Dec. 19, 2012
="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported"> ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Following a full day of practice, meetings and the Beach Bash on St. Pete Beach, UCF handed out team honors Wednesday evening during the annual Football Awards Banquet. The event took place at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg two days prior to the Beef `O' Brady's Bowl at Tropicana Field.
All 20 seniors were recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to the program by the UCFAA Board of Directors Wednesday, and they were given plaques as well as shown a senior highlight video during the banquet. This senior class is tied for the most wins over a four-year stretch in program history (33), and it has set numerous academic records in the process.
Five Knights received multiple individual accolades: Kemal Ishmael (Captain's Award, MVP, Outstanding Defensive Player, Outstanding Defensive Back), Latavius Murray (Captain's Award, Outstanding Offensive Back), Jordan Rae (Captain's Award, Academic Excellence Award), Quincy McDuffie (Outstanding Special Teams Player, Outstanding Offensive Player, Outstanding Wide Receiver) and Rob Calabrese ("UCF Way" Award, Greatest Effort Award).
Rae and Lyle Dankenbring picked up the Academic Excellence Awards on Wednesday. Rae is currently working on his master's degree in business after graduating with a degree in finance, while Dankenbring was the fourth Knight in school history at the FBS level to serve as an Academic All-American.
The Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year, McDuffie leads the nation in kickoff returns and was placed on the Sports Illustrated All-American First Team. On offense, he has 350 receiving yards and 162 rushing yards. McDuffie also is the only wide receiver in UCF history to have at least 100 rushing yards in a single season, and he has accomplished the feat twice in his career.
Ishmael's trophy case continued to fill up as well. Voted as the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year earlier this month, UCF's Most Valuable Player was also a member of the All-C-USA First Team for the second time in a Black and Gold uniform. He broke the UCF defensive backs record this year for career tackles, and ranks third overall with 360.
Check out the below information for the full list of team awards issued on Wednesday.
2012 UCF Football Team Awards
Outstanding Wide Receiver - Quincy McDuffie
Outstanding Offensive Back - Latavius Murray
Outstanding Offensive Lineman - Torrian Wilson
Most Improved Offensive Player - Blake Bortles
Outstanding Offensive Player - Quincy McDuffie
Outstanding Defensive Back - Kemal Ishmael
Outstanding Linebacker - Terrance Plummer
Outstanding Defensive Lineman - Troy Davis
Most Improved Defensive Player - Jonathan Davis
Outstanding Defensive Player - Kemal Ishmael
Outstanding Special Teams Player - Quincy McDuffie
The Iron Man Award - Billy Giovanetti
The Kodak Award (Show Team Outstanding Player) - D.J. Williams
The "UCF Way" Award - Rob Calabrese & Brendan Kelly
Greatest Effort Award - Rob Calabrese
Academic Excellence Award - Lyle Dankenbring & Jordan Rae
Most Valuable Player - Kemal Ishmael
Captain's Awards - Kemal Ishmael, Latavius Murray & Jordan Rae
UCF will be facing Ball State on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and for ticket information, call the UCF Ticket Office at (407) UCF-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com. And for all of the details on bowl week visit BeefOBradysBowl.com.