ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - In the last nine months, anticipation has been building for the 2016 season-opener. That day arrives Saturday as UCF hosts South Carolina State at 7 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.
UCF Game Notes in PDF Format
Game Details:
Saturday - Orlando, Fla. - 7 p.m.
2016 Records:
UCF - 0-0 Overall, 0-0 American
South Carolina State - 0-0 Overall, 0-0 MEAC
Stadium:
Bright House Networks Stadium (44,206)
Series:
UCF, 1-0
Live Coverage:
FM 96.9 & AM 740 - Orlando
Twitter.com/UCF_Football
Television:
ESPN3
Home Game Info:
UCFGameday.com
UCFansWear.com
Team Notes
THE OPENER
• The 2016 campaign is the 38th season of UCF football. The Knights are entering their 21st year at the FBS level.
• UCF holds a 23-14 record in season openers.
• The last time UCF entertained fans inside the stadium, a program-record 23,147 fans came out for the Spring Game, which ranked as the 22nd highest spring crowd in the country.
• #FirstFrost brings white jerseys for Saturday, which will be the first time since Sept. 1, 1984, that the Knights will wear white at home.
THE MATCHUP
• UCF also opened up the 2008 campaign against South Carolina State, earning a 17-0 home victory in what was the only previous meeting between the two programs.
• In that 2008 clash, current Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray rushed for two touchdowns and the defense held the Bulldogs to 126 total yards.
• The Knights hold just a 3-11 record vs. teams from the Palmetto State, including an 0-2 record a year ago.
Scouting the SCSU Bulldogs
• Led by longtime coach and alum Oliver Pough, South Carolina State has put together a 112-51 record in 14 seasons since his hire. That includes a 7-4 overall mark last year with a 6-2 record in the MEAC.
• In 2015, the Bulldogs averaged 26.7 points per game while only allowing 15.2 points per outing. They posted 152.1 yards on the ground, and 205.6 through the air.
• As a freshman last year, quarterback Caleb York tossed 11 touchdowns with six picks, completing 55.9 percent of his passes.
• The defense was stellar, leading all of FCS with 46 sacks. Conversely, SCSU was eighth in the FCS with just 10 sacks allowed.
10TH SEASON AT BHNS
• After playing its first 28 seasons at the Florida Citrus Bowl (Camping World Stadium), UCF unveiled its on-campus stadium against No. 6 Texas in 2007.
• From 2007-14, UCF posted a 40-11 record at Bright House Networks Stadium, then last year it witnessed its 2 millionth fan enter the gates.
• Overall, 4,971,210 fans have attended home games since the program's inception in 1979, as the 5 millionth fan is projected to enter the gates on Saturday.
• The Knights have hosted at least one school from the Big 12, ACC and SEC at Bright House, while it will host its first Big Ten program this year (Maryland) and its first Pac-12 school (Stanford) in 2019.
UCF'S NEW LEADER
• On Dec. 1, 2015, UCF introduced Scott Frost as the 10th head coach in program history.
• Frost arrived in Orlando after serving as the Oregon offensive coordinator from 2013-15, and its wide receivers coach from 2009-12.
• A National Championship quarterback at Nebraska, Frost immediately switched UCF's style of football to a spread offense and a 3-4 defense.
EVEN MORE NEW HAPPENINGS
• One of the biggest announcements of the offseason was the unveiling of UCF's new Nike uniforms. UCF's bold look includes black, white, anthracite and pewter jerseys. Names are on the back for the first time since the 2004 season, and both sleeves don the school's Pegasus logo. There are a total of 64 different uniform combinations when looking at four different jerseys, pants and helmets (white, gold, anthracite and pewter).
• UCF received a huge upgrade to its video board as the previous 33.6 by 19.1 feet display transformed to a 114 by 36 feet LED layout.
• The Carl Black and Gold Cabana is in its second year at the stadium, and in 2016, season-ticket holders in that section will receive complimentary grub from 4 Rivers Smokehouse.
• The UCF iHeartRadio Tailgate Concert Series kicks off with Gin Blossoms headlining the first show in IOA Plaza. The series will take place before every UCF regular-season home game and is free for all fans.
THE SLOGANS
• Scott Frost also unveiled new slogans and hashtags for the UCF football program.
• #UCFast represents the quick pace of the offense, #UCFierce embodies the nature of the defense and #RiseandConquer is the overall motto of UCF football.
BROTHERS IN ARMS
• UCF has three sets of twins on the roster in Shaquill Griffin/Shaquem Griffin, Jeremy Boykins/Jerod Boykins and Boman Swanson/Wyatt Swanson.
• Three sets of twins are the most of any school in the country.
A LOT OF VETERANS
• The Knights used a lot of rookies, walk-ons or first-time players in 2015. Those student-athletes now have gameday experience entering the 2016 campaign.
• UCF returns 45 letterwinners while it lost only 11. It also brings back 10 starters on offense and seven on defense, while all of the kickers and primary return specialists return as well.
Offense Notes
WHAT RETURNS
• Almost the entire starting group from 2015 returns for the 2016 campaign, as the only consistent starter gone is guard Tarik Cook. H-backs Joseph Puopolo and Cedric Thompson also completed their eligibility with the Knights last year.
QUARTERBACKS
• After stepping up as a vocal leader in the offseason and in August camp, senior Justin Holman is back under center as the UCF quarterback.
• Born in Alabama and a native of Georgia, Holman led the Knights to the 2014 American Athletic Conference title, but was hampered by an injury in 2015.
• Holman ranks eighth in the school's all-time record book in career attempts (656), completions (359), yards (4,406) and touchdowns (31).
• UCF's quarterbacks:
Player - Class - Note
Pete DiNovo - RJr. - Started 1 game in 2014
Tyler Harris - RSo. - 4 TD passes in 2015
Justin Holman - Sr. - Starter in 2014 and 2015
Garrett Kruczek - So. - Transfer from Copiah-Lincoln
McKenzie Milton - Fr. - Hawaii High School POY
Nick Patti - RSr. - Backup QB in `14, WR in `15
Sean Pratt - RSo. - Scout team QB last year
• Kruczek is a familiar name around UCF, as Garrett's father, Mike, was a UCF assistant coach from 1985-97 and then head coach from 1998-03.
WIDE RECEIVERS
• Year after year, UCF boasts incredible talent at the wide receiver position.
• In 2015, the Knights were led by AAC Rookie of the Year Tre'Quan Smith who set UCF freshman records with 52 catches and 724 yards. He was the first freshman in UCF history to lead his team in receptions and receiving yards.
• In 2014, the top four wideouts (Breshad Perriman, Rannell Hall, J.J. Worton, Josh Reese) all went on to get at least a tryout in the NFL including Perriman who was a first-round pick by the Ravens.
• Those wideouts were instrumental in the memorable 2013 season as well. In 2012, current CFL wideout Quincy McDuffie also was part of the mix.
• A look at UCF's top wide receivers:
Player - Class - Note
Jaquarius Bargnare - Fr. - Three stars from Dr. Phillips
Hayden Jones - RSr. - Was a kick returner last year
Dontay Mayfield - Fr. - Three stars from Gulliver Prep
Taylor Oldham - RSr. - Played around an injury in `15
Tristan Payton - So. - 2nd on team in REC in `15
Tre'Quan Smith - RSo. - `15 AAC Rookie of the Year
Dredrick Snelson - Fr. - Four-star U.A. All-American
Cam Stewart - So. - 11 REC as a true frosh last year
D'erren Wilson - So. - 3 TD vs. Tulane last season
TAKING OVER THE TIGHT ENDS
• In his 16th season on the coaching staff, UCF Athletics Hall of Famer Sean Beckton is now in charge of the tight ends.
• Three highly-skilled veterans lead the way in Jordan Akins, Cal Bloom and Jordan Franks. Akins and Franks both were troubled by the injury bug last year.
• Breaking down the top tight ends:
Player - Class - Note
Jordan Akins - RSo. - Has been WR, KR and PR as well
Cal Bloom - RSr. - Started 6 games a year ago
Michael Colubiale - RJr. - Has battled injuries
Jordan Franks - Jr. - 20 REC, 246 YDS in 2015
RUNNING BACKS
• UCF's ground game may have been sluggish a year ago, but it was led by two freshmen in C.J. Jones and Taj McGowan who were learning quickly at the collegiate level.
• Joined by veteran senior Dontravious Wilson, the running backs now have three experienced ball carriers UCF could look to for 2016.
• Add in speedy signees Jawon Hamilton and Adrian Killins and the Knights have a lot to choose from this year.
• UCF's top running backs:
Player - Class - Note
Jawon Hamilton - Fr. - Three stars from South Dade
C.J. Jones - RSo. - Led UCF in rushing in 2015
Adrian Killins - Fr. - Three stars from Mainland
Taj McGowan - So. - 2nd on team in rushing in `15
Michael Willett - RJr. - Walk-on, 3.5 average per carry
Dontravious Wilson - Sr. - Has 504 career rushing yards
OFFENSIVE LINE
• A huge point of emphasis for the Knights since the close of 2015 has been the development of the offensive line.
• UCF has only one senior who has seen consistent starts entering the year in center Jason Rae.
• Key players on the O-line:
Player - Class - Note
Micah Anderson - RSr. - Has experience at guard
Christian Beard - RSo. - Transfer, enrolled in spring
Chester Brown - RSr. - Played in all 25 games `14-15
Jake Brown - RFr. - Walk-on out of California
Chavis Dickey - Jr. - Started 12 games in 2014
Aaron Evans - RJr. - Started all 12 games at LT
Tate Hernly - RJr. - Played in 9 games last year
Tyler Hudanick - So. - Started 9 games as a true fr.
Wyatt Miller - RSo. - Started 8 games at RT
Luke Palmer - RSo. - Experience at LG, RG, RT
Jason Rae - Sr. - 2-year starter at center
Charles Sprenkel - RJr. - Originally joined as a walk-on
• UCF also added Aaron Dowdell, Jordan Johnson and Boman Swanson from the signing class. All three are true freshmen with Dowdell and Johnson earning four stars out of high school.
THE NEW FACES LEADING THE WAY
• Up front, Greg Austin is the voice guiding the offensive line.
• Austin hails from Texas and received his bachelor's degree at Nebraska. He then achieved two master's degrees at UCF. Austin's first coaching stint came as an intern at Oregon in 2010. After two years as a graduate assistant with the Ducks, he was an assistant offensive line coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-15.
• A college teammate of Scott Frost at Nebraska, Ryan Held went on to be an undergraduate assistant at his alma mater in 1997. The Kansas native spent 2001-15 in the Division II, junior-college and NAIA ranks before joining the Knights.
• A staple on the west coast while also spending some time at Rutgers, Mario Verduzco is the leader of the quarterbacks at UCF. From the state of California, he first started in the coaching profession as a high school coach in 1977. Most recently, Verduzco was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Missouri State and Northern Iowa.
Defense Notes
WHAT RETURNS
• Seven starters from last year's group are in the mix for the 2016 season. That includes the entire secondary.
• Six of UCF's top seven tackles are back.
WHAT IS LOST
• Among last year's starters, UCF is missing defensive ends Thomas Niles and Luke Adams, defensive tackle Lance McDowdell and middle linebacker Domenic Spencer.
• Spencer boasted a team-high 104 tackles last season.
THE NEW D.C.
• A native of Iowa, Erik Chinander is UCF's fourth defensive coordinator in the last four seasons, following Scott Frost to Orlando from the University of Oregon.
• Chinander was the Ducks' outside linebackers coach from 2014-15 as well as a graduate assistant from 2011-12 and an intern in 2010. That sandwiched a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles as their assistant defensive line coach in 2013.
• Chinander and Frost first connected on the staff at Northern Iowa.
DEFENSIVE LINE
• Three of the Knights starting four defensive linemen have moved on, but the program has switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 unit. The primary returner up front will be nose guard Jamiyus Pittman, who played in all 13 games as a true freshman and started 11 contests a year ago.
• UCF does not have a senior on the defensive line.
• Leading up the men up front is Mike Dawson. The Massachusetts native was with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-14, and got his start in coaching in 1998 at UMass-Lowell.
• The UCF defensive line:
Player - Class - Note
Joey Connors - RSo. - 3 starts as a freshman
Tony Guerad - RJr. - Had a huge spring and camp
Brendon Hayes - RFr. - Redshirted in 2015
Trysten Hill - Fr. - Showed plenty of promise in camp
Seyvon Lowry - RJr. - Saw a lot of time in 2013 and `15
Jock Petree - RJr. - Former walk-on shined in camp
Jamiyus Pittman - Jr. - The veteran of the D-line
A.J. Wooten - RSo. - Looking to make his debut
LINEBACKERS
• Linebackers will be in the spotlight right away with the switch to the 3-4 defense. UCF has plenty of options to go with though.
• Jovan Dewitt heads up the linebackers. He ventured to Orlando following two years with Army. Dewitt also coached with Frost at Northern Iowa. The Michigander started his career at his alma mater, Northern Michigan, in 1997.
• The Knights' top linebackers:
Player - Class - Note
Jerod Boykins - Sr. - Served as a DB last year
Demeitre Brim - RSr. - Started four games in 2015
Chequan Burkett - RJr. - Has 103 career tackles
Errol Clarke - RSr. - Could be a break-out LB
Titus Davis - So. - Switched from DE to OLB
Shaquem Griffin - RJr. - Was a DB, had a huge camp
Pat Jasinski - So. - Started six games as a true fr.
Justin McDonald - Sr. - Looking to be a consistent starter
Mark Rucker - RSr. - One of UCF's vocal standouts
• Experienced veterans Mario Mathis and Maurice Russell join four Knights joined the roster from the signing class: Dedrion Bacote, Nate Evans, Monterious Loggins and Eric Mitchell.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
• In all, eight different Knights started in the secondary in 2015, and all eight return this year.
• After being the program's cornerbacks coach in 2015, Travis Fisher is now in charge of the entire secondary. A former Knight, Fisher was a second-round pick by St. Louis in 2002 and also played with the Lions, Seahawks and Ravens. He was first on the UCF coaching staff as a quality control assistant in 2013.
• A look at UCF's defensive backs:
Player - Class - Note
Jeremy Boykins - Sr. - Cornerback, started three games
Rashard Causey - So. - A key corner as a true frosh
Nevelle Clarke - RFr. - Had a breakout camp
Kyle Gibson - RSo. - Earned six starts at CB in 2015
Shaquill Griffin - Sr. - Posted 13 break-ups at CB in '15
Drico Johnson - RSr. - Collected 64 tackles a year ago
D.J. Killings - Sr. - A staple on D w/ 23 games played
T.J. Mutcherson - Gr. - Started three times, 31 tackles
Tre Neal - RSo. - Had 55 tackles with five starts
Brandon Scott - RFr. - Redshirted in 2015
• Chris Johnson and Blake Tiralosi were both wide receivers in 2015, and have now switched over to defensive back.
Special Teams Notes
TWO SOLID KICKERS
• A pair of freshmen shared kicking duties in 2015. Matthew Wright attempted all 17 of UCF's field goals, converting 13 of them highlighted by making eight straight at one point.
• Wright was 17-for-17 in extra points as well.
• Donald De La Haye served as the kickoff specialist thanks to the distance he gets on his boots.
ONE FINAL SEASON
• Caleb Houston had two solid seasons as the Knights' punter from 2013-14. The senior then had one of the best campaigns in UCF history last year.
• Houston landed 28 of 65 punts inside the 20 with only two touchbacks.
• His 44.2 average in 2015 was the second-highest, trailing only current Detroit Lions placekicker Matt Prater's 47.9 in 2003.
• He combined for 11 punts of 50 yards or more his first two seasons, then had 17 in 2015.
• Houston carries a 41.9 punting average for his career, which also only trails Prater who had a 47.6 average.
THE SNAPPER
• From Deltona, Fla., Gage Marsil had to wait his turn from 2012-14 before getting the starting nod as the long snapper in 2015.
• Marsil started all 12 games a year ago, and is in line to be the No. 1 snapper again in 2016.
WHO IS BACK DEEP?
• A true freshman in 2015, Tristan Payton could see the majority of the kick return duties as a sophomore. In the punt return game, sophomore walk-on Chris Johnson stepped up last year and had half of the team's punt returns. However several other Knights received looks in camp.
