April 3, 2008
2008 Spring Football Prospectus
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - New UCF linebackers coach Geoff Collins is quick to admit that he owes a great deal of gratitude to defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable. Huxtable served as the Knights' linebackers coach in each of the last four seasons before moving to defensive coordinator this winter.
Huxtable's former unit is now one of the squad's deepest. Collins will lead a unit that returns all three starters from 2007 and has three other linebackers with starting experience.
The depth and experience has made the transition to UCF an easy one for Collins. He spent the previous year working at Alabama as the Crimson Tide's director of player personnel.
"Luckily, we have three returning starters and the other three that are current backups, they have all started," he said. "That is a nice situation [for me] to be in. Coach Huxtable did an unbelievable job, so these kids are so far ahead compared to a lot of places that I have been."
Cory Hogue is the lone senior at the position and has made 27 starts while in Orlando. In 12 starts last season, he recorded 72 tackles, including 55 solo stops. Junior Chance Henderson is the returning starter at middle linebacker after posting 74 tackles in 2007.
Sophomore Derrick Hallman made 10 starts as a true freshman in 2007 and collected 50 tackles and three sacks.
Behind the starting trio is an impressive group led by junior Jordan Richards. The North Carolina native missed the 2007 season due to an injury. In two campaigns with the Knights, he has 72 tackles in 17 contests.
Collins recruited Richards out of high school when he was an assistant at Western Carolina, so he is familiar with his abilities.
Hallman's classmate, Lawrence Young, started the opening two games of the 2007 campaign. He finished his freshman year with 31 tackles and two forced fumbles.
This spring, Collins expects Hallman and Young to continue to grow as collegiate players.
"They are still building on what they learned last year and being more comfortable with the system. Where Cory has three years in it, these guys only have one, even though they played a lot. They are just refreshing what they learned last year and taking it a step further."
Junior Alex Thompson rounds out the trio of reserves. A former quarterback, Thompson also started the first two games a year ago. He registered a career-best nine tackles in the victory at NC State.
A trio of players who worked with the defensive scout team in 2007, sophomore Jay McCahill and redshirt freshman Tom Lewis and Jack Carter, will provide depth at the position.
Thanks to the depth and the experienced group of returnees, Collins is excited about his new players.
"With the first six, there is really not a depth chart," he said. "It is such a close race. If anyone went down, it would be easy. Somebody stepping up would be no problem."
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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