Former UCF football greats and current and longtime National Football League standouts Blake Bortles and Latavius Murray have combined to make a $500,000 gift commitment to UCF Athletics.
Their commitment will be used to help renovate the sports medicine center and other components of the Wayne Densch Center, home of UCF football.
In recognition of their gift, UCF Athletics will name the sports medicine center in the Wayne Densch Sports Center the Bortles and Murray Athletic Training Room.
In partnership with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, the UCF Athletics sports medicine team provides best-in-class medical care for all UCF student-athletes. This reinvestment in the training room will deliver an enhanced environment for care.
"My time at UCF made me the man and athlete I am today. My hope is that this gift will help leave an impact on the next generation of UCF Knights. I came to UCF to be a part of history, and it's an honor to be able to continue that history," says Murray.
"UCF played a huge part in making me the football player and the person I am today. I created lifelong relationships and countless memories while I was at UCF. I am excited about the direction the program is headed and I'm honored to have played a small part in making this an elite college football program for our current and future student-athletes," says Bortles.
UCF football coach Gus Malzahn recently had a chance to meet Bortles and Murray when the two visited campus.
"Latavius and Blake obviously are UCF legends--and after meeting both it's clear they also are exceptional young men," says Malzahn. "Their combined gift shows how important this program and this university is to them.
"We want to thank them for their generosity and support, as well as wish them continued success in their professional careers. They are great guys for our players to look up to."
As with all major gift donors for UCF Athletics, Bortles and Murray will be recognized and stewarded through the Shareholders Society.
"Tay and Blake are great examples of outstanding people that took advantage of their opportunities while students at UCF," says UCF vice president and director of athletics Terry Mohajir.
"Their academic/athletics successes, combined with their leadership traits, gave them the ability to make a substantial commitment to their university! I believe this gift commitment has illustrated their desires to see more student-athletes who benefited from their time here follow their direction by giving back to our school. We sincerely appreciate their heartfelt support to continue building our athletics program! CHARGE ON!"
Originally from Oviedo, Florida, Bortles played quarterback for the Knights in 2010-13 and was the American Athletic Conference offensive player of the year as a senior in 2013 when he led UCF to the AAC championship and a 52-42 win over fifth-rated Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. He threw for 3,059 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2012 and 3,581 yards and 25 more TDs as a senior in 2013.
Bortles was the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played for the Jaguars from 2014-18, with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, the Rams and the Denver Broncos in 2020 and currently is with the Green Bay Packers. He has thrown for 17,649 yards and 103 TDs in his pro career with 73 career starts. His top season came in 2015 for Jacksonville—4,428 passing yards and 35 passing TDs.
Born in Titusville, Florida, Murray played running back at UCF from 2008-12, rushing for 637 yards and a team-leading 11 TDs in 2010, 549 and eight TDs in 2011 and a team-high 1,106 yards and 15 TDs as a senior in 2012. He was a first-team all-Conference USA pick as a senior, leading the Knights in both scoring and all-purpose yardage in both 20-11 and 2012.
A sixth-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2013, Murray played for the Raiders from 2013-16, the Minnesota Vikings in 2017-18 and has been with the New Orleans Saints since 2019. An NFL Pro Bowl selection in 2015, Murray has rushed for 4,991 yards and 43 scores in his professional career. A starter in 63 games in his seven NFL seasons, Murray rushed for 1,066 yards in his second professional campaign with Oakland in 2015.