July 27, 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: Troy Davis
POSITION: Defensive end
HOMETOWN: Lawrenceville, Ga.
NUMBER: 58
HEIGHT, WEIGHT, CLASS: 6-2, 249, senior
2011 STATS: Davis started all 12 games last season, recording 29 tackles, 16 of which were solo stops. He had 8.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and two pass break-ups. He also was named to Phil Steele's third-team All-C-USA squad.
BEST MOMENT: He finished the season with a flurry against UTEP, recording two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass break-up. He also had four tackles in the game.
WHAT LIES AHEAD: UCF is hoping that the strong finish to last season will carry over to this season for Davis, UCF's best speed rusher off the edge. He had four of his five sacks in the final three games of the season. In 2011, Davis had 5.5 sacks, including a critical half-sack late in the fourth quarter of the Liberty Bowl win against Georgia. But he struggled to get to the quarterback most of last season until the strong finish. The Knights need more consistency, quarterback pressure and big plays from one of their best senior leaders. Davis is tough and smart and plays through pain, so the Knights know that they can count on him in the clutch. UCF head coach George O'Leary has stressed that the defense must force more turnovers this season and Davis can play a major role in that by getting to the quarterback and stripping footballs away. If he does that all season the Knights should contend for a conference title and a spot in a bowl game.