(Photo Credit: Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB John Rhys Plumlee, RB RJ Harvey, WR Javon Baker, WR Kobe Hudson, TE Alec Holler, OG Lokahi Pauole, OT Tylan Grable, DE Josh Celiscar, DE Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, NT Ricky Barber, LB Jason Johnson, LB Walter Yates III, CB Brandon Adams, CB Corey Thornton, DS Quadric Bullard, PR Xavier Townsend, PK Colton Boomer and PT Mitch McCarthy.
Key Players Departing:
RB Isaiah Bowser, WR/KR Ryan O’Keefe, OG Samuel Jackson, OT Ryan Swoboda, DT Anthony Montalvo, LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, CB Devonte Brown, CB Jarvis Ware, NB Justin Hodges, DS Koby Perry and DS Divaad Wilson.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Start Recruits: DL John Walker (Kissimmee, Florida), LB Andrew Harris (Altamonte Springs, Florida) and EDGE Isaiah Nixon (St. Petersburg, Florida).
3 Starr Recruits: CB Braeden Marshall (Lake Mary, Florida), EDGE Kanev Call (Apopka, Florida), OT Marcellus Marshall (Kent State transfer), DS Jireh Wilson (East Carolina transfer), CB Ja’Maric Morris (Hutchinson, Kansas), ATH Jason Duclona (Estero, Florida) and TE Randy Pittsman (Lynne Haven , Florida).
2022 Results:
G01 SC STATE W 56-10
G02 LOUISVILLE L 14-20
G03 @ FAU W 40-14
G04 GEORGIA TECH W 27-10
G05 SMU W 41-19
G06 TEMPLE W 70-13
G07 @ East Carolina L 13-34
G08 #20 CINCINNATI W 25-21
G09 @ Memphis W 35-28
G10 @ #17 Tulane W 38-31
G11 NAVY L 14-17
G12 @ South Florida W 46-39
AAC @ #18 Tulane L 28-45
BOWL vs. Duke L 13-30
Team Info:
2022 Record: 9-5 (2nd in AAC)
Home: 5-2
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-1
AAC: 6-2
Non-AAC: 3-3
Head Coach: Gus Malzahn
Central Florida: 18-9
Career: 95-47
Bowls: 3-6
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: John Rhys Plumlee (218-346, 2586 yards, 63.0%, 7.5 avg., 14 TD, 8 INT)
Rushing: John Rhys Plumlee (159 car., 862 yards, 5.4 avg., 11 TD)
Receiving: Javon Baker (56 rec., 796 yards, 14.2 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: John Rhys Plumlee (11)
Sacks: Tre’Mon Morris-Brash (6)
Tackles: Jason Johnson (126)
Tackles For Loss: Tre’mon Morris-Brash (13)
Interceptions: None
Pass Deflections: Corey Thornton (7)
Forced Fumbles: Josh Celiscar (3)
Kick Returns: Johnny Richardson (5 ret, 78 yards, 15.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Xavier Townsend (19 ret., 177 yards, 9.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kickers: Colton Boomer (14-15 fg/fga., 93%, 42-43 xp-xpa., 84 pts.)
Punters: Mitch McCarthy (38 punts, 1646 yards, 43.3 avg., 13 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 10 John Rhys Plumlee (RS SR/TR)
RB: 22 RJ Harvery (RS SR/TR)
WR: 1 Javon Baker (SR/TR)
WR: 2 Kobe Hudson (SR/TR)
WR: 3 Xavier Townsend (SO)
TE: 82 Alec Holler (RS SR)
LT: 71 Tylan Grable (RS SR/TR)
LG: 54 Bula Schmidt (RS SR/TR)
OC: 60 Drake Metcalf (RS JR/TR)
RG: 77 Lokahi Pauole (RS SR)
RT: 72 Marcellus Marshall (RS JR/TR)
KR: 00 Johnny Richardson (SR)
PK: 35 Colton Boomer (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 88 Josh Celiscar (SR)
DT: 2 Hunter Lee (RS SO/TR)
NT: 5 Ricky Barber (RS SR/TR)
DE: 3 Tre’mon Morris-Brash (SR SR)
LB: 27 Walter Yates III (RS SR/TR)
LB: 00 Jason Johnson (SR/TR)
NB: 13 DeJordan Mask (RS SR/TR)
CB: 31 Brandon Adams (JR)
CB: 11 Decorian Patterson (RS SR/TR)
FS: 21 Nikai Martinez (SO)
SS: 10 Quadric Bullard (SR)
PR: 3 Xavier Townsend (RS FR)
PT: 40 Mitch McCarthy (SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: A
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | The series is tied 2-2. The Knights lost (24-41) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
09/09 @ Boise State Broncos | UCF won (36-31) the only prior meeting between schools in 2021.
09/16 VILLANOVA WILDCATS | UCF won (35-16) the only prior meeting between schools in 2006.
09/23 @ Kansas State Wildcats | UCF lost (13-17) the only prior meeting between schools in 2010.
09/30 BAYLOR BEARS | UCF won (52-42) the only prior meeting between schools in 2014,,
10/07 @ Kansas Jayhawks | First meeting between schools.
10/21 @ Oklahoma Sooners | First meeting between schools.
10/28 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS | UCF trails the series 0-2. The Knights lost (20-45) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
11/04 @ Cincinnati Bearcats | The series is tied 4-4. The Knights won (25-21) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series loss (21-56) was in 2021.
11/11 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS | First meeting between schools.
11/18 @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | First meeting between schools.
11/25 HOUSTON COUGARS | UCF leads the series 7-3. The Knights won (44-21) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 5-1
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 8-1
Non-B12: 3-0
Overall: 11-1 (3rd in Big XII)
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