North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Central Florida
8/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
NC STATE (0-0) vs.
DATE:
TIME: Kickoff:
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network:
TELEVISION: ESPN 360
OPPONENTUCF is an experienced team with a proven coach that is looking to rebound from a 4-8 campaign in 2006. Three losses of seven points or less kept the Knights from a winning season and possibly a second straight bowl appearance under former Georgia Tech coach, George O’Leary.
O’Leary has cause for optimism in ’07 with stability on both lines. Eight starters return on offense, including four linemen and two tight ends. Defensively, the entire secondary is back along with five members of the front-seven.
There was no quarterback controversy for O’Leary to handle either. Kyle Israel (6-2, 223) who started four games last season and saw action as a reserve in five others, won the job in the spring. The senior played extremely well in his final two appearances in 06 (
One of the most pressing needs for the Knight’s offense entering camp centered on finding more receiving targets for
Three wideouts with meaningful playing time return in junior Rocky Ross, senior Javid James and redshirt junior Willie Thornton, but can any of them rise to
O’Leary wants more downfield passes this year and having additional receivers at tight end could be a valuable weapon. Sophomore Corey Rabazinski caught 12 passes for 145 yards as a true freshman. Dom
Ignelzi, another sophomore, was impressive catching the ball in traffic in preseason. The former lineman was converted to tight end when he dropped 40 pounds during summer conditioning.
UCF's offense the past three seasons was more ball-control than deep threat. And with a solid line and a proven runningback returning the Knights have the ability to methodically move the chains again.
Kevin Smith’s playing time was limited in the spring due to injury, but the veteran tailback (6-1, 211, Jr.) was the workhorse last season, gaining 934 yards and scoring 7 TDs in 9 games. Smith ranks eighth in the nation among returning junior rushers in career yardage (2,112).
Among the front-seven on defense, five starters return. However, there are some areas of concern for defensive coordinator, John Skladany, one of three new coaches on that side of the ball.
In 2006, a lack of speed, depth and tackling ability plagued the linebackers, and UCF's defense suffered. The unit seemed vulnerable to opponents who threw underneath. Inexperienced players trying to fill a void caused by an injury to middle linebacker Steven Baker were part of the problem.
Baker is healthy now, but outside linebacker Jordan Richards, isn’t. Richards, who made five starts in ’06, is expected to miss this season with a shoulder injury. Two other outside linebackers left the program.
Those losses forced linebackers coach Dave Huxtable to move some players around. Baker is now outside along with Cory Hogue, a junior who led the linebackers with four sacks last season. Sophomore Chance Henderson, a starter for the final three games of 06, is expected to man the middle.
The other UCF defensive unit under some pressure is the veteran secondary. After two consecutive years of up-and-down play, O’Leary is looking for consistency.
Johnell Neal, Joe Burnett and safeties Sha'reff Rashad and Jason Venson -- all juniors are the team’s most experienced group on defense with 79 combined starts. Neal has not missed a start for the past two seasons.
However, the numbers don’t line up with all the experience. As freshmen DBs in 2005, UCF’s pass defense was ranked No. 81 in the nation and ninth in Conference
The kicking game is anchored by senior Michael Torres. Last season, the UMass transfer made only one of his first four field goal attempts, but rebounded by nailing 16 of his last 20, including a 51-yarder. Like NC State, the Knights will have a new punter this season, but the return game looks solid.
Senior Curtis Francis averaged nearly 21 yards per kickoff return last season while Burnett was the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year after averaging compiling a 12 yard punt return average. Burnett has two career punt returns for touchdowns.
Expectations are high and to meet them the Knights are looking for a signature victory. UCF has not earned a win over a BCS conference school under O’Leary, but will get two opportunities this season. The first is Saturday against NC State. A date with
NOTES: The Wolfpack has won 9 of its last 10 season openers...Darrell Blackman led the ACC in kickoff returns in ’06 with a 28.9 yard average and one touchdown. He also returned a punt for a TD...Blackman was No.4 in the ACC in All-Purpose yardage at 105.5 yards a game... Since 2000, NC State is 24-6 against non-conference foes... State scored only one touchdown on its opening drive of the game in 2006 and that came in the season finale vs.
INJURIES--NC State: CB Phillip Holloman (hamstring pull)-questionable; DT DeMario Pressley (elbow sprain)-questionable; TE Anthony Hill (knee)-out for season; FB John Kane (concussion)-out for season; TE Rashad Phillips (rehab from auto accident)-out for season. UCF: QB Mike Greco (chest injury)-questionable; LB Jordan Richards (shoulder)-out.
