The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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Five UCF players to watch

Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles (5) is pressured by South Florida defensive lineman Aaron Lynch (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay
Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles (5) is pressured by South Florida defensive lineman Aaron Lynch (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay
South Florida UCF Football
Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles (5) is pressured by South Florida defensive lineman Aaron Lynch (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay


Running back

Storm Johnson

The junior running back brings a nice balance to the University of Central Florida offense with his versatility, he has 1,200 all-purpose yards on the year with 14 total touchdowns.

Johnson averages over five yards per carry and, with him being a solid threat out of the backfield, allows the UCF offense to keep opposing defenses on its toes.

SMU’s defensive front seven will have to play sound fundamentally and make tackles at the line of scrimmage to keep Johnson from breaking out against the SMU defense.

Wide receiver
Rannell Hall

The 6-1, 200 pound Hall has been relatively quiet the last two games, but has made his mark in the return game, returning four kicks against the University of South Florida for 177 yards, good for 44.25 yards per return.

The junior receiver averages close to 15 yards per catch and while he hasn’t scored a touchdown since week four, his versatility is something that SMU has to watch for.

Hall’s kickoff return ability can be where he is most dangerous since SMU’s special teams have struggled for most of the year.

Linebacker
Terrance Plummer

Terrance Plummer is the leader on defense at linebacker for the Golden Knights with 90 tackles, two sacks, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles on
the season.

At 6-1, 235 pounds, Plummer does move well as a bigger linebacker with two interceptions and six pass breakups.

If Plummer can cover SMU’s slot receivers well, it could be a long day for SMU if the outside receivers don’t produce like in the University of Houston loss.

Defensive back
Clayton Geathers

UCF’s second leading tackler on the team with 81 tackles as well as a great player in coverage, Geathers is someone that Neal Burcham or Garrett Gilbert will have to account for at all times.

The 6-2, 210 pound defensive back is physically imposing and is good in run support as well, but with nine pass breakups, his coverage skills are above average for a big safety.

Geathers is extremely versatile and will need to be accounted for in the blocking schemes due to his 4.5 tackles for loss as well.

Quarterback
Blake Bortles

Even though Bortles is coming off an average performance by his standards, he is one of the best and most efficient quarterbacks around and will be tough for SMU to stop.

Bortles has thrown for over 3,000 yards on the season and has a passer rating just above 167 on the year so the SMU secondary will have to be at its best. The UCF offense spreads the ball around well too so watch for Bortles to try to get in a rhythm early and set the tone early.

If SMU has a shot at the upset, the defense will need to knock Bortles off his game early and force some turnovers.

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