July 26, 2012
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By John Denton, Knights Insider
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The start of preseason drills is less than a week away, so football season at UCF is right around the corner. And for many here in the football-crazed Sunshine State, that moment can't get here soon enough.
From now until drills begin, we at UCFAthletics.com will be highlighting a UCF player to watch for the coming season and the expectations for that player.
The Knights open the season Aug. 30 at Akron. A week later the Knights travel to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio State and new coach Urban Meyer. The home-opener at Bright House Networks Stadium is Sept. 15 against FIU. And the Knights will close the nonconference portion of the schedule on Sept. 29 with a marquee home game against Missouri.
UCF football season tickets are currently available for as low as $140, while away game tickets are also on sale. For more information and to place an order, call the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com.
Here is a closer look at one of the key Knights expected to make a big impact this season:
NAME: Clayton Geathers
POSITION: Strong safety
HOMETOWN: Hemingway, S.C.
NUMBER: 26
HEIGHT, WEIGHT, CLASS: 6-3, 204, redshirt sophomore
2011 STATS: Geathers ranked second on the team in tackles with 67 total stops in 2011. Of his tackles, 40 were solo stops and 27 came on assists. He had three tackles for loss and six pass break-ups.
BEST MOMENT: Geathers was dominant from the safety position against Tulsa, recording a career-best 13 tackles, including eight of the solo variety. He also had a tackle for a loss and a pass break-up in that game.
WHAT LIES AHEAD: Geathers has NFL size and speed and is one of UCF's biggest hitters. He has the potential to lead the Knights in tackles - that is if he can beat out fellow safety and three-year starter Kemal Ishmael. Geathers had four games with at least nine tackles last season - 13 against Tulsa, 12 versus East Carolina, 10 against UAB and nine against Southern Miss. The hope this season is that Geathers can become more involved in disrupting opposing teams' passing games. He's good at breaking on the ball and breaking up receptions, but the Knights need him to get his hands on more balls and rack up some more interceptions. Geathers has all of the physical tools to become an all-conference performer and if he can do that UCF should have one of the better defenses in the league.