UCF Running Back Micah Reed to Transfer

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/5/20/8631721/ucf-running-back-micah-reed-to-transfer

The running back position at UCF may be something of a crucible. As the Orlando Sentinel reports, Micah Reed (a rising junior) will transfer. George O'Leary's quote from the Sentinel article is pretty candid:

"I told him competition is what we build the program on and you’re fourth because of where you were put by the position coaches on the offense [. . . ] But I said ‘you played last year,’ so . . . I never try to talk kids out from leaving or staying because . . . that’s the second time he’s tried to do this, not the first. Once they start doing that stuff it’s not worthwhile because they’ll end up just quitting sometime during the season which I’d rather see kids that are fully committed here right now working."

I tend to think that's a bit more candid than other coaches' comments on transferring players. But it's consistent with how O'Leary has historically commented on these issues. I'm reminded of his candid comments back in 2013 when promising defensive end Blake Keller left the football program (though not UCF altogether):

"I guess [Blake Keller] had some issues at home -- personal issues [. . .] He was gone Monday and Tuesday [of last week] and came in Wednesday with his parents. They sat down and said, 'Coach I'm quitting. I don't love football anymore . . . My own personal opinion is that there are other reasons going on and I think he need to resolve those issues . . . I was surprised, I had no idea anything was going on and none of the coaches did either."

While having more quality depth would be a good thing, the on-field consequences of Reed's transfer are slight. Reed would have been a junior next year stuck on a depth chart that had two other juniors ahead of him (presumptive starter Will Stanback and Dontravious Wilson) as well as freshman Taj McGowan (who had started coming on strong in spring).

Reed's opportunities to date had been limited. While he played in 12 games as a freshman in 2013, that was mostly on special teams -- apart from special teams, Reed registered a total of seven times for 13 yards. But with Stanback hobbled at times, Reed's involvement last season was a bit more meaningful. In UCF's thorough beating of SMU, Reed was the team leader in rushing with 26 carries for 113 yards and a trio of catches for 39 yards. It was the capstone of his UCF career.

As with any player leaving the program, we at Underdog wish Reed the best wherever he ultimately lands.

How Former UCF Knights Fared in the 2015 NFL Draft

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/american-athletic-conference/2015/5/3/8529293/how-former-ucf-knights-fared-in-the-2015-nfl-draft

In news that surprised absolutely no one, Breshad Perriman was the first UCF player picked in the 2015 NFL Draft. Perriman went at number 26 overall to the Baltimore Ravens who, it turns out, would likely have traded back if he hadn't been available. He will sign a four year, $7.881 million contract with a $3.992 signing bonus. Perriman was the first non-P5 player drafted (and was immediately followed by the Cowboy's selection of UConn CB Byron Jones, so there's a small bit of AAC pride for you).

It's happy news for fans of UCF's program. UCF now has put first round draftees into the NFL in consecutive years (Blake Bortles, obviously, went #3 overall last year to the Jacksonville Jaguars). The Knights have something of a history of putting successful wide receivers into the NFL (Brandon Marshall and Mike Sims-Walker, for example). And the opportunity -- and honor of a first round pick -- is richly deserved by Perriman, who became one of our favorite Knights ever this year and impressed tremendously at UCF's pro day.

Perriman joins fellow Knights WR Kamar Aiken and OL Jah Reid on the Ravens. It ought to be a good fit for him. The Ravens are now without deep threat Torrey Smith, which means there's an immediate opportunity for Perriman to step into that role and play right away. Our Ravens blog Baltimore Beatdown likes the pick and sees a lot of upside here. We've said before that there's been too much hand-wringing over his rate of drops, and are inclined to think he'll be very successful in Baltimore.

After Perriman was drafted, things were largely quiet for the Knights. Safety Clayton Geathers came off the board in the fourth round when he was picked by the Colts. He is a physical player who fulfills a need for the Colts, but is probably best viewed as a developmental prospect. It will feel strange to not hear his name called on Saturdays anymore - Geathers tied a UCF career record with 53 games played overall, starting in 52 of them.

And then . . . that was it for the Knights draft-wise. Though a number of players were promptly picked up as undrafted free agents: Terrance Plummer (Washington Redskins), Rannell Hall (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Josh Reese (also by the Bucs), Justin Tukes (Philadelphia Eagles), Torrian Wilson (Detroit Lions), and Jacoby Glenn (Chicago Bears). It's perhaps a bit disappointing for Glenn, who as a redshirt sophomore, joined Perriman as an early NFL draft entrant. And it perhaps makes his Twitter moniker -- @cobypaidglenn -- a bit awkward. Though a great physical talent (and the AAC's co-defensive player of the year), he's someone who surely could have benefited by returning to school for at least one more year.

All-in-all, it was a good weekend for the Knights. UCF fans will likely have at least one more NFL starter to root for on Sunday, and a number of Knights will have a meaningful chance to catch on with teams.

UCF and Georgia Tech Agree to Home-and-Home Series in Football for 2017 and 2020

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/4/20/8458817/ucf-and-georgia-tech-agree-to-home-and-home-series-in-football-for

In news certain to please UCF fans, the Knights and the Yellow Jackets have now agreed to a home-and-home series in 2017 and 2020. The September 16, 2017 game is at home for the Knights, with the trip to Atlanta coming on September 19, 2020.

There's a lot of potential for interesting story lines as the game gets closer. George O'Leary was the head coach for the Yellow Jackets from 1995 to 2001 and had been the defensive coordinator for GT's 1990 national championship team (by way of the UPI poll -- Colorado  has a claim to 1990 by virtue of its AP title). There are other connections, too -- Offensive Coordinator Brent Key (future UCF head coach?) played at GT and was a graduate assistant. Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bresnahan was also a grad assistant for the Yellow Jackets. And Athletic Director Todd Stansbury played at GT and was later an associate athletic director there. The connections are many.

This is welcome news for a UCF program that has struggled of late in scheduling P5 opponents. And it means that the 2017  out of conference schedule shapes up particularly well for the Knights. In addition to GT at home, UCF will go on the road to Texas (a great road trip, of course) and Maryland. The Knights will also play FIU at home (which we love because every "ought to be a cupcake" out of conference game should be against an in-state foe).

The Knights are 0-3 against the Yellow Jackets, with all of those losses coming at Georgia Tech.