Dec. 29, 2010
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable is as old-school a coach as they come, all the way down to his scruffy beard and hoarse voice, his sleep-in-the-office work ethic and his no excuses attitude.
But even Huxtable likely let down his guard for a few minutes on Wednesday - UCF's final full practice in preparation for Friday's AutoZone Liberty Bowl -- and celebrated a Knights' senior class that the coach will forever hold near and dear to his heart.
``I was here when these kids came in and a lot of these guys are special to me,'' Huxtable said as his voice somewhat quivered with emotion. ``We've gone through a lot over the last four or five years and they've come a million miles. They've worked so hard and I can't ever remember a group of kids that I've been more proud of. I know when their football lives are over and they begin their next life they'll be a success because they're winners on and off the field.''
First, a Knights' defense that ranked at or near the top in almost every major category in Conference USA play this season must try and prove itself against the dangerous and talented Georgia Bulldogs. First and foremost among the `Dogs' weapons is 6-foot-4 wide receiver A.J. Green, a likely top five pick in the spring NFL Draft.
Green was suspended the first four games of the season for a violation of NCAA rules, but with him on the field, Georgia went 5-3 and averaged 39.2 points per game. Blessed with size, speed and extraordinary athleticism, Green caught 49 passes for 771 yards and nine touchdowns. He has 2,542 yards and 23 TDs in three seasons. This season alone, Green had three two-touchdown games, caught a TD in six of his eight games and had six games with at least 86 yards receiving.
Huxtable said that Green's talent is undeniable and the challenge is to try and slow him down. Helping the Knights' cause is their ability all season to get quarterback pressure with just four rushers, something that allows UCF to keep seven back in coverage and possibly double-team Green throughout the game.
``We're going to try and sneak a 12th guy in the field and get away with it,'' Huxtable joked. ``(Green) is a great football player. He's a tremendous athlete with good size, he runs well, stretches the field and he has tremendous hands. ... We really have our work cut out trying to defend him.''
Huxtable was peppered with questions on Wednesday about the unexpected rise of defensive end Bruce Miller, a Georgia native who was unwanted by the University of Georgia program out of high school. But Huxtable, who handled the recruitment of Miller solo, saw something special in the kid from Canton, Ga., who starred in literally every phase of the game. That foresight proved accurate as Miller ultimately became UCF's all-time leading sacker (34) and a two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year.
``I sat down at Woodstock High School with Bruce and he's a square-jawed kid with that bright red hair and he's a look you-in-the-eye kid. After spending one or two minutes with him I felt like I knew him forever,'' Huxtable said. ``You could tell the passion that he had for the game. You could just see that he's a whole football player. I just thought that we might get something special out of him. He came in here as a linebacker, but we moved him to end and the rest has been history.''
Huxtable hopes that the Knights can make a little history on Friday with the school's first-ever bowl victory in four tries. The veteran coach said he can't think of a better way to send out a senior class that has helped UCF grow as a program over the past four years.
``It would be huge for this program and huge for these kids,'' Huxtable said. ``We're playing a team with a lot of history and (Georgia) is a marquee program, but where our program has come from at UCF our first bowl possibly coming against Georgia would be huge for our players, our program, the school and our community.''
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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.