Jan. 13, 2005
ORLANDO - UCF head football coach George O'Leary announced Thursday the signing of six student-athletes who will be eligible to play for the Golden Knights in the fall of 2005. The players are enrolled and started classes this week at UCF and will practice with the team in the spring.
The six-player class features three prep school signees and three junior college transfers.
"I think our mid-year signees are a group that can come in and help us," stated O'Leary. "I think the group we signed will fill the voids we had from a depth standpoint. Obviously, with the mid-year recruits and the crop of recruits we are looking at we anticipate a very productive class that will be a tremendous value in the future years to come."
The new class of Golden Knights feature one wide receiver, two defensive backs, two linebackers and one tailback. The mid-year signees hail from Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington.
2005 UCF Football Mid-Year Signees
Clarence Howard, LB, 6-4, 265, Springfield, Va./Robert E. Lee HS/Milford Academy
Javid James, WR, 6-3, 190, New Orleans, La./Edna Karr Magnet HS/West Hills College
Jason Peters, TB, 6-2, 230, Seattle, Wash./Evergreen HS/Butte College
Jordan Richards, LB, 6-2, 215, Cary, N.C./Cary HS/Hargrave Military Academy
Breon Rogers, DB, 6-3, 205, Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson HS/Hargrave Military Academy
Marlon Williams, DB, 6-0, 205, Sunrise, Fla./W.T. Dwyer HS/Reedley Junior College
Clarence Howard
6-4, 265
Linebacker
Springfield, Va.
Robert E. Lee HS
Milford Academy
Versatile athlete who played linebacker, tight end, defensive end and fullback in high school and at Milford Academy ... coached by William Chaplick at Milford Academy ... missed four weeks due to injury in the fall for Milford ... finished the season with 36 tackles, including two for loss and one sack ... 102-yard interception return for a touchdown ... three-star recruit according to rivals.com ... played high school football at Robert Lee High School in Springfield, Va.
Milford Academy defensive coordinator Jason Houghtaling on Howard:
"Clarence is an outstanding athlete who can play anywhere. We put him just about everywhere on the field and he would just make plays."
Javid James
6-3, 190
Wide Receiver
New Orleans, La.
Edna Karr Magnet HS
West Hills College
Wide receiver who spent one season at West Hills College in Coalinga, Ca. ... played for head coach Mark Gritton at West Hills ... originally from New Orleans, La. ... played on the prep level at Edna Karr Magnet High School in New Orleans ... two-time all-district performer ... two-time academic scholar award winner ... 30 receptions for 532 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior ... 10 receptions for 200 yards during his junior campaign ... coached by Jabbar Juluke at Edna Karr Magnet.
Jason Peters
6-2, 230
Tailback
Seattle, Wash.
Evergreen HS
Butte College
Strong tailback who has good speed for a player of his size ... had two excellent seasons at Butte College in Oroville, Ca. ... played for Craig Rigsbee at Butte ... 1,679 rushing yards as a freshman at Butte, the most of any junior college player in the state of California ... led team with 898 rushing yards as a sophomore ... preseason national player of the year in the junior college ranks by Street & Smiths Magazine prior to the 2004 season ... all-state and all-conference tailback at Butte ... played high school football at Evergreen High School in Seattle, Wash. ... born in Fort Lauderdale and lived in Florida until high school.
Butte College head coach Craig Rigsbee on Peters:
"Jason is a powerful running back with shocking speed."
Jordan Richards
6-2, 215
Linebacker
Cary, N.C.
Cary HS
Hargrave Military Academy
Athletic linebacker who is a big hitter and can really run to the football ... spent one season at Hargrave Military Academy ... coached by Robert Prunty ... totaled 45 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks and six pass breakups at Hargrave ... appeared in just six games due to injury ... one of two players signed from Hargrave (Breon Rogers) ... hails from Cary, N.C. ... played at Cary High School for Ben Kolstad ... two-time all-conference honoree ... team MVP as a senior ... four-time player of the week.
Hargrave Military Academy head coach Robert Prunty on Richards:
"Jordan is a very solid linebacker. He runs well and plays physical football."
Breon Rogers
6-3, 205
Defensive Back
Stone Mountain, Ga.
Stephenson HS
Hargrave Military Academy
Impact defensive back recruit at safety ... played one season at Hargrave Military Academy for head coach Robert Prunty ... teammate of fellow UCF signee Jordan Richards at Hargrave ... 60 tackles, 12 pass breakups and three interceptions at Hargrave ... three-star recruit according to rivals.com ... originally from Stone Mountain, Ga. ... prepped at Stephenson High School.
Hargrave Military Academy head coach Robert Prunty on Rogers:
"Breon has a great attitude! He flies around to the football and is a big hitter."
Marlon Williams
6-0, 205
Defensive Back
Sunrise, Fla.
W.T. Dwyer HS
Reedley JC
Junior college defensive back signee who is from the Sunshine State ... played on the junior college level at Reedley in Reedley, Ca. ... coached by Shane Beattie ... career totals of 127 tackles, 29 for loss, 10 sacks and two interceptions in two seasons at Reedley ... two-time first team all-conference at Reedley ... team captain ... a native of Sunrise, Fla. ... played on the high school level for Jack Daniels at W.T. Dwyer High School ... team defensive back MVP at Dwyer ... all-district and all-county performer in high school.
Reedley head coach Shane Beattie on Williams:
"Marlon will be a great asset to UCF. He is a tremendous person and a great football player."