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TE
Darcy Johnson |
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2004
Statistics |
Coach:
George O'Leary
0-11,
1 year |
2004
Record: 0-11 |
|
at
Wisconsin |
LOST
6-34 |
WEST
VIRGINIA |
LOST
20-45 |
at
Penn State |
LOST
13-37 |
at
Buffalo |
LOST
20-48 |
NORTHERN
ILLINOIS |
LOST
28-30 |
AKRON |
LOST
21-26 |
at
Miami OH |
LOST
7-43 |
at
Marshall |
LOST
3-20 |
OHIO |
LOST
16-17 (OT) |
at
Ball State |
LOST
17-21 |
KENT
STATE |
LOST
24-41 |
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2004
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
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2005
Outlook |
Last
year could not have gotten any worse for
first year head coach George O'Leary. Yes,
losing all 11 games last year is about as
low as it gets. But even more so is the
fact that most of them were not close (average
score 33-16). The running game was non-existent
(ranked 107th nationally), even with the
school's all-time leading rusher in the
mix. The passing game could never find consistency,
and the defense couldn’t stop anyone.
Ugh! QB Steven Moffett appeared to be a
bad fit in O'Leary's new schemes with his
relaxed style. But after eight tough games
under his belt, coaches are now confident
that Moffett is the right man for the job.
No seniors exist on the OL, but all five
starters are back. Throw in a very talented
receiving corps and this offense, at least
on paper, has nowhere to go but up. Injuries
riddled this team in 2004, forcing more
green players into the lineup than normal.
The bonus in such situations is that experience
levels are much higher.
During
spring drills, the Golden Knights had the
look and feel of a team that was starting
to understand O’Leary’s system
on both sides of the ball. Looking at the
roster, UCF still has one of the youngest
teams in the nation, with just 18 juniors
and 13 seniors on the roster, while 54 underclassmen
make up 65 percent of the team.
UCF
begins play in Conference USA after a three-year
run in the Mid-American Conference (as a
football-only member. All of the school’s
sports will now participate in the same
conference for the first time in school
history.) UCF has been placed in the East
Division of the newly-aligned league. The
immediate problem is that UCF is in the
tougher of the two halves. While the MAC
was no slouch in terms of scheduling, the
likes of Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss
and UAB on the same East side makes finding
victories (just as) difficult. Still, talk
this off-season down in Orlando surrounded
getting back to bowl eligibility. With such
a young group, it may be better for coaches
to set more realistic goals, like getting
to four wins. The Knights are genuinely
capable of accomplishing, so don’t
be surprised if/when this squad surpasses
expectations.
Projected
2005 record: 4-7
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DB
Ron Ellis |
UCF
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 2.5 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 2.5 |
LB
- 2 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 2 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Steven Moffett, 229-147-10, 1721 yds., 9
TD
Rushing: Dontavius Wilcox, 61 att.,
215 yds., 2 TD
Receiving: Darcy Johnson, 30 rec.,
244 yds., 0 TD
Scoring: Matt Prater, 9-14 FG, 12-14
PAT, 39 pts.
Punting: Aaron Horne, 66 punts, 38.7
avg.
Kicking: Matt Prater, 9-14 FG, 12-14
PAT, 39 pts.
Tackles: Brandon Marshall, 51 tot.,
30 solo
Sacks: Paul Carrington, 4 sacks
Interceptions: Mike Walker, 3 for
71 yds.
Kickoff returns: Curtis Francis,
9 ret., 18.6 avg., 0 TD
Punt returns: Brandon Marshall, 3
ret., 11.0 avg., 0 TD
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OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Alex Haynes-TB, Brandon Sumner-QB, Tavaris
Capers-WR, Luther Huggins-WR |
DEFENSE:
Stanford
Rhule-LB, Gerren Bray-MLB, Ty Kalandy-OLB,
Lemec Bernard-OLB, Atari Bigby-SS |
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2005
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
Inconsistency is what best describes this group
from 2004. Steven Moffett started eight games,
but with Brandon Sumner (two starts) having left
the program, the competition is a two-man race
between Moffett and Kyle Israel, whose 2004 freshman
season ended early due to injury. Israel re-injured
the same leg in the spring and Moffett took advantage
of the situation by improving and coming out as
the clear-cut starter, for now. Moffett was plagued
by TOs, but QB play wasn't the team's main issue.
Israel is bigger and has a stronger arm. Although
not as mobile as his competitor, Israel is more
of a pure pocket passer and excels at such. Expect
both to see the field at some point, assuming
health is not an issue.
Running
Back
A new RB coach was hired this spring - James Bernhardt.
Still, phenom Alex Haynes’ departure represents
the most notable loss on this side of the ball.
Our expectations are that a running back by committee
will be par for the 2005 course. Dontavius Wilcox
is a shifty runner and represents the most experience.
Curtis Francis, a versatile athlete (and stellar
special teams contributor) who was a (prep) track
standout, has all the tools to push for equal
playing time. JUCO-transfer Jason Peters is the
wild card with great size. Peters was a 2004 preseason
JC Player of the Year after leading the Golden
State with 1,679 rushing yards his freshman campaign.
Receiver
A pair of experienced receivers exists with Mike
Walker and Brandon Marshall, but the Knights also
have plenty of depth with several newcomers already
making waves, like JUCO-transfer Javid James and
incoming freshman Rocky Ross. Both Walker and
Marshall moved to defense in 2004 – Walker
at cornerback and Marshall at safety – due
to injuries in the secondary. Walker is perhaps
the team's best overall athlete - he led the Knights
with three interceptions before moving over at
season’s end, where he then led the team
with 21.2 yards per. Marshall returns to WR after
a stint at safety (fourth game of the season)
where he unexpectedly led the team in tackles.
Both defensive assignments can only help each
WR’s (and the entire corps’) overall
ability. Junior sprinter Brooks Turner should
be used as the No. 3, and can keep up with these
two in most areas.
Tight
End
When noting depth and talent, no other unit is
this secure. Senior Darcy Johnson is one of the
tops in CUSA and is a dangerous receiver (leading
returning snarler). The 6-6 Palatka-native has
all the tools to become one of the nation’s
best. Sophomore Mike Merritt and senior Antonio
Eldemire, too, have a combination of size and
athleticism so that all of UCF’s offensive
formations are sound.
Offensive
Line
So many young players were forced into action
last season, and thus, the learning curve caused
problems in both run blocking and pass protection.
Ultimately for the 2005, the line/team now reaps
the dividends as all six-letter winners return.
Three players – Dominic Iglenzi, Sean Gilhuly
and Dan Veenstra – started all 11 together.
Two of those players, Ignelzi and Veenstra, will
have a new position. Ignelzi, one of three true
freshmen from the ’04 starters, moves from
left guard to right tackle. Ignelzi shows the
toughness and determination and really adjusted
well to his move to tackle in spring practice.
This unit’s improvements will be seen via
more wins.
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WR
Mike Walker
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UCF
2005 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Steven
Moffett-Jr (6-3, 210) |
Kyle
Israel-So (6-3, 225) |
FB |
Jason
Peters-Jr (6-1, 230) |
Goodson
Ohaegbulam-Jr (6-0, 250) |
TB |
Dontavius
Wilcox-Jr (5-9, 220) |
Curtis
Francis-So (6-0, 180) |
WR |
Mike
Walker-Jr (6-2, 195) |
Javid
James-So (6-3, 190) |
WR |
Brandon
Marshall-Sr (6-4, 230) |
Brooks
Turner-Jr (5-11, 190) |
TE |
Darcy
Johnson-Sr (6-5, 255) |
Antonio
Eldemire-Sr (6-3, 250) |
OT |
L.J.
Anderson-Fr (6-4, 290) |
Josh
Sitton-So (6-5, 310) |
OG |
Kyle
Smith-So (6-3, 280) |
Brad
Williams-So (6-5, 290) |
C |
Cedric
Gagne-Marcoux-Jr (6-3, 280) |
Richard
Clark-Fr (6-4, 285) |
OG |
Sean
Gilhuly-Jr (6-5, 310) |
Dan
Veenstra-Jr (6-5, 300) |
OT |
Dominic
Ignelzi-So (6-4, 300) |
Kyle
Storey-Fr (6-5, 285) |
K |
Matt
Prater-Sr (5-10, 180) |
John
Brown-Sr (5-10, 190) |
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2005
DEFENSE |
Defensive
Line
The DL returns all the key players from a season
ago, including team sack leader Paul Carrington.
Carrington really came on strong at the end of
the ’04 campaign and continued his stellar
play into the spring. A pair of interior linemen
– “huskie” Emeka Okammor and
svelte Keith Shologan – both started in
the middle as true freshmen. Both players adjusted
well to the speed and strength of Division I after
playing in all 11 games. Do not count out fifth
year senior Frisner Nelson, one of three seniors
on the two-deep who can consistently achieve.
DE Kareem Reid sat out 2004 (as a transfer from
the University of Kentucky). On the practice field,
Reid showed the coaching staff (via the scout
team) that he is a player to watch with both his
size and athleticism.
Linebacker
Linebacker is an area of concern, which was evident
as eight LBs were signed in last February's recruiting
class. Each will have a chance in preseason camp
to earn a spot in the line up. Senior James Cook
is the veteran leader with the best knowledge
of the Knight’s schemes. Chris Welsh moves
here from his starting DE position, but a broken
hand cut his much-needed spring practice short.
Welsh has a motor that never quits, which will
make up for the short amount of time now available
to learn his new position. The middle seems wide-open
for a newcomer to lock down the starting nod.
Defensive
Back
In 2004, the secondary had the worst luck with
injuries, but the unit was able to make it through
spring virtually injury-free. Whereas the lineup
seemed to change with each and every week, it
now appears solid. Sha'reff Rashad made his first
career start at Penn State and broke his hand
on the initial play of the game. He missed the
rest of the season, but now finds himself back
atop at strong safety. The Jacksonville product
is versatile enough to also play the free safety
position. Also at strong safety, sophomore Renford
Parkes returns after starting five games. Parkes
had to adjust to the real-game speed, and continues
to improve in the new defensive scheme O’Leary
installed. Senior Anthony Willis tops the depth
chart at free safety and has the most experience
of any UCF safety. Now in his third year, Ron
Ellis returns as one starter on the corner while
redshirt freshmen Johnell Neal parlayed a strong
spring into the top spot at the other corner.
Neal has really worked in the weight room and
is a player to watch.
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DE
Paul Carrington
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UCF
2005 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Kareem
Reid-Jr (6-5, 270) |
Glenroy
Watkins-Sr (6-2, 240) |
DT |
Keith
Shologan-So (6-2, 280) |
Frisner
Nelson-Sr (6-2, 290) |
DT |
Emeka
Okammor-So (6-1, 270) |
Leger
Douzable-So (6-5, 300) |
DE |
Paul
Carrington-Sr (6-7, 250) |
Dennis
King-So (6-2, 260) |
SLB |
Chris
Welsh-Jr (6-4, 235) |
Randy
Dozier-So (6-2, 210) |
MLB |
Ronnell
Sandy-Jr (6-0, 235) |
Clarence
Howard-Fr (6-4, 260) |
WLB |
James
Cook-Sr (6-3, 220) |
Jordan
Richards-Fr (6-2, 215) |
CB |
Travonti
Johnson-Jr (6-2, 175) |
Johnell
Neal-Fr (5-10, 180) |
CB |
Ron
Ellis-Jr (5-11, 190) |
Marlon
Williams-Jr (5-11, 200) |
SS |
Sha'reff
Rashad-Fr (6-1, 200) |
Renford
Parkes-So (5-11, 210) |
FS |
Anthony
Willis-Sr (6-0, 200) |
Jason
Venson-Fr (5-10, 210) |
P |
Aaron
Horne-Sr (6-3, 195) |
Matt
Prater-Sr (5-10, 180) |
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2005
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Senior place-kicker Matt Prater, who is fourth all-time
in school annals with 33 field goals, battled injury
in 2004 and missed two games for the first time in his
playing career. Prater's strong leg is evident with
his 50-yard range. Maybe even more impressive was his
47.9 yards per punt stat from 2003.
Punter
Senior Aaron Horne returns after averaging just over
38 yards per punt. He did manage to place 18 punts inside
the 20-yard line and forced 13 to be fair-caught. Coach
O'Leary was impressed with the job Horne did after playing
football for the first time since high school. Horne
spent two years as a student at Florida International
before returning to the gridiron in 2004.
Return
Game
UCF lost the services of kick returner Luther Huggins
and punt returner Tavaris Capers to graduation. Several
players will have an opportunity to replace the two,
including the RB-trio of Peters, Francis and Wilcox
on kick returns. On punt returns, Venson should lock
down the spot after a standout prep career as a kick/punt
returner.
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