Feb. 8, 2011
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By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
UCF SIGNING DAY CENTRAL
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF added a wealth of talented student-athletes to its 2011 roster during last week's signing period and the nation has taken notice. Recruiting service Rivals.com has ranked the UCF signing class No. 39 in the nation.
UCF's class is the highest rated out of any Conference USA school and also tops all schools not members of an automatic-qualifying BCS conference as none others so much as rank in the top 50. At No. 39, UCF ranks just ahead of No. 40 Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, Illinois and many other prominent schools. It also ranked fourth in the state, just narrowly trailing Miami at No. 36 for third place in Florida.
The signing class that followed is impressive both collectively and in groups. When broken down by position, UCF's class ranked in the top 20 nationally for four separate position groups, checking in at No. 12 for its linebackers, No. 16 in the nation for defensive ends and 20th nationally for both quarterbacks and defensive tackles.
The strong class secured by head coach George O'Leary and his staff comes on the heels of an avalanche of offseason momentum from perhaps the finest season in school history this past fall. UCF went 11-3 on the year, the winningest campaign in school history, and finished an all-time best No. 20 in the final USA Today coaches Poll and No. 21 in the AP poll. The Conference USA champion Knights represented the league in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and defeated SEC foe Georgia with UCF's defense holding the Bulldogs to just a pair of field goals.
In addition to the on-the-field success, UCF isn't a hard sell for recruits as a whole. The nation's second-largest school with 56,235 students and a vast array of academic offerings, UCF's Orlando campus is centrally located in a great high school football state. The team's modern athletic and living facilities, led by four-year old Bright House Networks Stadium, create an attractive destination for potential student-athletes. Meanwhile, the Knights under O'Leary have a remarkable track record of academic success. It isn't hard to understand why so many people want to become Knights.
To see UCF live in person as the Knights defend their Conference USA championship, place your deposit now for 2011 football season tickets. Contact the UCF Athletics ticket office at (407) 823-1000 for more information or place your deposit online on the main ticket page at UCFAthletics.com.