ATARI BIGBY
FROM UCF TO THE NFL When the 2008 Na�onal Football League campaign began, 13 former Knights were listed on opening day rosters, good for first among all Conference USA programs. By the end of the season, 15 former UCF players were on NFL rosters. UCF is clearly producing future professionals. In 2009, cornerback Joe Burne� was selected by Pi�sburgh in the fi�h round of the NFL Dra�. The previous year, three UCF standouts were picked. Detroit tabbed tailback Kevin Smith with the first pick of the third round, offensive lineman Josh Si�on was taken by Green Bay in the fourth round and Kansas City used a seventh round selec�on on �ght end Mike Merri�.
DID YOU KNOW?
CORNELL GREEN
The Knights had a total of four players selected in the 2008 and 2009 NFL Dra�s. Within the state of Florida, only Florida (five) had more players dra�ed during that span. 1. 2. 5.
KEVIN SMITH
Florida UCF Florida State Miami USF
5 4 4 4 3
KNIGHTS IN THE NFL (2008)
Atari Bigby Daunte Culpepper Leger Douzable Travis Fisher Michael Gaines Cornell Green Rashad Jeanty Darcy Johnson Brandon Marshall Mike Merri� Ma� Prater Asante Samuel Josh Si�on Kevin Smith Mike Walker
Green Bay Detroit New York Giants Detroit Detroit Oakland Cincinna� New York Giants Denver Kansas City Denver Philadelphia Green Bay Detroit Jacksonville
S QB DL CB TE OL LB TE WR TE K CB OL TB WR
RASHAD JEANTY
JOSH SITTON
HEARING THEIR NAME In its 30-year football history, UCF has sent dozens of players in the NFL. Since Ted Wilson became the first Knight dra�ed in 1987, a total of 25 former UCF players have had their names called in the dra�, including 16 in the first five rounds.
BRANDON MARSHALL
FROM UCF TO THE NFL Former Knights are not only making NFL rosters. Several Knights are enjoying great success in the league. This was evident when Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall and Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel represented UCF at the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. Samuel, who finished his career with the Knights in 2002, won a pair of Super Bowls with New England. He started for the Patriots in their Super Bowl XXXIX win over Philadelphia. In 2008, he signed one of the most lucra�ve contracts for a cornerback in league history with the Eagles. Marshall came into his own with the Broncos in 2007 as he ranked fourth in the NFL with 102 recep�ons and sixth with 1,325 receiving yards. He had a be�er campaign the following year, ranking third among league wideouts with 104 catches in 2008, including an AFC record 18 against San Diego on Sept. 14, 2008. DAUNTE CULPEPPER
Three-�me Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper of the Lions is the most prominent UCF alumnus in the NFL. The 11th overall pick in the 1999 dra�, Culpepper began his career with Minnesota and has thrown for 23,208 yards and 146 touchdowns during his �me in the NFL. ASANTE SAMUEL
UCF/NFL DRAFT HISTORY
Year Player 2009 Joe Burne� 2008 Kevin Smith Josh Si�on Mike Merri� 2007 Mike Walker 2006 Brandon Marshall 2003 Asante Samuel Doug Gabriel Mike Mabry Elton Pa�erson 2002 Travis Fisher 2000 Charles Lee 1999 Daunte Culpepper Paul Miranda 1996 Marque�e Smith 1995 Greg Jefferson 1993 Rick Hamilton 1992 Bob Spitulski 1991 Raymond Irvin Shawn Jefferson 1988 Bernard Ford Corris Ervin 1987 Ted Wilson Elgin Davis
Year 2008 2006 2003
Rd. 5 3 4 7 3 4 4 5 7 7 2 7 1 4 5 3 3 3 9 9 3 5 10 12
Pick 32 1 36 32 15 22 23 32 36 45 32 36 11 1 10 8 15 10 2 17 10 27 23 23
Overall 168 64 135 239 79 119 120 167 250 259 64 242 11 96 142 72 71 66 225 240 65 136 274 330
Team Posi�on Pi�sburgh CB Detroit TB Green Bay OL Kansas City TE Jacksonville WR Denver WR New England DB Oakland WR Bal�more OL Cincinna� DE St. Louis DB Green Bay WR Minnesota QB Indianapolis DB Carolina RB Philadelphia DE Washington LB Sea�le LB Cleveland DB Houston WR Buffalo WR Denver DB Washington WR New England RB
UCF/CFL DRAFT HISTORY
Player Keith Shologan
Rd. 1 Cedric Gagne-Marcoux 1 Taylor Robertson 2
Pick 4 8 2
Overall 4 8 11
PRO DAY NFL Scouts also regularly flock to UCF’s annual Pro Day. The Knights hosted over 85 different NFL scouts during the 2008 season alone. UCF has developed a reputa�on for producing a steady stream of NFL-caliber players and the league’s scouts have made Orlando and the UCF campus a regular stop on their tour of America.
Team Posi�on Saskatchewan DL Hamilton OL Calgary OL