UCF recruiting

By IZZY GOULD, Times Staff Writer
Published January 27, 2008

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KEY LOSSES

RB Kevin Smith, QB Kyle Israel, C Kyle Smith, K Michael Torres, DE Leger Douzable, DT Keith Shologan, DE Emeka Okammor

HOT PROSPECTS

Quality over quantity would be a good way to describe UCF's 2008 commitments vs. last year's signing class. The Knights have nine three-star recruits and are looking for some running back prospects to fill the void left by Kevin Smith, the Knights' all-time leading rusher who left after his junior season to enter the NFL draft. One of those hoping to step up is Brandon Davis, who gained almost 1, 400 yards his junior year.

LOOKING BACK

The Knights signed 29 recruits in 2007, including Land O'LakesQB Joe Weatherford. The redshirt freshman is expected to compete for the starting job after the departure of Kyle Israel. WRs Kamar Aiken and A.J. Guyton made an immediate impact statistically, with Aiken finishing second in team receiving with 584 yards and five touchdowns.

ORAL COMMITMENTS (16)

Rob Calabrese, QB, 6-2/199, Islip (N.Y.) East

Brandon Davis, RB, 5-8/184, Suwanee (Ga.) Peachtree Ridge

Theo Goins, DT, 6-4/280, Fort Bend (Texas) Hightower

Chad Hounshell, OT, 6-5/302, Mentor (Ohio) Lake Catholic

Brendan Kelly, TE, 6-3/228, Shoreham (N.Y.) Wading

Vance King, Ath, 6-0/183, Stockbridge (Ga.)

Kyle Madden, TE, 6-3/228, Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison

Chris Martin, DT, 6-4/291, Fort Walton Bch. Choctawhatchee

Jarien Moreland, OG, 6-4/319, Glades Central

Latavius Murray, LB, 6-3/215, Nedrow (N.Y.) Onodaga Central

John Oliver, OL, 6-5/250, Lagrange (Ga.) Troup

Robert Pritchard, DE, 6-2/212, Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett

Loren Robinson, LB, 6-3/190, Longwood Lyman

Steven Robinson, OG, 6-3/305, Tallahassee Lincoln

David Williams, LB, 6-0/198, Fort Lauderdale Gibbons

Marquee Williams, QB, 6-1/186, Ocala Vanguard

EARLY ENROLLEES

Jarvis Geathers, DE, 6-2/225, Feather River (Calif.) College

Josh Linam, LB, 6-2/230, Tavares

Chad Keys, WR, 6-0/185, St. Paul's (La.)