Jorge Magluta - Football (1981-85) - Class of 2011
Jorge Magluta came to Orlando over 30 years ago to play for a start-up UCF football program and thankfully has never left the community. As a defensive line prospect from South Miami High School, Magluta started his career as a freshman nose guard under inaugural football head coach Don Jonas. He would quickly move to the offensive side of the ball when the unit became depleted by injuries. By his sophomore year, he was slated to start at the right guard ahead of the preseason, under head coach Sam Weir. Magluta's feared style of play landed him a spot in what was known as the team's fabled "suicide squad", playing special teams on both kickoff and punt coverage units. He was known as a tremendous hitter. A rare feat, Magluta would also play under UCF's third head coach, Lou Saban, who counted on the upper classmen for his valued leadership in the trenches. Magluta, in total, would play under five head coaches at UCF in his five years of action for the Fighting Knights football program.
An accomplished high school player with South Miami, he was an All-Dade County selection by both the Miami Herald and Miami News and was his team's most valuable defensive lineman. During his years playing with the Knights, 1982-85, Magluta got to play with several other student-athletes that were later enshrined in the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame, including: Sylvester Bembery (2009), Elgin Davis (2010), Bill Giovanetti (2000), Alan Gooch (2006), Ed O'Brien (2008), Darrell Rudd (2008) and Scott Ryerson (2002). To highlight his magnificent career on the gridiron, Magluta was a member of the Orlando Sentinel's 25th Anniversary team at the offensive guard position.
An ardent UCF supporter to this day, Magluta currently serves as General Manager of Coggin Honda in DeLand.