CUSA 2008 Football Previews > 2008 UCF Football Preview

2008 UCF Knights football preview

Central Florida (UCF) Knights - Conference USA

2007 Record: (10-4, 7-1)

2007 Bowl: Liberty Bowl vs. Mississippi State (L 3-10)

Coach: George O’Leary (22-28 at UCF, 74-61 overall)

Offensive Coordinator: Tim Salem

Defensive Coordinator: Dave Huxtable

Returning Leaders for UCF:

• Rushing: Phillip Smith, RB, 246 yards
• Passing: Mike Greco, QB, 303 yards
• Receiving: Rocky Ross, WR, 658 yards
• Tackles: Sha’reff Rashad, S, 103
• Sacks: Bruce Miller, LB, 7.0
• Interceptions: Joe Burnett, CB, 6; Johnell Neal, CB, 6

Other Key Returnees: WR Kamar Aiken, OT Pat Brown, G Jeramy DeVane, LB Derrick Hallman, LB Chance Henderson, LB Cory Hogue, TE Corey Rabazinski, DT Torrell Troup, S Jason Venson

Key Losses: DE Leger Douzable, QB Kyle Israel, TE Mike Merritt, DE Emeka Okammor, DT Keith Shologan, OT Josh Sitton, RB Kevin Smith, C Kyle Smith, K Michael Torres

The offense has some major holes to fill and the defense has some questions to answer, but UCF is not going anywhere. Another ten win season this year might not happen, but the folks in central Florida still have plenty to be excited about. The program is on the rise and will not be falling any time soon.

UCF's 2008 Strengths:

While the offense finds it new stars, the defense will have to hold the team together. And with a deep and talented back seven, it should not be much of a problem. Linebackers Derrick Hallman, Chance Henderson and Cory Hogue are all back. Hallman earned C-USA All-Freshman honors last season and has the potential to develop into a big time player. Yet, it is the secondary that has the most talent. Safeties Sha’reff Rashad and Jason Venson led the team in tackles and Joe Burnett is arguably the best corner in the league. A few key pieces to the line are gone and, if the defense wants to be as dominating as they can be, the front four needs to get pressure on the quarterback. All-freshman player and second-team all-conference honoree Bruce Miller is a good place to start.

UCF's 2008 Weaknesses:

When Kevin Smith announced that he was going pro early, the Knights offense suddenly had a lot of problems. They lost a back who rushed for 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns last year. With a player like Smith, any other problems on that side of the ball disappear. Now they are back. The line was solid in 2007, but now center Kyle Smith and tackle Josh Sitton, both who earned first-team accolades, are gone and there is a lot of rebuilding to do. Also gone is quarterback Kyle Israel. If new quarterbacks Mike Greco or Joe Weatherford can spark a passing game that ranked last in the conference a year ago, the running game has plenty of potential under Phillip Smith and freshman LaTavius Murray.

The Bottom Line for the 2008 Knights:

With a decent group of experienced receivers, led by Rocky Ross and Kamar Aiken, there is some potential for the passing game to improve. It cannot get much worse. Greco, a junior, at least has some experience under center, but Weatherford, brother of Florida State signal caller Drew, could be the answer in the long run.

2007 UCF Team Stats:

Rushing Offense: 234.79 (9th in nation, 1st in conference)

Passing Offense: 176.86 (105, 12)

Total Offense: 411.64 (45, 7)

Scoring Offense: 35.86 (17, 2)

Rushing Defense: 133.14 (39, 2)

Pass Defense: 233.29 (69, 4)

Total Defense: 366.43 (49, 3)

Scoring Defense: 26.57 (56, 2)

Turnover Margin: .07 (54, 4)

Sacks: 2.79 (24, 1)

Sacks Allowed: 1.43 (28, 3)