May 11, 2006
UCF is the favorite to win the East Division of Conference USA, according to The Sporting News' 2006 National College Yearbook, which goes on sale in June. The Golden Knights captured the C-USA East Division championship in 2005 with a 7-1 league record, the best of any league school.
Senior center Cedric Gagne-Marcoux and sophomore cornerback Joe Burnett were named to the TSN C-USA Preseason Team.
Both players also made TSN's All-American checklist. Burnett was rated as the No. 11 return man and the 13th-best cornerback in the nation, while Gagne-Marcoux was tabbed as the 15th-best center in the country.
In 2005, Burnett was named a first-team Freshman All-American according to the Football Writers Association of America, Rivals.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and a third-team Freshman All-American selection by The Sporting News.
Burnett was a C-USA First-Team selection on defense and special teams in 2005. He was the only freshman in C-USA to be named to either the first-team offense or defense. Burnett ended the season ranked sixth in the nation and first in C-USA in punt return average (16.5). He was also second in C-USA and second in school history with five interceptions. He set new UCF single-season records for punt return yardage and yards per punt return.
Gagne-Marcoux was a First-Team all-Conference USA selection on offense and started all 13 games at center in 2005. He graded out as UCF's top lineman and has started all 33 games in his career he has played in. Gagne-Marcoux has taken every snap at center for UCF during those 33 games.
The Golden Knights open the season Sept. 2 at home vs. Villanova. Ticket orders are now being accepted for the 2006 football season. Season ticket holders will be given priority when seats are sold in the new stadium. Fans can place their ticket order by calling 407-UCF-1000.