Nov. 2, 2010
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Two days prior to UCF hosting Rice two weeks ago, senior wide receiver Kamar Aiken was alerted that he would be the deep target on the first play of the game. Finally, in what has been an especially trying season for Aiken, he had reason to smile again.
And he was smiling even bigger when quarterback Jeff Godfrey took the first snap, faked to tailback Ronnie Weaver and then threw a dart to Aiken down the middle of the field for a 59-yard gainer - UCF's longest play of the season.
It was the kind of big-play impact that the partly frustrated, partly banged-up Aiken had been looking for for weeks.
``They told me two days before the game that we were going to run that play and I was just hoping that they were going to stick to it and not change it. I just wanted that chance to make a big play for us,'' Aiken said. ``My thing is stretching the defense and pushing it down the field. Just for them to call it and give us a chance to make a play was big for me.''
Aiken followed up that big play a week later with a 40-yard touchdown catch on the game's second possession, a score that put UCF up 14-0 and set the Knights on their way toward a 49-35 defeat of Conference USA rival East Carolina.
The two long receptions were the kind of speed plays that weren't possible early in the season for Aiken because of various injuries. He badly sprained his ankle in the season's first game and then tweaked his knee three weeks ago against UAB. But each time he gutted it out through the injuries even though he was far from 100 percent - earning the respect of his teammates and coaches.
``He was in and out with nagging injuries that affected his speed. Most of the routes that he's involved with are speed routes. So I was happy to see him catch the deep one (against ECU) and get behind his man,'' UCF head coach George O'Leary said. ``He was touch and go during the week with the ankle and the knee, but he came back. He's a pretty tough kid, he plays hurt and does what he needs to do for us.''
Added Aiken: ``I was looking at it as this is my last year and I don't want to miss any games. I feel like if I can go, I'm going to play. It's been slowing me down. I was playing probably at 80 or 85 percent the whole year. I feel like I'm getting back to 100 percent.''
Heading into Friday night's game at Houston, Aiken has caught 18 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers are somewhat disappointing when you consider that three years ago Aiken set UCF records for catches (33), receiving yards (584) and touchdowns (five) for freshmen. And last season as a junior, he led the Knights in receiving yards (610) and touchdowns (nine), including two scoring grabs in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Rutgers.
As one of UCF's most physically gifted players and strongest pound-for-pound athletes at a ripped 6-foot-2, 219 pounds, Aiken expected to have a monster senior season. Doing that, he figured, would help the Knights win the C-USA title and the first bowl victory in school history. Also, it would give him a good shot at following in the NFL footsteps of former Knights receivers Brandon Marshall and Mike Sims-Walker, both of whom gave him advice last summer before his senior season.
But injuries and UCF's transition from Rob Calabrese to Godfrey at quarterback derailed his hopes of big numbers early on. And Aiken, a mostly quiet and reserved senior, said he wasn't about to grouse considering that UCF is in the midst of a special season with a 6-2 overall record and a 4-0 mark in C-USA play.
``I was very disappointed in the first half of the season because I don't think that I put up the numbers that I wanted, but we're winning so I can't be mad,'' said the Hollywood (Fla.) native. ``But now that it's the second half of the season, I've got to really find my rhythm. (The past two games) are real big for me, and it's the second half of the season now so I have to pick it up.''
Godfrey, UCF's freshman phenom quarterback, has been picking up Aiken on the deep ball more and more lately. Comfortable in the pocket now and not so quick to scramble, Godfrey has allowed plays to develop more down the field. Against East Carolina, he noticed the safety's shoulders turned away from Aiken and he lofted the ball high into the air and allowed his big, physical receiver to run under it for a score.
``Seeing him down there at 6-3 and 220 pounds and having that ability to go up and catch the ball and run by people, it makes him a big target,'' Godfrey said. ``It's just great for me to have a guy like that to throw the ball too.''
Aiken and Godfrey grew up near one another in South Florida and have known each other for approximately 10 years. Aiken is hoping that relationship will lead to a better chemistry between the two and more touchdown chances for him. And he hopes that a strong finish will help him reach all of his goals.
``(The NFL) is in the back of my mind, but you have to keep it in perspective. The first thing at hand is taking care of the season,'' he said. ``If you don't take care of the season first, you can't get to the other goals that you have set for yourself.''
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.