2002 Statistics

written by Tim Chapman

Senior QB Ryan Schneider is well on his way to shatter every UCF record that Daunte Culpepper ever owned. Schneider brings one of the strongest arms in the country as well as a solid frame (6'2" 230), allowing him to stand firmly in the pocket. His precision and savvy are evidenced by his astounding 2002 numbers (3,770 yards passing, 31 TDs, 61% comp.). The Golden Knights have a solid leader directing an offense breaking in seven new starters.

Helping the cause is a solid group of running backs. Junior Alex Haynes (5.1 yards per carry) is the incumbent, but swift on his heels is JUCO transfer P.J. Smith. Both bring a fiery running style and good vision. This will be key in taking the pressure off Schneider. Soph Keith Williams and frosh Dontavious Wilcox should also see considerable playing time. Coaches say the competition is fierce in this group.

The receivers, though young and relatively inexperienced should be made better by the talents of the QB Schneider. Tavaris Capers had a great spring and will be the go-to guy for the Knights in '03. On the other side, soph Brandon Marshal is a tall go-getter with soft hands who can leap. The wildcard to watch is true frosh Mike Walker. He hasn't even enrolled yet, and the buzz around this guy is deafening! He could very well be the X-factor for this offense come mid-season.These receivers were tabbed the pleasant surprise of the spring and must continue the impressive play for the Knights to compete for the crown this season.

The O-line loses three starters and many of their replacements are green. Seniors David Ashkinaz (OG) and Kyle Watkins (OT) are back to help mold the new guys into an assembly that must keep opposing defenses away from Schneider. UCF's problem last year seemed to be when teams sprung up the middle and flushed the plant-footed Schneider out of the pocket. Redshirted freshman center Cedric Gagne-Marcoux has the biggest job of occupying the middle and calling line adjustments to help mobilize the offense. Pretty big task to lay on a first year player, but apparently coaches feel he's up to it. Senior Alex Mendez comes in to play guard and gives balancing experience to this crew.

TB Alex Haynes

written by Tim Chapman

The run for the MAC Championship may very well be led by the Central Florida defense - believe it or not. UCF returns eight starters from a squad that ranked 3rd in the MAC in total defense. They rely on a lot of quickness and that patented, full-fledged Florida speed to make plays.

The linebackers should put on a clinic this season, with All-MAC candidate Stanford Rhule (junior) and MLB Chad Mascoe (senior) directing the defense. Rhule led the team in tackles a year ago, and the man who was supposed to start ahead of him in the fall, junior OLB Antoine Poe, returns from a knee-injury that forced him to sit out last season. These three should be in on many tackles for the Knights and will get help from junior Gerren Bray. They will be the difference-makers on this team and will be relied on to lead the charge.

The secondary lost their best player but still come back strong. The Knights allowed just over 200 yards per contest- not bad considering their competition. Junior SS Atari Bigby comes back after garnering ALL-MAC honors for his role as one of the more active safeties in the conference. He brings an aggressive style of play and a "no fear" attitude when flying into a ball-carrier. His manner was infectious last season, with junior FS Peter Sands and soph CB Omar Laurence keying on opponents and taking away most anything in front of them, too. Going against top QBs in practice seem to make these guys better each day.

The defensive line loses All-MAC DE Elton Patterson, but still brings to the table a bevy of hungry linemen. Junior DE Rashad Jeanty will terrorize, bringing great speed (4.7 in the 40) that allows him to eclipse the corner for a great pass rusher. His abilities make senior middlemen Larry Brown and DeMarcus Johnson available for further destruction. The best-kept secret on this defense, though, is soph DE Paul Carrington. Carrington has great work ethic and will pay big dividends in the pass rush by clogging passing lanes, as well as supporting against the run with his big body.

The personnel and talent are there. Where they must improve is on 3rd down defense and red zone opposition. UCF opponents converted on 42 percent of their 3rd down attempts and scored 84 percent of the time they spent inside the 20. The defense also needs to cause more turnovers. Sounds easy, huh.

DB Atari Bigby