NEWS & NOTES

  • In the season opener, UCF set an FBS era (since 1996) school record with 289 total special teams yards against Samford, gaining 190 on kickoff returns and 99 more on punt returns.
  • UCF gained 571 yards of combined total offense and special teams yardage against Samford, its best output since the 2007 regular season finale against UTEP, 103 yards better than its top game in 2008, and the fourth-best all-time for UCF at BHNS.
  • Last week, Brynn Harvey became just the second Knight to rush for over 100 yards on opening day in the FBS era joining the 217 by Kevin Smith in the 2007 win at NC State.
  • Quincy McDuffie’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Samford was the sixth-longest in school history.
  • Six of UCF’s 12 all-time kickoff return touchdowns have been by freshmen. McDuffie’s was the first in a collegiate debut.
  • UCF joins Arkansas, Clemson and Texas as the only schools in the nation to have returned at least one kickoff for a touchdown in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
  • In his UCF debut last week, Wake Forest transfer quarterback Brett Hodges came off of the bench to complete 10-of-17 passes and the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
  • The Knights are 2-2 all-time in C-USA openers. UCF also opened its 2006 C-USA slate against USM, losing 19-14.

    • ALL-TIME MOST TOTAL OFFENSE+SPECIAL TEAMS YARDAGE BY UCF AT BHNS

    1. 711 yards vs. Memphis, 9/22/07
    2. 621 yards vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 9/29/07
    3. 576 yards vs. UTEP, 11/24/07
    4. 571 yards vs. Samford, 9/5/09

    UCF VS. SOUTHERN MISS

  • Southern Miss leads the overall series 3-1, one which started in 2005 when UCF joined C-USA. UCF’s lone win was in 2007 in Hattiesburg behind 175 rushing yards and two TDs by Kevin Smith. UCF is 1-1 in Hattiesburg and 0-2 in Orlando against the Golden Eagles.

    • WIN WITH BRYNN

    Sophomore Brynn Harvey ran for 111 yards and two scores in UCF’s season-opening win over Samford. It was just the second time in the FBS era (since 1996) that a Knight eclipsed the century mark on opening day. Kevin Smith (who coincidentally attended the Samford game) ran for 217 in a 2007 win at NC State. It was Harvey’s second career 100-yard effort, joining his 150 at Marshall last year, and his first career two-TD performance.

    ROCKY V

    Wide receiver Rocky Ross enters his second senior year after earning a medical redshirt in 2008 due to a broken collar bone suffered at UTEP. As a junior, Ross led the Knights with 50 receptions and 658 yards for an average of 47.0 yards per game. He started 2009 where he left off, leading UCF with five catches and 85 receiving yards against Samford. He gained 176 all-purpose yards on the day.

    UNDER CENTER

    A true freshman in 2008, Rob Calabrese played in nine games and threw for 664 yards and seven touchdowns for the Knights. Now with a year of experience, plus added strength and confidence, he was UCF’s opening day starting quarterback. Behind him is Wake Forest transfer Brett Hodges. Hodges saw seven games worth of action in his Demon Deacon career. Both saw action in the win vs. Samford.

    THE O-LINE

    Three of the five Knights who finished 2008 as starters on the offensive line also return.

    D-LINE INTACT

    UCF brings back almost the entire two-deep from a fearsome front seven in 2008. UCF was third in the nation in TFLs a year ago and 26th in sacks. As a whole, the Knights led C-USA in both rushing defense and passing efficiency defense while ranking second in total defense and scoring defense. UCF started the 2009 season right where it left off with nine TFLs vs. Samford, ranking 14th nationally for week one.

    YOUNG GETTING WISER

    Junior outside linebacker Lawrence Young leads all returners with 72 tackles. He also collected 10.5 tackles for loss and five break-ups. His three TFLs in week one tied him for fifth in the nation.

    NALL ALL-IN AGAIN

    While several key members of the 2007 defense missed all or most of 2008, UCF welcomes back Darius Nall who missed last year while undergoing treatments for cancer. Nall was a member of the 2007 C-USA All-Freshman Team and will see ample time this fall at DE.

    SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

    UCF SETS RECORD VS. SAMFORD

    UCF had a combined 289 yards of special teams yardage vs. Samford (190 kickoff returns, 99 punt returns). This is a FBS-era (since 1996) school record eclipsing the 281 yards (240/41) that UCF had against East Carolina in 2007.

    McDUFFIE’S: I’M LOVIN IT

    True freshman Quincy McDuffie had an auspicious debut for the Knights against Samford. The Orlando native ran a kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown. Curiously, of UCF’s 12 all-time kickoff return touchdowns, six have been by freshmen. McDuffie’s was the first in a season-opener.

    THREE YEARS IN A ROW

    With McDuffie’s kickoff return touchdown, UCF has now returned a kickoff for a touchdown in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. Joe Burnett ran back kickoffs for scores against USF and Miami last year. In 2007, Curtis Francis had one against East Carolina and Khymest Williams also had one against SMU.

    BALDWIN BALLING TOO

    Overshadowed by McDuffie’s touchdown, Darin Baldwin also had a 72-yard kickoff return against Samford. It was the 10th-longest in the nation last week.