TheAmerican.org will be previewing all ten American teams in advance of the start of the 2013 season. The previews will be released in reverse order of the preseason media poll.
STORYLINES
UCF won four Conference USA East Division titles in its eight years in the league, including the 2012 divisional title.
The Knights have won at least 10 games in two of the last three seasons, including last year’s 10-4 campaign.
Head coach George O’Leary has an all-time record of 112-88, including a 60-55 mark at UCF.
UCF began its football program in 1979, competing at the NCAA Division III level. The Knights moved to Division II in 1982, became a Football Championship Subdivision program in 1990 and moved to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996.
OFFENSE
The Knights return their starting quarterback, three starting linemen, their starting tight end, their second-leading rusher and five of their top six wide receivers from last year’s offense.
Six of the returning offensive players earned All-Conference USA honors last year.
QB Blake Bortles was named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the nation’s outstanding player. Bortles threw for 3,059 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
Four returning receivers had least 25 catches, 380 yards and three touchdowns a year ago.
DEFENSE
Two of the three players who registered 100 tackles last year — SS Clayton Geathers and LB Terrance Plummer — return for 2013.
The Knights led Conference USA in scoring defense (22.1 ppg) and pass defense (217.7 ypg) last year.
UCF has allowed 22.5 points per game or less in each of the last four seasons.
The Knights will need to replace the production of seven of their top 10 tacklers from last season. Geathers, Plummer and CB Brandon Alexander are the only three returning players who finished among the team’s top 10 last season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Shawn Moffitt went 10-for-14 on field goal attempts and was 6-for-6 from inside 30 yards.
WR JJ Worton averaged 10.6 yards on 25 punt returns last year and is back to handle those duties once again.