Tuesday, August 11, 2015

UCF Knights Address Needs with Iowa State Transfer T.J. Mutcherson

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/8/11/9001175/ucf-knights-address-needs-with-iowa-state-transfer-tj-mutcherson


As reported recently by 247Sports($) -- and echoed by T.J. Mutcherson's himself on Twitter -- the former Iowa State safety is transferring to UCF. As a graduate student, Mutcherson will be eligible to play immediately.
This is a great addition for the Knights, for whom the depleted secondary is a major area of need. UCF's entire starting secondary resets this year as a result of graduation (including Clayton Geathers, who went in the fourth round of the NFL draft to the Indianapolis Colts) and Jacoby Glenn's early departure for the NFL (he would ultimately go undrafted but catch on as a free agent).
Mutcherson has an excellent opportunity to earn a starting role. He walks in with the most game experience of any UCF defensive back. At Iowa State last season, Mutcherson started ten games (he was suspended for the final two), made 76 tackles (good for second on the team) and had two interceptions.  He also played in eight games in 2013.
Not bad at all. Especially when you compare Mutcherson to the other defensive backs on UCF's roster, only one of whom by my count has a start:
  • Shaquill Griffin (One start in 2013! And has been productive in games played in)
  • Drico Johnson (played in all 13 games last year)
  • Shaquem Griffin (played in one game last year)
  • Jared Henry (played in ten games last year)
  • DJ Killings (played in eight games last year, does have an ideal name for a safety . . . )
  • Stanley Sylverain (played in 11 games last year, made one tackle)
  • Michael Willet (played in 12 games, special teams guy)
  • Brendin Straubel (redshirt senior, saw time in six games last year)
  • Jordan Franks (played in all 13 games last season, though in various spots)
  • Kyle Gibson (redshirt freshman, was a four star recruit)
  • Tre Neal (redshirt freshman)
  • Chris Johnson (hasn't played)
  • Rashard Causey (well-regarded freshman)
  • Nevelle Clarke (freshman)
  • Mike Rogers (freshman)
  • Chris Williams (promising, but got shot and will not play this season)
It's not that the cupboard is bare in the secondary. But there's little track record to point to and no one is much of a proven quantity.
Other than, perhaps, Mutcherson.

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