March 20, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - On a perfect day in central Florida, the UCF football team practiced for the second-consecutive day in shorts and helmets for just over two hours. The Knights continued to focus on installing running and passing schemes during the second workout of the week.
The practice schedule included individual units working on fundamentals for the first part of the session. Before putting it together at the conclusion of the session with full 11-on-11 team drills, the offensive and defensive units spent time on various aspects of the run and passing games.
The Knights continue practice on Saturday at 10 a.m. and will be their third of the spring. Saturday will be the first time that the team will practice in full-pads this spring.
UCF will hold its conclusion to spring practice with its annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 11 at Bright House Networks Stadium. The scrimmage begins at 2 p.m. and general admission tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000, online at UCFAthletics.com, or in-person at Bright House Networks Stadium.
Junior safety Derrick Hallman (Fort Pierce, Fla.) talked today about his position change from linebacker to safety. In high school, Hallman was selected as a 5A All-State first team honoree as a safety at Fort Pierce Central.
On the feeling of spring practice in the air:
"We have a few mistakes that we need to correct, but everything else is looking real solid."
On moving to safety:
"I am loving it. I can't wait till tomorrow when I get to hit somebody from 12 yards back with a full head of steam. I can't wait. I have been with this defense for a while. Linebacker is pretty easy to pick up. I have been trying to learn what the defensive line and secondary are doing. I have pretty much been learning the position on the run. I meet with those guys about three days a week to get them caught up."
On how the move to safety occurred:
"Before the season, they wanted to move me back to safety. I kept going to coach [Dave] Huxtable and he kept going to coach [George] O'Leary. Sometime over the break, they decided that he could play safety. I was in the weight room with the linebackers an coach O'Leary asked me, `What are you doing in there.' I told him that I am a linebacker coach. He said no we moved you to safety and I have been a safety ever since."
On playing safety in high school:
"I was all-state my senior year. I had ten picks and that is where you make all the plays. I have always wanted to be a playmaker."
On stepping up and being a playmaker in the secondary:
"Picks, forced fumbles and tackles, those are the three categories that I want to lead this defense in. I am working hard at it and hopefully god can bless me."
On being a leader to the younger players at the safety position:
"I like to take them under my wing because when I got here that is what Jason [Venson] and Sha'reff [Rashad] did for me. [Cory] Hogue took me under his wing and made things a lot easier for me. I got to play as a freshman. I started as a freshman. That is what I want to do for those guys. I just want to lead by example."
On your perfect play:
"I would love to make a big hit and then scooping up the fumble for the score. My favorite play since I have been here was in my freshman year. The first time that we played Tulsa, I got my first interception and it was 55 yards on the return."
On the activities that you do together as the secondary unit:
"Besides watching film, we are always together in the room playing games or joking. We eat together. We do everything together. We are pretty much a tight brotherhood. Every Thursday or Wednesday is when everyone gets haircuts from Darin [Baldwin] because he cuts everyone's hair. It is a real comedy session on Wednesdays or Thursdays."