Oct. 24, 2011
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Back home in Orlando, UCF welcomes Memphis to town Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m., and the game will be presented by SunTrust. The Knights are celebrating Homecoming this week, including Saturday's parade at 11 a.m., a tradition that dates back to 1975.
Game Details:
Saturday - Orlando, Fla. - 4 p.m.
2011 Records:
Memphis - 2-6 Overall, 1-3 C-USA
UCF - 3-4 Overall, 1-2 C-USA
Stadium:
Bright House Networks Stadium (45,323)
Series:
UCF leads, 6-1
Live Coverage:
740-AM, UCFAthletics.com and Twitter.com/UCF_FootballSID
Television:
Bright House Sports Network
Team Notes
IT'S HOMECOMING WEEK
? Homecoming UKNIGHT: The Black and Gold Revolution - UCF owns a 21-10 all-time record in Homecoming games, including victories over Houston in 2009 and Rice in 2010.
? The Knights are 3-1 on Homecoming since moving into Bright House Networks Stadium in 2007, outscoring opponents 131-76 during that stretch.
? UCF has never faced Memphis for its annual Homecoming game.
? The most points scored by the Knights on Homecoming was a 63-21 win over Buffalo Nov. 7, 1992. Meanwhile, they have posted three shutouts (1981, 1983, 2000).
? UCF's top active performers in all-time Homecoming game appearances:
RB Brynn Harvey - 2008-10 - 42 ATT, 173 YDS, 3 TD
RB Ronnie Weaver - 2008-10 - 15 ATT, 53 YDS, 3 TD
WR Quincy McDuffie - 2009-10 - 5 REC, 86 YDS, 1 TD, 6 KOR, 146 YDS
WR A.J. Guyton - 2007-10 - 5 REC, 36 YDS
QB Jeff Godfrey - 2010 - 13-18, 178 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 10 RUSH ATT, 41 YDS, 1 TD
FS Kemal Ishmael - 2009-10 - 13 Tackles
DE Darius Nall - 2007-10 - 7 TKL, 2.5 SACK, 1 FF
LONGEST WINNING STREAKS VS. OPPONENTS
? UCF's six-game winning streak against Memphis is its second-longest streak over a single opponent. UCF posted its seventh-consecutive win over Marshall on Oct. 8 in Orlando and also owns six-straight wins over Bethune-Cookman, a foe that the Knights last faced in 1995.
Marshall - 7 games - 2005-active
Memphis - 6 games - 2005-active
Bethune-Cookman - 6 games - 1990-active
UAB - 5 games - 1996-2007
Buffalo - 5 games - 1992-2003
FRESH FACES
? A total of 23 freshmen have played at least one game for the Knights this year, including 10 true freshmen.
? DB Clayton Geathers, LB Troy Gray, WR Rannell Hall, LB Leilon Willingham and WR J.J. Worton make up the five freshmen who have appeared in all seven games, with Geathers the lone freshman who has started every contest.
? A breakdown of UCF's roster by class (minimum one game played):
Freshmen - 23 players with at least one GP
Sophomores - 11
Juniors - 22
Seniors - 14
Offense Notes
FRESHMEN RECEIVERS
? UCF's all-time top freshmen wide receivers for receptions:
1) Sean Beckton - 1987 - 40
T2) Kamar Aiken - 2007 - 33
T2) Mike Dickinson* - 1989 - 33
4) Shantel Roundtree* - 1988 - 26
T5) Reginald Doster* - 1995 - 25
T5) Mark Nonsant - 1995 - 25
T5) Bobby Joe Plain - 1979 - 25
8) A.J. Guyton - 2007 - 23
T9) David Rhodes* - 1991 - 22
T9) Bob Ross - 1979 - 22
--- Josh Reese* - 2011 - 17
--- J.J. Worton* - 2011 - 16
* - Redshirt Freshman
? UCF's all-time top freshmen wide receivers for receiving yards:
1) Kamar Aiken - 2007 - 584
2) Sean Beckton - 1987 - 421
3) Todd Cleveland* - 1994 - 385
4) David Rhodes* - 1991 - 382
5) Mike Dickinson* - 1989 - 371
6) Shantel Roundtree* - 1988 - 361
7) Reginald Doster* - 1995 - 350
8) Mike Sims-Walker - 2003 - 337
9) Mark Nonsant - 1995 - 334
10) Bobby Joe Plain - 1979 - 308
--- Josh Reese* - 2011 - 254
--- J.J. Worton* - 2011 - 208
* - Redshirt Freshman
? UCF's all-time top freshmen wide receivers for receiving TDs:
T1) Kamar Aiken - 2007 - 5
T1) Todd Cleveland* - 1994 - 5
T1) Bobby Joe Plain - 1979 - 5
4) Rufus Hall - 1993 - 4
T5) Mike Dickinson* - 1989 - 3
T5) Shantel Roundtree* - 1988 - 3
T5) Kelvin Collins - 1983 - 3
--- Josh Reese* - 2011 - 1
--- J.J. Worton* - 2011 - 1
* - Redshirt Freshman
? The longest reception by a UCF freshman receiver was 72 yards by Kamar Aiken in 2007. This year, Josh Reese's long stands at 42, while J.J. Worton has a 28-yard catch.
? David Rhodes leads the way with 54.6 yards per game in 1991 (382 yards in seven games). Reese stands at 42.3 and Worton is at 29.7.
A CROWDED LIST
? Four current Knights have 15-career rushing touchdowns or more, led by Latavius Murray who sits in a tie for seventh all-time with 19.
? UCF's career top-10 in rushing touchdowns:
1) Kevin Smith - 45 2005-07
2) Willie English - 38 - 1989-91, `93
3) Alex Haynes - 27 - 2001-04
4) Daunte Culpepper - 24 - 1995-98
5) Mark Giacone - 22 - 1987, `89-90
6) Mike Grant - 20 - 1995-98
T7) Latavius Murray - 19 - 2008-pres.
T7) Elgin Davis - 19 - 1983-86
T7) Marquette Smith - 19 - 1994-95
T7) Gerod Davis - 19 - 1992-95
--- Jeff Godfrey - 18 - 2010-pres.
--- Brynn Harvey - 17 - 2008-pres.
--- Ronnie Weaver - 15 - 2008-pres.
PASSING YARDS ADDING UP
? UCF has totaled 1,661 passing yards in 2011 - 1,251 from sophomore Jeff Godfrey and 410 out of redshirt freshman Blake Bortles.
? For a 12-game regular season, the Knights are on pace to finish with 2,847 yards, which would rank second in the George O'Leary era. Since 2004, the top passing season under O'Leary was in 2005 when UCF racked up 3,045 yards through the air.
A FAMILY AFFAIR ON THE O-LINE
? Sophomore Justin McCray received the start at right guard in each of the first four games before older brother Cliff got the nod at the same spot vs. Marshall Oct. 8.
? One week later at SMU, Justin (right guard) and Cliff (left guard) both started on the offensive line, marking the first time they started in the same game.
? And at UAB Oct. 20, Cliff was back at left guard while Jordan earned his first-collegiate start as he was at right guard.
Defense Notes
A FRESHMEN PARTY
? UCF has used three true freshmen linebackers more than any school in the country this year. Troy Gray, Leilon Willingham and Terrance Plummer have combined for seven starts and 44 tackles.
? The Knights' true freshmen linebackers:
Troy Gray - 7 GP, 4 GS, 16 Tackles
Leilon Willingham - 7 GP, 3 GS, 15 Tackles
Terrance Plummer - 6 GP, 0 GS, 13 Tackles
? Arizona also uses three true frosh at the linebacker position as they have combined for five starts and 29 tackles:
Rob Hankins - 7 GP, 3 GS, 10 Tackles
Tramayne Bondurant - 7 GP, 1 GS, 11 Tackles
Hank Hobson - 6 GP, 1 GS, 8 Tackles
? Tennessee has consistently started two true freshmen linebackers, and Syracuse uses two as well, but both schools have not rotated three during the season.
EVEN MORE FRESHMEN ON DEFENSE
? While senior Josh Linam and juniors Jonathan Davis and Ray Shipman have seen three freshmen join them at linebacker this year, the secondary also has two freshmen as well.
? Strong safety Clayton Geathers redshirted in 2010 but quickly jumped to the top of the depth chart in the spring. And he has helped the Knights rank seventh in the country in passing defense as he has 29 tackles.
? And after sitting out the first two contests, true freshman and walk-on Brandon Alexander eventually caught the eyes of the coaching staff. Although he did not record a tackle in his first-four appearances, he received ample playing time at UAB due to a UCF injury. Alexander took advantage by posting eight tackles and a pass break-up.
REMAINING AT THE TOP OF C-USA
? Through seven games in 2011, UCF still holds top honors in all five major defensive categories. That includes total defense where the Knights lead second-place SMU in fewest yards allowed, 261.3 to 342.1.
THE MATCHUP
? The Knights enter ranked 12th in the nation in rushing defense by allowing only 91.9 yards per game.
? Conversely, Memphis sits at 116th out of 120 FBS programs in rushing offense with 89.0 yards per contest.
? The Tigers have recorded 82 rushing yards or less five times in 2011, while UCF held opponents to 82 yards or less four times.
Special Teams Notes
IT'S ALL HALL
? UCF entered the UAB game Oct. 20 ranked 100th in the nation in kickoff returns.
? True freshman Rannell Hall changed that immediately vs. the Blazers as UCF now ranks 32nd. In just his second game returning kicks, "Speedy" took back four for 160 yards.
? In each of Hall's first-five kickoff returns of his career, UCF's offense ultimately put the ball in the endzone. The only time the Knights did not score six points after a Hall return was when their final drive of the UAB game started with 14 seconds remaining and UCF had time to run just two plays.
? Hall's kick-return breakdown:
Opponent - Quarter - Yards - Drive Result
at SMU - 3rd - 23 - Touchdown
at SMU - 4th - 15 - Touchdown
at UAB - 1st - 34 - Touchdown
at UAB - 1st - 57 - Touchdown
at UAB - 4th - 39 - Touchdown
at UAB - 4th - 30 - End of Game
ANOTHER TRUE FRESHMAN TAKES OVER
? Shawn Moffitt, an Orlando native and Dr. Phillips graduate, earned the starting nod on field goals and extra-points in the last three games.
? After missing a 42-yarder in his collegiate debut vs. Charleston Southern, he bounced back to drill a 36-yarder at SMU Oct. 15.
? Moffitt added a 24-yarder at UAB and is now 2-for-5 on the season.