Feb. 6, 2012
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Football is never far from fans minds in Florida - not even in the dead of a 70-degree winter. So with football still fresh on the brain for most in Florida, and more specifically UCF, we're going to take a peek ahead to spring drills and next season with the Knights' football team.
Over the course of the next few weeks until spring drills begin, we will be highlighting a returning UCF player and what fans can expect next season.
UCF head coach George O'Leary was hard at work on adding some new talent to the roster through recruiting, which culminated in Signing Day Feb. 1. But the veteran coach is also excited about the core of returning talent to next year's squad and feels the Knights have the pieces in place to potentially author another special season.
Here is a closer look at one of the key players returning for next season for the Knights:
NAME: Victor Gray
POSITION: Defensive tackle
HOMETOWN: Orlando
NUMBER: 91
HEIGHT, WEIGHT, CLASS: 6-4, 265, redshirt sophomore
2011 STATS: Gray, a converted defensive end playing tackle, was solid all season on the inside for the Knights. He had 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, seven pass break-ups, seven pass defenses and 10 quarterback hurries.
BEST MOMENT: He was as dominant as ever in the rainy 16-6 defeat of Marshall. Gray had five tackles and four quarterback hurries. One of those hurries resulted in a holding penalty in the end zone that produced a safety and two points for the Knights.
WHAT LIES AHEAD: No UCF defensive player made bigger strides last season than Gray, who was the most consistent Knight all year. His improved size - he's put on 40 pounds by eating as many as seven meals a day - and his ability to swat passes gives him a chance to be an emerging star in the future. Also, Gray's football smarts are off the charts. He is one of the team's best leaders because he backs up his talk with actions and he has a chance to be a team captain next season as a junior because he is so respected among his peers. Clearly, big things are ahead for Gray.
John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.