orlando, Fla./Freedom (Georgia Military College) Pembroke Pines, Fla./Everglades (Florida A&M) Orlando, Fla./Edgewater Fort Pierce, Fla./Fort Pierce Central Homestead, Fla./Homestead Baton Rouge, La./Redemptorist Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs Bemus Point, N.Y./Maple Grove Longwood, Fla./Lynam Deltona, Fla./DeLand Atlanta, Ga./Booker T. Washington Eufaula, Ala./Eufaula Miami, Fla./Hialeah Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln Lexington, S.C./White Knoll Canton, Ga./Woodstock Tavares, Fla./Tavares
FOOTBALL
2009 ROSTER INFORMATION 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 71 73 73 74 75 76 77 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
D.J. Williams LB Jack Carter LB Darius Nall DE Chance Henderson LB Alex Thompson LB Jordan Richards LB Lawrence Young LB Troy Davis LB Cory Hogue LB Charley Hughle� SN James Getsee SN Rey Cunha OL Cliff McCray OL Jarien Moreland OL Abré Leggins OL Jake Goray OL Theo Goins OL Zac Norris OL Steven Robinson OL John Oliver OL Ian Bus�llo OL Kevin Garvy DE Chad Hounshell OL Mike Buxton OL Jah Reid OL Nick Pieschel OL Jim Teknipp TE Kamar Aiken WR Khymest Williams WR John Lubischer TE Corey Rabazinski TE Willie Gaetjens FB D.J. Brown TE J.T. McArthur WR Adam Nissley TE Ash Weekley DE Victor Gray DL Jordan Rae DE Frankie Davis DL Wes Tunuufi Sauvao DL Travis Timmons DT Chris Mar�n DL Robert Pritchard DE Torrell Troup DT Jarvis Geathers DE
6-1 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-8 6-7 6-7 6-6 6-2 5-10 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-4 5-10 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-2
205 232 249 236 229 225 217 230 228 232 220 289 307 321 317 282 316 288 306 276 301 220 297 309 314 302 213 213 179 250 244 246 236 185 264 230 241 260 280 292 297 279 217 314 238
RFr. RSo. RSo. Sr. RSr. RSr. Jr. Fr. RSr. So. RSo. Fr. RSr. RFr. RJr. RSo. RFr. RSo. RFr. RFr. RSr. RFr. RFr. RJr. RJr. RSo. Fr. Jr. Jr. RJr. Sr. RSo. Fr. RSo. RSo. RFr. Fr. RFr. Fr. RJr. Sr. Fr. RFr. Sr. Sr.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons Miami, Fla./Coral Reef Douglasville, Ga./Chapel Hill Conyers, Ga./Heritage Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz Cary, N.C./Cary/Hargrave Military Academy Pensacola, Fla./Woodham Lawrenceville, Ga./Berkmar Naples, Fla./Naples Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough Miami, Fla./Hialeah-Miami Lakes Miami, Fla./Jackson Miami, Fla./Southridge Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central Orlando, Fla./Evans (Copiah-Lincoln JC) Fort Walton Beach, Fla./Choctawhatchee Fort Bend, Texas/Hightower Port St. Joe, Fla./Port St. Joe Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln LaGrange, Ga./Troup County Miami, Fla./Killian Palm Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic Bonita Springs, Fla./Estero Haines City, Fla./Haines City Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas Concord, Ohio/Riverside Miami, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna Lutcher, La./Lutcher Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton Community (Duke) Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park Titusville, Fla./Titusville Ocala, Fla./Dunnellon Laurens, S.C./Laurens Cumming, Ga./South Forsyth Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles School Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay Clermont, Fla./East Ridge Leesville, La./Leesville Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz Fort Walton Beach, Fla./Choctawhatchee Suwanee, Ga./North Gwine� Conyers, Ga./Salem Andrews, S.C./Andrews (Feather River C.C.)
61
UCF KNIGHTS GEOGRAPHICAL BREAKDOWN ALABAMA
Rashidi Haughton (Hialeah) Kemal Ishmael (North Miami Beach) Cliff McCray (Southridge)
FLORIDA
Milton Emery Allen (Milton)
Eufala Javen Harris (Eufala) Belle Glade Jarien Moreland (Glades Central) Jarre� Swaby (Glades Day) Boca Raton John Lubischer (Boca Raton Community) Bonita Springs Mike Buxton (Estero) Bradenton Andy Slowik (Lakewood Ranch) Clearwater Jordan Becker (Central Catholic) Clermont Frankie Davis (East Ridge) Richard Jackson (East Ridge) Coral Springs Blake Clingan (Coral Springs) Deltona Ricky Kay (DeLand) Fort Lauderdale Michael Greco (Cardinal Gibbons) Nick Pieschel (St. Thomas Aquinas) D.J. Williams (Cardinal Gibbons)
Ocala D.J. Brown (Dunnellon) Marquee Williams (Vanguard) Orlando Victor Gray (Dr. Phillips) Abré Leggins (Evans) Quincy McDuffie (Edgewater) James Poe (Freedom) Henry Wright (Edgewater) Palm Harbor L.D. Crow (Countryside)
Tucker A.J. Bouye (Tucker)
LOUISIANA
Lutcher Khymest Williams (Lutcher)
Stuart Lyle Dankenrbing (Mar�n County)
Tampa Nick Ca�oi (Gaither) Charley Hughle� (Hillsborough) Tavares Josh Linam (Tavares) Titusville Willie Gaetjens (Titusville) Wabasso Ronnie Weaver (Vero Beach) West Palm Beach Kevin Garvy (Cardinal Newman) Weston Jordan Rae (Cypress Bay)
Land O’Lakes Joe Weatherford (Land O’Lakes)
Winter Park Billy Giovane� (Bishop Moore) Nick Giovane� (Bishop Moore) Corey Rabazinski (Winter Park)
Largo Brynn Harvey (Largo)
Winter Springs Bre� Hodges (Winter Springs)
Miami Kamar Aiken (Chaminade-Madonna) Corey Ammons (Archbishop Carroll) Iam Bus�llo (Killian) Jack Carter (Coral Reef) Rey Cunha (Jackson) Nico Flores (North Miami Beach) James Getsee (Hialeah-Miami Lakes)
Suwanee Brandon Davis (Peachtree Ridge) Robert Pritchard (North Gwine�)
St. Petersburg Jamar Newsome (Boca Ciega)
Gainesville Aus�n Hudson (Buchholz) Alex Thompson (Buchholz) Travis Timmons (Buchholz)
Longwood Loren Robinson (Lynam)
Rome Brian Wa�ers (Rome)
Leesville Wes Tunuufi Sauvao (Leesville)
Tallahassee T.J. Harnden (Lincoln) Steven Robinson (Lincoln)
Lake Wales Chad Alexander (Lake Wales)
Lawrenceville Jonathan Davis (Tucker) Troy Davis (Berkmar)
Port St. Joe Zac Norris (Port St. Joe)
Fort Walton Beach Jake Goray (Choctawhatchee) Chris Mar�n (Choctawhatchee)
Jacksonville Rocky Ross (The Bolles School) Ash Weekley (The Bolles School)
LaGrange John Oliver (Troup County)
Baton Rouge Reggie Weams (Redemptorist)
Sunrise Josh Robinson (Planta�on)
Homestead Darin Baldwin (South Dade) Dontravius Floyd (South Dade) A.J. Guyton (Homestead) Omar Hansborough (Homestead)
Douglasville Darius Nall (Chapel Hill)
Pensacola Lawrence Young (Woodham)
Fort Pierce Derrick Hallman (Fort Pierce Central)
Haines City Jah Reid (Haines City)
62
Naples Cory Hogue (Naples)
Cumming Adam Nissley (South Forsyth)
GEORGIA
Atlanta Jus�n Boddie (North Atlanta) Brandon Bryant (Booker T. Washington) Canton Bruce Miller (Woodstock) Conyers Chance Henderson (Heritage) Torrell Troup (Salem)
MARYLAND
Clarksville Brian Taaffe (St. Paul’s)
NEW YORK
Bemus Point Nick Black (Maple Grove) Central Valley Jamie Boyle (Monroe-Woodbury) Islip Terrace Rob Calabrese (East Islip) Shoreham Brendan Kelly (Shoreham-Wading River)
NORTH CAROLINA
Cary Jordan Richards (Cary) Ma�hews David Bohner (Sun Valley)
OHIO
Concord Jim Teknipp (Riverside) Mentor Chad Hounshell (Lake Catholic)
SOUTH CAROLINA
Andrews Jarvis Geathers (Andrews) Laurens J.T. McArthur (Laurens) Lexington David Williams (White Knoll) TEXAS Fort Bend Theo Goins (Hightower)
FOOTBALL
KNIGHTS BY CLASS Seniors (12) Emery Allen Ian Bus�llo Jarvis Geathers Michael Greco T.J. Harnden Bre� Hodges Corey Rabazinski Jordan Richards Rocky Ross Alex Thompson Travis Timmons Torrell Troup Juniors (24) Kamar Aiken Darin Baldwin Jus�n Boddie Mike Buxton Blake Clingan Derrick Hallman Rashidi Haughton Chance Henderson Cory Hogue Aus�n Hudson Richard Jackson Ricky Kay Abré Leggins John Lubischer Bruce Miller Cliff McCray Jamar Newsome Jah Reid Wes Tunuufi Sauvao Brian Wa�ers Reggie Weams David Williams Khymest Williams Lawrence Young Sophomores (26) Chad Alexander Jordan Becker David Bohner Rob Calabrese Jack Carter Nick Ca�oi L.D. Crow Brandon Davis Willie Gaetjens James Getsee Nick Giovane� Jake Goray A.J. Guyton Omar Hansborough Brynn Harvey Charley Hughle� Josh Linam J.T. McArthur Darius Nall Adam Nissley Zac Norris Nick Pieschel James Poe Andy Slowik Joe Weatherford Ronnie Weaver Redshirt Freshmen (16) Nick Black Lyle Dankenbring Kevin Garvy Billy Giovane� Theo Goins Chad Hounshell Brendan Kelly Jarien Moreland John Oliver
Robert Pritchard Jordan Rae Loren Robinson Steven Robinson Brian Taaffe Ash Weekley D.J. Williams
JARVIS GEATHERS
Freshmen (20) Corey Ammons A.J. Bouye D.J. Brown Brandon Bryant Rey Cunha Frankie Davis Jonathan Davis Troy Davis Nico Flores Dontravius Floyd Victor Gray Javen Harris Kemal Ishmael Chris Mar�n Quincy McDuffie Josh Robinson Jarre� Swaby Jim Teknipp Marquee Williams Henry Wright
EMERY ALLEN
63
UCF KNIGHTS DEPTH CHART OFFENSE WR WR LT LG C RG RT TE HB QB TB
5 82 6 81 77 66 68 64 73 69 70 63 76 74 88 85 84 32 4 17 34 35
Rocky Ross Khymest Williams Brian Wa�ers Kamar Aiken Nick Pieschel Abré Leggins Theo Goins Jarien Moreland Ian Bus�llo Zac Norris Steven Robinson Cliff McCray Jah Reid Chad Hounshell Adam Nissley Willie Gaetjens Corey Rabazinski Billy Giovane� Rob Calabrese Joe Weatherford Brynn Harvey Ronnie Weaver
6-2 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-7 6-4 6-6 6-5 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-0
209 179 191 218 302 317 316 321 301 288 306 307 314 297 264 246 244 225 213 200 205 206
RSr. Jr. RJr. Jr. RSo. RJr. RFr. RFr. RSr. RSo. RFr. RSr. RJr. RFr. RSo. RSo. Sr. RFr. So. RSo. So. RSo.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Jus�n Boddie ............................................................................. body David Bohner....................................................................... BAW-ner A.J. Bouye .............................................................................. boy-YAY Ian Bus�llo .......................................................................bus-TEE-yo Rob Calabrese ...............................................................cal-ah-BREES Nick Ca�oi ............................................................................ cah-TOY Rey Cunha ...........................................................................coon-yah Willie Gaetjens .................................................................... gate-gins James Getsee .........................................................................gets-ee Brynn Harvey............................................................................. brinn Rashidi Haughton......................................... rah-SHEE-dee HAW-�n Abré Leggins .......................................................................AWE-bray Josh Linam ............................................................................ LINE-um John Lubischer ..............................................................LOO-bish-err Nick Pieschel ................................................ pih-shell (like Michelle) Corey Rabazinski ....................................................rah-bah-ZIN-skee Andy Slowik........................................................................slow-wick Brian/Charlie Taaffe.......................................taff (rhymes with staff) Torrell Troup ....................................................................... tore-RELL Wes Tunuufi Sauvao ..................................... tuh-NOO-fee sow-vow Khymest Williams................................................................ kim-mist
64
DEFENSE LE LT RT RE OLB MLB OLB CB CB SS FS
48 53 95 46 98 96 49 99 56 55 59 50 57 54 23 20 21 22 40 2 38 25
SPECIALISTS PK P H LS PR KR
16 28 41 28 31 60 61 5 20 82 21
David Williams Darius Nall Travis Timmons Rashidi Haughton Torrell Troup Chris Mar�n Bruce Miller Jarvis Geathers Jordan Richards Alex Thompson Cory Hogue Josh Linam Lawrence Young Chance Henderson Jus�n Boddie Josh Robinson Darin Baldwin Emery Allen Reggie Weams Michael Greco Derrick Hallman Jarre� Swaby
6-2 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-10 5-11 5-9 6-0 6-3 6-0 6-1
238 249 297 285 314 279 253 238 225 229 228 234 217 236 184 189 197 182 191 217 212 189
RJr. RSo. Sr. RJr. Sr. Fr. RJr. Sr. RSr. RSr. RSr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. RSr. Jr. Fr.
Nick Ca�oi Jamie Boyle Blake Clingan Jamie Boyle Aus�n Hudson Charley Hughle� James Getsee Rocky Ross Josh Robinson Khymest Williams Darin Baldwin
6-5 5-10 6-3 5-10 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-2 5-10 5-10 5-11
210 182 229 182 196 232 220 209 189 179 197
So. Fr. Jr. Fr. RJr. So. RSo. RSr. Fr. Jr. Jr.