Aug. 15, 2005
ORLANDO - The UCF football team finished its 12th practice of preseason camp Monday morning under hot conditions in Orlando. The Golden Knights, in the midst of two-a-day practices, return to the field tonight from 7:30-9:15 p.m.
Despite the graduation of UCF's all-time leading rusher Alex Haynes, the tailback position could be one of UCF's best in 2005. The overall talent and depth at the position could be the best it has ever been at UCF with the return of junior Dontavius Wilcox, along with junior college transfer Jason Peters, freshman Kevin Smith and sophomore Curtis Francis. Francis was moved to defensive back at the start of preseason camp but has been moved back to tailback. Redshirt freshman walk-on Chris Strother gives UCF another option with a player who has great speed, quickness and agility.
"I like the whole group," stated running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Jim Bernhardt. "Dontavius has been a sound backup in the past and had a good spring. Jason Peters, as we saw in the beginning of the spring, has a lot of talent. He is a good kid ... he is strong, he is fast ... we are just trying to make him a little more complete. Kevin Smith obviously is a great talent and I am still trying to figure out why he wasn't playing running back last year." Smith, who was a tailback at Southridge High School his junior season, played defensive back last season in the prep ranks.
The team hits the field in full pads tonight from 7:30-9:15 p.m.