With two practices already in the books for UCF football’s spring season, here are the top five questions for the team as they work towards the spring game on April 17:
1. Can Rob Calabrese hold on to the starting quarterback spot?
On Wednesday, UCF head coach George O’Leary announced that Rob Calabrese is No. 1 on the depth chart heading into the spring, but the question in everyone’s mind is just how long he will keep the starting spot. Freshman Jeffrey Godfrey is right behind him on the depth chart and generated a lot of buzz for the Knights’ 2010 recruiting class.
The only enemy to Calabrese in the past has been himself.
Physically, he has all the tools to start for the Knights, but mentally he freezes up out on the field.
Godfrey will be stiff competition for Calabrese and keep in mind, transfers L.D. Crow of Stanford and Brian Taaffe of Fordham are right behind waiting for the opportunity to sneak into the mix.
2. Will the recruiting class live up to the hype?
It’s always tough to say in the first season, but I can guarantee you that more than one person from this fall’s recruiting class will have an impact on the football field next season.
Keep an eye on WR Joshua Reese and Godfrey out of Miami Central, as their play-making abilities should enable them to see the field before others in the class.
Defensively, Quenton Brown out of Tucker, Ga. has the chance at making the most immediate impact this season. With the loss of key players on the defensive line in Torell Troup and Jarvis Geathers, Brown could sneak his way into the end rotation.
3. Will the Knights be unveiling a “wildcat” formation?
The answer to that question would be a yes, it’s just a matter of how long it takes the team to insert the formations into the offense.
O’Leary announced the move of red shirt sophomore Nico Flores moving from the quarterback position to WR on Wednesday and that he will be used as a receiver and as a quarterback in the wildcat formation.
It will be interesting to see who offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe inserts into the formation other than Flores.
Speedy guys like Quincy McDuffie could see a lot of time on the field in the formation and it will definitely make for big-play potential, something lacking last season.
I expect the Knights to test this formation a handful of times during the spring and I wouldn’t be surprised if they unveil it to the public during the spring game.
4. Will the offensive line improve in spring ball?
Outside of the quarterback position, the biggest question mark heading into the spring rests on the offensive line. Senior leadership in Jah Reid and Cliff McCray should help the youth on the line gel.
Zac Norris, a red shirt junior, is the starter at center and needs to learn fast to protect whoever is behind him at quarterback.
The Knights also moved the 6-foot-5, 283-pound red shirt freshman Chris Martin, formerly on the defensive line, to back up Nick Pieschel at left tackle. He should be able to provide depth. He is one of seven underclassmen on the offensive line.
If the Knights are to have any success this season with running back Brynn Harvey and whomever they put under center, the offensive line must make some much-needed strides in spring practice.
5. Who will replace Torell Troup’s production and leadership on defense?
Truthfully, and I know it’s cliché, but it will take a total team defensive effort to replace the National Football League prospect.
Luckily, the Knights have one of the best defensive players in the nation in Bruce Miller returning to the defensive line in 2010.
Miller is ninth in career sacks in the state of Florida’s collective BCS history with 27. He had 12 sacks in 12 games last season and was tied for 18th in the nation in tackles for loss with 16.5.
Other names on the line that will need to step up to replace Troup are redshirt freshman Frankie Davis and the versatile Wes Tunuufi Sauvao, who has seemed to dance between offensive and defensive line positions every spring.