No matter who UCF fans may be rooting for this weekend in the NFL playoffs, one player they will be following closely is currently appearing on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated. San Francisco 49ers fullback and former UCF defensive end Bruce Miller is gracing the cover along with teammates Jonathan Goodwin, Alex Smith and Frank Gore.
Miller joins a group of UCF Knights who have appeared on the Sports Illustrated cover which includes quarterback Daunte Culpepper and women’s soccer great Michelle Akers.
A two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, Miller was selected in the seventh round as a fullback by the 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft. Miller ranks as UCF’s all-time sacks leader with 35.5 from 2007-10, and finished his first NFL regular season with 11 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown along with four carries for eight yards in 15 games with eight starts.
As the NFC’s No. 2 seed, San Francisco earned a bye before getting past New Orleans in dramatic fashion, 36-32, in the divisional playoffs. Miller earned the start and a 16-yard reception in the victory.
The 49ers will be hosting the Giants Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on FOX for the right to advance to Super Bowl XLVI.
Miller is not the only Knight looking to reach the Super Bowl. Selected in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens in last summer’s draft, offensive lineman Jah Reid appeared in all 16 regular-season games to help the Ravens grab the No. 2 seed in the AFC. He then saw time in Baltimore’s 20-13 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional playoffs.
Reid and the Ravens travel to New England to face the Patriots in the AFC Championship Sunday at 3 p.m. on CBS.