It’s a clean sweep for the Knights. After UCF’s 31-24 overtime win over BYU Thursday night, the American Athletic Conference honored sophomore quarterback Justin Holman, senior linebacker Terrance Plummer and senior wide receiver/punt returner J.J. Worton with offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honors Monday.
It was the first time in UCF history that the Knights’ swept a league’s weekly awards.
One day after securing the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week award, Plummer was also honored by the American Athletic Conference with its Defensive Player of the Week accolade. It marks the third time in the Orange Park native’s career to receive a weekly award from The American, having boasted two weekly honors a year ago.
Plummer racked up 17 tackles, including 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage against BYU Thursday night. He also forced and recovered a key fumble in the fourth quarter, broke up a pass and tallied a sack. Plummer also received accolades from other outlets as well.
Terrance Plummer’s Weekly Honors for the BYU Game
Plummer starter the game with a tackle on each of BYU’s first three drives, which helped the Cougars go 3-and-out on all three possessions. With BYU holding a 24-17 lead and driving inside the red zone to begin the fourth quarter, Plummer halted the momentum by ripping the ball loose from Algernon Brown and quickly pouncing on the loose ball. On BYU’s next drive, Plummer registered a sack of five yards to force a 3-and-out, setting up UCF’s game-tying score at 24-24.
Plummer leads the Knights with 53 tackles and 7.5 tackles in 2014. Eight more tackles and he will crack UCF’s all-time top 10 as he sits with 288 dating back to his true freshman season in 2011.
Holman was 30-of-51 passing for 326 yards and two touchdowns in Thursday’s win over the Cougars. He also rushed for 26 yards and a score. Holman had a hand in three of UCF’s four TDs vs. BYU, rushing for the first score of the game and passing for the game-tying and game-winning touchdowns.
Holman’s 30 completions were the most for UCF since Steven Moffett had 30 against Akron in 2004. He was the first Knight signal-caller to heave more than 50 passes since Ryan Schneider tossed 52 against FAU back in 2003. Holman was 5-of-5 on the opening drive of the game, completed his first eight aerials and compiled career-best marks for completions, attempts and passing yards.
Worton returned five punts vs. BYU for an average of more than 15 yards per return. His punt return acumen consistently helped the Knights earn solid field position and his 77 yards off punt returns were a career-best. Two of Worton’s returns set up UCF scores, including a 29-yard return to the BYU 37-yard line that led to the game-tying touchdown just two plays later. He also served as the holder on each of UCF’s PATs and field goals.
Worton is ranked No. 13 in the nation in punt return average and has helped put the Knights at No. 30 in the nation in the team category for punt returns. He ranks No. 3 all-time at UCF in both career punt returns (67) and career punt return yardage (715).