Dec. 7, 2010
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By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Three days after claiming the Conference USA championship, a school record five UCF football players (Kemal Ishmael, Quincy McDuffie, Bruce Miller, Jah Reid and Josh Robinson) landed on the all-conference first team as voted on by the league's 12 coaches. UCF had four coaches first team selections in both 2007 and 2009. UCF's five in 2010 tied for the most first team picks with West Division champion SMU.
Both Miller and Reid are making their second appearances on the All-C-USA first team after earning that honor in 2009 as well. Miller was also named the 2009 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. McDuffie's recognition is as a kick returner and he joins Joe Burnett (2008) as the only Knights to receive first team accolades in that discipline. Ishmael's honor is his first from Conference USA while Robinson was named to the 2009 all-conference second team and the all-freshman team as well.
In addition to these five, Charley Hughlett, Darius Nall and Ronnie Weaver were named to the All-C-USA second team and six Knights (Derrick Hallman, Adam Nissley, Nick Pieschel, Robinson, Brian Watters and David Williams) earned honorable mention recognition. With Robinson making the second team as a punt returner and the first team as a defensive back, UCF has now had a student-athlete earn coaches All-C-USA honors in more than one area in five out of the six years that the Knights have played in the conference. Joe Burnett also won multiple awards for four straight years from 2005-08, include claiming three first team prizes in 2008 as a defensive back, kick returner and punt returner.
The Conference USA all-freshman team includes five Knights in Jeff Godfrey, Victor Gray, Jordan McCray, Justin McCray and Jordan Ozerities. Five all-freshman honorees is one shy of the school record of six set in 2005. UCF matched Southern Miss and Tulsa for the top in the league with five all-freshman team members.
The league will announce its major awards on Wednesday.
No. 25 UCF will face Georgia on Dec. 31 in Memphis in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. For all of the latest bowl game ticket and travel information, head to UCFBowl.com or call the UCF Athletics ticket office at (407) 823-1000.