College football

Freshmen fuel UCF's turnaround

On offense and defense, young players are infusing a new winning attitude.

By SHARON GINN
Published November 3, 2005

There was little warm and fuzzy about the arrival of UCF's freshman class this summer, and certainly no red-carpet treatment.

The newest Knights already understood that 15 straight losses had made the coaches a little desperate for talent. Once they got to campus in July, they learned that losing had made their new teammates agitated, frustrated - and vocal.

Work hard, the veterans told them. Learn fast. And for Pete's sake, don't be late to the meetings.

"They were 0-11 last year and they were fed up," freshman tailback Kevin Smith said. "The team took over and let us know, "this is what we expect of you.' "

Consider those expectations met.

Four months after being thrown into the system, five of the 19 members of coach George O'Leary's 2005 recruiting class either are starting for the Golden Knights or have started at least once this season. And they've helped UCF spark a remarkable turnaround: After an 0-2 start, the team is 5-3, and leading Conference USA's East Division with a 4-1 record.

In all, nine true freshmen and five redshirt freshmen are on the two-deep roster. Seven are starters, which says to true freshman cornerback Joe Burnett that "things look pretty good" for the next three years. All of them were brought in by O'Leary, who had found himself with little talent to work with when he was hired after the 2003 season.

"It is very difficult to play freshmen at this level," O'Leary said. "The freshmen that have played, they have made some mistakes, but they have also made some big plays. ... I think we are probably just touching the surface with those guys as far as how much better they can get."

No one has made bigger plays than Smith and Burnett, roommates who by mid September had cracked the starting lineup.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Smith, of Miami's Southridge High, is Conference USA's fourth-leading rusher (81.4 yards a game) and is the No. 5 rusher among true freshmen in Division I-A. He has had three 100-yard games. In a 38-17 victory over Memphis he outgained Tigers senior running back DeAngelo Williams, then the NCAA rushing leader, 164 yards to 136.

A tireless filmwatcher, Smith said he came to UCF with the knowledge he had to earn his playing time. His outgoing answering machine message ends with: "Coach, if you're looking for me, I'm already at the meeting."

"To come in as a freshman and play early, it's a maturing process," Smith said. "You've got to grow up real fast. I like to play football, so I do whatever it takes to get on the field."

Burnett (5-11, 180), of Eustis High, is the team's leading tackler with 40 (35 solo) and has had three interceptions. He made two in a 31-17 victory over Tulane two weeks ago, and made a game-sealing grab Saturday, late in a 30-20 victory over C-USA foe East Carolina.

Redshirt freshman Augustus Ashley also made an interception against East Carolina - his first start - and had nine tackles. On Monday he was named the C-USA co-defensive player of the week.

The top four tacklers are freshmen. Behind Burnett are three redshirt freshmen: defensive back Jason Venson (39 tackles; 32 solo), linebacker Jordan Richards (39 tackles, five for a loss), and cornerback Johnell Neal (36 tackles; 33 solo).

And true freshman offensive lineman Patrick Brown (6-5, 265) is a fixture at left tackle since starting the second game against USF.

"All the freshmen who are playing well started from the bottom, and did something that the coaches like, and are working their way up," Smith said. "And they're still working hard to maintain their position."

That's not to say, Smith said carefully, that some veterans haven't been resentful over the younger players' quick ascension. But if they have been, they haven't let it be known. The focus now is on the team and what it can accomplish, he said.

Mostly, Burnett said, the players have learned to trust O'Leary and his decisions.

"He told us that we're going to be special this year," Burnett said. "That things are going to turn around: "You're not going to be 0-11 again. Something special is going to happen.' He told us that at the first meeting."

[Last modified November 3, 2005, 01:07:13]