The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 133 BY RYAN TICE Longtime UCF head coach George O'Leary led the Knights to back‑to‑back American Athletic Conference champion‑ ships in 2013 and 2014, but it was a quick trip back to the bottom after the school's 12‑1 campaign in 2013 when it finished 10th in the Associated Press poll. The only coach in pro‑ gram history to lead it to the postseason since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks in 1996 resigned after a 0‑8 start last year. The O'Leary era finished just like it began — with winless campaigns in 2004 (0‑11) and 2015 (0‑12). It didn't matter that the coach went 81‑49 and won four league titles (the first two were in Conference USA) in the 10 years in between. While the hallmark for O'Leary's success was usually defense, it will likely be the other side of the ball that becomes the calling card under new coach Scott Frost. The former national champion quarterback at Nebraska switched to defense when he played in the NFL and has even coached on both sides of the ball. He served from 2009‑12 as Oregon's wide receivers coach under Chip Kelly be‑ fore spending the last three years as Mark Helfrich's offensive coordinator and quar‑ terbacks coach after Kelly left for the NFL. Frost is expected to bring an Oregon‑ like, no‑huddle attack east with him and has plenty of weapons to build around. The only way to go is up after UCF ranked dead last nationally with an average of just 268.4 total yards per game in 2015. An offensive guard is the only departure on the unit. Senior quarterback Justin Holman won't be given the job, but he is expected to eventually earn it — although quarterback turned wide receiver Nick Patti, a fifth‑year se‑ nior, was shifted back under center this spring. Most of the supporting cast were fresh‑ men and sophomores last year, so the hope is being thrown into the fire pays off this fall. Wideout Tre'Quan Smith was good in his debut, becoming the first rookie to pace the school in receptions (52) and receiving yards (724), so he'll be the go‑to weapon once again. The rest of the receivers who caught a pass last year are also back. No rusher averaged more than 3.6 yards per carry or gained more than 339 yards last season — both marks were posted by redshirt sophomore C.J. Jones — but everybody who notched at least 100 yards on the ground also returns, and once again the hope is they all are able to improve with experience. The defense is in a similar situation — it can't get much worse after finishing last sea‑ son 113th out of 127 teams in total defense (464.1 yards allowed per game) — although the unit does lose a little more than its of‑ fensive counterparts. Leading tackler Domenic Spencer must be replaced at middle linebacker after pacing the squad with 104 stops and 9.5 tackles for loss, while a trio of defensive linemen that opened 32 contests last year are also gone. The new leaders of the front seven will be junior tackle Jamiyus Pittman, who led all linemen in 2015 with 45 stops, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, and redshirt junior linebacker Chequan Burkett, who posted 56 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four passes bro‑ ken up, three sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and one fumble recovery. The strength will be the secondary, where versatile senior Shaquill Griffin and fifth‑ year safety Drico Johnson lead the way. Grif‑ fin defended 15 passes last year, which tied for 24th nationally, while Johnson ranked second on the team with 64 stops and was a preseason All‑AAC pick by Sporting News. UCF has consistently recruited above their Group of Five status and are very good on special teams, where every player of conse‑ quence returns, which could portend a quick turnaround. However, Frost is a first‑time head coach with just nine years of experi‑ ence as a full‑time college assistant and will be supplemented by a pair of first‑time FBS coordinators. It's possible they have a quick turnaround, but it's more likely the Knights will continue to suffer through growing pains in the im‑ mediate future. Notes Athlon named UCF's hiring of Scott Frost as the 12th-best coaching hire among the 28 that occurred this offseason — only two Group of Five schools ranked higher … The magazine also listed UCF's wide receivers and tight ends as the AAC's fourth-best group; the Knights' quarterbacks were listed sixth and defensive backs eighth, but the rest of their position groups were 10th or worse in the 12-team league. ❏ CENTRAL FLORIDA • SEPT. 10 • GAME 2 2016 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2015 Result Sept. 3 South Carolina State — Sept. 10 at Michigan — Sept. 17 Maryland — Sept. 24 at Florida International L, 15-14 Oct. 1 at East Carolina L, 44-7 Oct. 7 Tulane L, 45-31 Oct. 15 Temple L, 30-16 Oct. 22 at Connecticut L, 40-13 Oct. 29 at Houston L, 59-10 Nov. 12 Cincinnati L, 52-7 Nov. 19 Tulsa L, 45-30 Nov. 26 at USF L, 44-3 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: First meeting Head Coach: Scott Frost, first year at UCF and overall Off./Def. Systems: Spread/Multiple 2015 In Review: 0-12 overall, 0-8 American Athletic (6th East) Final 2015 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 19 (10 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2014 (St. Petersburg, vs. North Carolina State, L 34-27) American Athletic Conference Championships (last): 2 (2014) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Justin Holman (1,379 yards, 7 TD, 14 INT) Rushing: C.J. Jones (339 yards, 1 TD) Receiving: Tre'Quan Smith (724 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: Drico Johnson (64) Sacks: Jamiyus Pittman (4.5) Interceptions: Shaquill Griffin (2) Knights Hope Fast Fall Can Lead To Quick Turnaround PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Justin Holman, Sr., QB — Despite being limited to nine starts (one of which he was injured on the offense's first drive), Holman was still named the team's 2015 MVP … In his career, he is 359-of- 656 passing (54.7 percent) for 4,406 yards with 31 touchdowns and 29 interceptions … Started the final 12 games of 2014, a 9-4 campaign, and completed 56.9 percent of his throws for 2,952 yards with 23 scores and 14 picks while adding three rushing scores. Defense: Shaquill Griffin, Sr., DB — During his first year as a full-time starter in 2015, he posted 50 tackles, two intercep - tions and 13 additional passes bro- ken up while playing both corner- back (nine starts) and safety (two) … The 6-1, 192-pounder returned his two picks for 102 yards and a score. Wideout Tre'Quan Smith was named AAC Rookie of the Year after setting the school's freshman records with 52 catches and 724 receiving yards. PHOTO COURTESY UCF ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS