2008 Spring Football Prospectus
March 31, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - With the departure of three starters from a year ago, UCF's offensive line has a new look this spring. Gone are Josh Sitton and Kyle Smith, who were starters for the better part of all four of their years on campus.
L.J. Anderson, who manned the right guard position for the majority of the past three seasons, has also departed. Despite the changes to his personnel, offensive line coach Tom Freeman is pleased with his unit.
Freeman, who is entering his second year with the Knights, is quick to point out that the offensive line features a great deal of experience.
Senior Pat Brown, junior Jeramy DeVane and sophomore Jah Reid have all started while with the Knights. Brown has started 38-consecutive contests at left tackle, the most of any returning lineman in the nation.
DeVane made several starts at left guard in 2007, while Reid earned four starting nods at right tackle as a redshirt freshman.
Freeman expects Brown, and senior Mike Lavoie, to provide leadership on the offensive line.
"(Pat) has done a great job for us, as has Mike Lavoie. Those are the two that I am leaning on. They are both seniors."
Lavoie saw time on UCF's special teams units last year and is the leading candidate to replace Smith at center. Lavoie was a backup at both tackle and center in 2007.
Now in his second year at center, Lavoie is doing a good job directing teammates from the position Freeman said.
This spring, Freeman expects Lavoie, and some of the Knights' less-experienced linemen, like senior Cody Minnich, junior Ian Bustillo, sophomore Mike Buxton and redshirt freshmen Billy Offutt and Nick Pieschel, to spend more time on the field.
Sophomore Wes Tunuufi Sauvao, who spent the last two years with the team as a defensive tackle, was moved to the offensive line this spring, providing more depth for the unit. Like several of his teammates, he will gain more understanding about protection during the team's practice sessions.
As a result, Tunuufi Sauvao and his peers will be more prepared when UCF opens its preseason camp in August.
"This is the time for them to learn," said Freeman. "There is much more hitting and banging in the spring than there is in fall camp."
UCF will hold its annual spring football game on Saturday, April 12 as part of the 2008 UCF Hall of Fame Weekend. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be played for the first time in Bright House Networks Stadium.
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