March 23, 2006
ORLANDO - The UCF football team returned to the Nicholson Fieldhouse on Thursday morning for its second practice of the spring season. The Golden Knights spent most of the practice working on individual drills, but focused on the passing game at the end of the session.
UCF returns 42 letterwinners from last season's 8-5 squad, including 19 starters, but there are some changes on the field this spring. Early in camp, several players have already switched positions.
Redshirt freshman Jayson Williams has moved from tailback to the defensive secondary. Fellow redshirt freshman Alex Thompson has also switched positions. After serving as a quarterback for the scout team in 2005, the Gainesville native is now lining up on the defensive side as a linebacker.
Junior Blake Carter has also moved to linebacker. Carter was listed as wide receiver last season and earned time on special teams.
One player who can guide Carter, Thompson and Williams on changing positions is junior Steven Baker. Baker started 2005 as a wideout, but was moved to middle linebacker midway through the season. He totaled six tackles last season, including three against Nevada in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
Baker is taking advantage of spring practice this season, his first on the defensive side of the football.
"I have been doing a lot of film (study)," he said. "The spring is really going to help. The field is the best experience."
The Golden Knights will take Friday off and return to the field on Saturday morning at 10:05 a.m. in full pads for the first time this spring.