July 26, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Anticipation for the 2011 football season at UCF is higher than ever following the finest season in school history in 2010.
The Knights are coming off an 11-3 season in which they won both the Liberty Bowl and the Conference USA championship. UCF defeated Georgia 10-6 in Memphis on Dec. 31 for the school's first bowl victory.
UCF also entered the national rankings for the first time ever last season and finished ranked No. 20 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. Also, the Knights were No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and hope to begin next season in both national polls.
With the opening of training camp just over a week away and the Sept. 3 opener at Bright House Networks Stadium against Charleston Southern approaching, UCFAthletics.com's John Denton will take a look at various players to watch this season leading up to the start of camp on Aug. 4.
PLAYER: Nick Cattoi
POSITION: Kicker
HEIGHT, WEIGHT, CLASS: 6-5, 224, Senior
HOMETOWN: Tampa
BEST ON-FIELD TRAITS: He has an exceptionally strong right leg, making a 47-yarder last season and a 52-yarder to end spring practice.
2010 STATISTICS: The good news was that he led UCF in scoring last season with 76 points. Cattoi made 4-of-6 between 30-39 yards.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Cattoi bounced back from a rocky regular season by making a 22-yard field goal and a low, knuckling extra point in the Liberty Bowl for the winning points in the 10-6 victory against Georgia. Cattoi was the kicker in 12 of UCF's 14 games last season. Plenty of pressure was heaped onto Cattoi in spring drills and he kicked the ball much better and the hope is that the progress will extend to this coming season.
WHERE HE'S BETTER: Cattoi showed signs of major improvement in the spring and he'll need that to carry over into August and September to retain his starting job. If he does, his senior campaign could be a great one.
UCF 2011 football season ticket packages can be purchased or renewed online at UCFAthletics.com or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000. Home games include Charleston Southern [Champions UKNIGHT (Sept. 3)], Boston College [Hall of Fame Weekend (Sept. 10)], Marshall (Oct. 8), Memphis [Alumni UKNIGHT - Homecoming 2011 (Oct. 29)], Tulsa (Nov. 5) and UTEP [Senior Day (Nov. 26)]. Should UCF host the C-USA Championship Game for the fourth time in seven years, it would be played on Saturday, Dec. 3 and season ticket holders will receive the first shot at the best seats.
John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.