2005 UCF Football Recruiting Class Unveiled

Feb. 2, 2005

Listen to the Signing Day Press Conference!

ORLANDO - UCF head football coach George O'Leary announced Wednesday that 19 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football for the Golden Knights. The recruiting class is the first full recruiting class for O'Leary and is the first class of recruits who will play in Conference USA.

The Golden Knights signed six linebackers, three offensive linemen, two defensive backs, two tight ends, two quarterbacks, two tailbacks, one fullback and one wide receiver.

Fourteen of the recruits hail from the state of Florida. UCF also signed two players from the state of Georgia along with one player each from Pennsylvania, Alabama and Illinois.

UCF signed six players in January to round out the signing class of 25 players. The mid-year signees are enrolled and started classes at UCF and will practice with the team in the spring.

The six-player class featured three prep school signees and three junior college transfers.

2005 UCF Recruiting Class

2005 UCF Football Mid-Year Signees

Travis Barr
6-2, 225
Linebacker
Duluth, Ga.
Chattahoochee HS
All-state selection at Chattahoochee High School in Georgia ... coached by Terry Crowder ... named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 team ... three-year letterwinner at Chattahoochee ... totaled 120 tackles, 16 for loss as a senior ... also added five sacks, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble ... set single-game school record for tackles with 27 ... North-South game participant ... all-area defensive team selection ... Dixie All-American ... preseason state Super 11 selection ... named to the all-Northside team ... North Fulton all-state honoree ... all-region and all-county pick ... North Fulton Super 11 ... scout.com top 25 player in Georgia ... 140 tackles including 11 behind the line of scrimmage as a junior ... two forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery as a junior.

Chattahoochee head coach Terry Crowder on Barr:
"Travis Barr will be an asset to any college program in the country. Not only is he a great linebacker, he is also a pleasure to be around on a day-to-day basis. UCF is getting a young man of the highest integrity."

Patrick Brown
6-5, 265
Offensive Line
St. Charles, Ill.
St. Charles North
Three-year letterwinner at St. Charles North High School in Illinois ... coached by Mark Gould ... first team all-conference selection as a junior and senior ... first team all-area pick according to the Kane County Chronicle as a junior and senior ... 2004 St. Charles North Leadership Award recipient ... also participated in track in the shot and discus.

St. Charles North head coach Mark Gould on Brown:
"Patrick was a two-year starter and one of our team leaders. He was the mainstay for our offensive line at St. Charles North. Along with being a great one-on-one blocker, he has good agility and quickness."

Joe Burnett
5-11, 180
Defensive Back
Eustis, Fla.
Eustis HS
Second team Class 2A defensive back selection ... coached by Steve Moser ... impressive athlete who lettered four years in football and basketball ... also earned three letters in track and one in baseball ... second in Florida history with 31 career interceptions ... three-star recruit according to rivals.com ... ranked No. 85 prospect in the state of Florida according to the Orlando Sentinel ... first team all-state selection ... named regional MVP ... earned defensive player of the year honors in both football and basketball during standout career ... all-area first team selection four times ... tallied five interceptions with 78 solo tackles and 24 assists as a senior ... also contributed 689 passing and 874 rushing offensively ... productive junior season featured nine interceptions, along with 68 solo tackles and 20 assists ... rushed for 20 touchdowns and 1300 yards as a junior ... 528 kick return yards and 340 punt return yards junior season.

Ian Bustillo
6-2, 280
Offensive Line
Miami, Fla.
Killian HS
Class 6A first team all-state offensive line selection at Killian High School in Miami ... coached by Billy Rolle ... all-Dade County honoree ... member of the state championship 6A team at Killian ... participated in the Florida-California Bowl and the All-American Classic in Louisiana ... Florida top 100 player ... named to Max Emfinger's top 50 players in the state of Florida (No. 37) ... recorded 134 pancake blocks his senior season ... did not allow a sack in three years as a starter ... 78 pancake blocks his junior campaign ... named the No. 23 prospect in Dade County ... four-year letterwinner in football ... also lettered one season in baseball.

Killian head coach Billy Role on Bustillo:
"Ian is a kid who has made great improvements in his three years in the program."

Richard Clark
6-4, 285
Offensive Line
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Seabreeze HS
Class 3A first team all-state offensive line selection at Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach ... coached by Marc Beach ... rated as the No. 10 center prospect in the nation according to rivals.com ... 62nd ranked prospect in the state of Florida according to the Orlando Sentinel ... 61st ranked prospect in the state of Florida by rivals.com ... garnered all-area honors as a junior and senior ... can also long snap ... team captain as a senior ... did not yield a sack in three seasons ... four-year letterwinner who also earned three letters in weight lifting and one letter in wrestling.

Travis Ferrer
6-5, 225
Tight End
Tallahassee, Fla.
Lincoln HS
Four-year letterwinner at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee ... coached by David Wilson ... one of two Lincoln products to sign with UCF (T.J. Harnden) ... named a preseason All-American ... named area player of the week three times as a junior ... five receptions for 55 yards as a senior ... also totaled 10 tackles during senior campaign ... also lettered one season in basketball.

Lincoln head coach David Wilson on Ferrer:
"Travis has unlimited potential. I expect him to grow into a NFL type body in three or four years. He has a great future ahead of him. UCF got a "steal" in Travis. Coach Gilbert did a great job of recruiting Lincoln High School."

Kyle Fowler
6-2, 205
Linebacker
Longwood, Fla.
Lake Brantley HS
Four-year letterwinner at Lake Brantley High School ... coached by George Clayton ... team defensive MVP as a junior and senior ... three-year all-conference honoree ... totaled 175 tackles, 10 sacks and nine fumble recoveries ... solid all-around athlete who also lettered four years in basketball ... all Central Florida all-star ... named to the National All-Star Bowl ... career statistics include six interceptions, five blocked kicks (three extra points, two field goals), two punts blocked and seven pass breakups ... one of two Lake Brantley products to sign with UCF (Lammar Guy).

Lake Brantley head coach George Clayton on Fowler:
"Kyle Fowler has been a tremendous asset to our football program the last four years. He was a leader on and off the field. He is the kind of kid you need in a winning program."

Lammar Guy
5-11, 200
Defensive Back
Sanford, Fla.
Lake Brantley HS
Class 6A first team all-state defensive back selection as a senior ... coached by George Clayton at Lake Brantley High School ... outstanding athlete who lettered four years in football, four years in baseball, two years in basketball and two years in track ... all-district and all-conference selection at defensive back ... also named all-conference as a running back ... Orlando Touchdown Club Player of the Week as a senior ... No. 51 on the Orlando Sentinel's top 100 recruits in the state of Florida ... 63 tackles and one fumble recovery during senior season ... four interceptions along with over 800 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns ... scored 11 touchdowns during senior campaign ... Florida 6A District Player of the Year ... Seminole County Defensive Back of the Year.

Lake Brantley head coach George Clayton on Guy:
"Lammar was a force on the football field both offensively and defensively as well as special teams. He was a triple threat - a player who could take over a game. He was a leader on and off the field."

T.J. Harnden
6-3, 220
Linebacker
Tallahassee, Fla.
Lincoln HS
Three-year letterwinner at Lincoln High School ... coached by David Wilson ... one of two Lincoln High School products to sign with UCF (Travis Ferrer) ... preseason All-American selection ... five-time player of the week honoree ... totaled over 40 tackles as a senior ... led team in pass breakups and sacks ... 85 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a junior ... two-year letterwinner in basketball and one-year letterwinner in track.

Lincoln head coach David Wilson on Harnden:
"T.J. Harnden has great vision, long arms and an uncanny knack for making big plays. His basketball background has enabled him to lead our team in pass breakups."

Cory Hogue
6-1, 220
Linebacker
Naples, Fla.
Naples HS
Class 5A first team all-state linebacker at Naples High School ... coached by Bill Kramer ... Fort Myers News-Press first team honoree ... Naples Daily News first team all-county ... tied a school record with 127 tackles as a junior ... 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception during junior season ... forced five fumbles and eight quarterback pressures as well ... 87 tackles, 11 for loss, with four sacks and 11 quarterback pressures as a senior.

Naples head coach Bill Kramer on Hogue:
"Cory is not only a big, fast and strong player, he is very smart with excellent football savvy. Also a tremendous competitor, Cory is the total package."

Marquel Neasman
5-10, 170
Quarterback
Bradenton, Fla.
Southeast HS
Class 3A second team all-state utility selection ... coached by Paul Maecthle ... three-year letterwinner in football along with one letter in baseball and track ... county player of the year as a senior ... all-area selection who was also named the all-area quarterback of the year ... named team MVP and team's most outstanding offensive player ... team captain who completed 90-of-144 passes for 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns ... also added 480 yards rushing on 88 attempts and two touchdowns ... appeared in five games at quarterback during junior season ... 31-of-60 passing for 500 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.

Southeast head coach Paul Maecthle on Neasman:
"Marquel is a great example of the term student-athlete. His leadership qualities have been evident both on and off the field."

Rocky Ross
6-2, 185
Wide Receiver
Jacksonville, Fla.
The Bolles School
First team all-state honoree at The Bolles School in Jacksonville ... coached by Florida's all-time winningest coach Corky Rogers ... named to the NFL Global Junior Championship game ... four-year letterwinner between Episcopal High School (Fr., So.) and The Bolles School (Jr., Sr.) ... outstanding all-around athlete who lettered in basketball and track ... set season and career receiving marks at EHS with 80 receptions for 1400 yards and 20 touchdowns ... recorded 143 receptions for 1863 yards and 20 touchdowns during his career at Bolles ... part of a state runner-up team and a state championship club at Bolles ... averaged over 20 yards per reception his senior season ... excelled on kickoff and punt returns ... Florida Times-Union all-First Coast team ... Super 24 team for southeast Georgia and northeast Florida ... state of Florida Super 75 team ... Collegiate Sports America all-southeast regional selection ... regional qualifier for the long jump in track ... conference and district champion in the 200 meters ... member of the school record 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.

Bolles head coach Corky Rogers on Ross:
"We sure are proud of Rocky. He is one of the finest receivers I have ever coached and will excel at the next level. He has an outstanding work ethic, is very coachable and an all-around fine young man from a solid family.

J.R. Sandlin
6-4, 250
Tight End
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Northridge HS
Four-year letterwinner at Northridge High School ... coached by Mike Smith ... two-year starter at tight end ... averaged just over 20 yards a reception as a senior ... hauled in eight passes for 168 yards with two touchdowns ... recorded 42 knockdown blocks ... 51 knockdown blocks and recorded eight tackles for a loss as a junior ... first team all region, all county, and all city selection in 2004... named by the Birmingham News as an all-state scholar-athlete in football and baseball Tuscaloosa News first team all-star tight end for all classes 1A-6A in the area.

Kevin Smith
6-1, 195
Tailback
Miami, Fla.
Southridge HS
Three-year letterwinner at Southridge High School in Miami ... coached by Rodney Hunter ... two-year all-Dade County selection as both a running back and free safety ... academic honor roll student ... tallied four interceptions and 53 tackles during senior season ... scored a touchdown on both a punt return and fumble recover as a senior ... rushed for 1125 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.

Southridge head coach Rodney Hunter on Smith:
"Kevin's a very big, athletic kid who has the desire to be the very best."

Shane Smith
6-3, 240
Fullback
Susquehanna, Pa.
Honesdale HS
Milford Academy
Bruising fullback who is a tremendous blocker with good hands ... coached by William Chaplick at Milford Academy ... started all 12 games for Milford in the fall of 2004 ... rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries ... featured as Milford's lead blocker in the back field ... added 17 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns ... one of two Milford Academy players to sign with UCF (Clarence Howard) ... played high school football at Honesdale High School in Pennsylvania ... rushed for 2,698 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior ... played for head coach Gene Biscontini at Honesdale ... honorable mention tailback for the prestigious Big 33 game, featuring the top players from Pennsylvania vs. Ohio ... starter at tailback in the East- West All-Star game ... first team all-state honoree at tailback ... all-region and all-conference honoree ... rushed for 1,694 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior.

Milford Academy offensive coordinator Art Rigas on Smith:
"Shane is just a beast in the back field. He is a great blocker who also catches the ball well out of the back field and in the slot."

Alex Thompson
6-2, 214
Quarterback
Gainesville, Fla.
Buchholz HS
Three-time Class 5A all-state selection ... coached by Jay Godwin at Buchholz High School ... three-year letterwinner in football who also earned one letter in basketball, baseball and track ... two-year team captain ... three-time Gainesville Sun all-area ... state of Florida's top 20 recruits of 2004 ... 1204 yards passing and 11 touchdowns during senior campaign ... added 471 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground ... part of three district championship teams ... totaled 3847 yards passing for his career with 43 touchdown passes ... 853 career rushing yards with an additional 10 rushing touchdowns over three-year career.

Buchholz head coach Jay Godwin on Thompson:
"Alex is intelligent, athletic and makes good things happen. His conscientiousness, desire and poise are infectious to those around him."

Antonio Wallace
6-2, 232
Linebacker
Vero Beach, Fla.
Vero Beach HS
Four-year letterwinner at Vero Beach High School ... coached by Billy Livings ... all-region linebacker selection ... team captain as a senior ... lettered three years in track and two in basketball ... state runner-up in the discus in 2004 (176-3) ... played in only six games as a senior due to the hurricanes that hit the Vero Beach area ... 45 solo tackles with 28 assisted stops in 2004 ... eight tackles for loss with four sacks and two fumble recoveries ... returned an interception for a touchdown and also recorded a safety his senior season.

Vero Beach head coach Billy Livings on Wallace:
"We are very happy and proud UCF has signed a great person and football player in Antonio Wallace. He is the finest linebacker that has ever played at Vero Beach High School."

Justin Warr
6-1, 230
Linebacker
Winter Garden, Fla.
West Orange HS
Three-year letterwinner at West Orange High School ... coached by Tim Smith ... listed as the No. 100 prospect in the state of Florida according to the Orlando Sentinel ... all-metro and all-county pick as a senior ... Central Florida All-Star who was named the West Defensive MVP ... led team in tackles per game and sacks as a senior ... led team in tackles and fumble recoveries his junior campaign.

West Orange head coach Tim Smith on Warr:
"Justin was a three-year letterwinner and three-year starter at West Orange. There are very few players that have accomplished that here and only an exceptional athlete can do that at a 6A school."

Jayson Williams
6-0, 195
Tailback
Conyers, Ga.
Salem HS
First-team all-state selection as a senior at Salem High School in Conyers, Ga. ... coached by Frank Caputo ... rushed for 1200 yards and totaled 300 yards receiving as a senior ... all-area and county player of the year ... RedZone Player of the Year ... team captain senior season ... all-state honorable mention and all-area first team as a junior ... ... totaled 114 attempts for 860 yards and eight touchdowns his junior season ... versatile athlete who also lettered three years in basketball and four years in track.

Salem head coach Frank Caputo on Williams:
"Jayson has been an outstanding student-athlete for us. I am sure he will be an asset to UCF as a student-athlete and a leader."