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UCF senior receiver Marlon Williams is opting out of the remainder of the 2020 season to focus on the upcoming NFL draft. The Alabama native is coming off a career best regular season, during which he led the American Athletic Conference in receiving yards (1,039), receptions (71) and receiving touchdowns (10). Williams started eight games this season but missed the season finale against USF Friday, with the school providing no explanation for his absence. He emerged as the go-to option in 2020 after the departure of Gabe Davis, with Williams targeted 105 times. His 2,260 career receiving yards in 46 career appearances ranks 10th overall in school history and his 19 career touchdowns and 157 career receptions put him at No. 9 all-time in program history. - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#37 WR) Sr/2021

WR Marlon Williams, Central Florida
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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12/02/20 - Mark-Antony Richards, rSr/2024, Central Florida, 6-1, 219 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Richards stepped up as the Tigers' leading running back against the Crimson Tide by taking a career-high 14 carries for 57 yards in Auburn's 42-13 road loss. His emergence was a welcomed one not only after his brief Auburn career was slowed by injury, but after fellow running backs Tank Bigsby and D.J. Williams were limited due to injuries. Now, the mission for Richards is to make the most of the opportunity. "I was real proud of Mark. He came in there, and you can see he has some miss-ability. He can break tackles," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. "That was good to get his feet wet and get him some experience there because our running back room is banged up right now. I think everybody knows that, but it's a really great opportunity for him. I talked to him about that after practice, but I thought he did a very good job in that fourth quarter." Richards' play in Tuscaloosa was a new highlight in a collegiate career that's had plenty of potential that's only been hampered due to injury. Richards arrived in Auburn as a four-star running back recruit who some anticipated could contribute early on as a true freshman in 2019. Those plans, however, didn't come to fruition. - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2024

RB Mark-Antony Richards, Central Florida
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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11/30/20 - Landon Woodson, rSr/2023, Central Florida, 6-5, 235 (DS#999 DE) + More +

NOV 30 AMERICAN ATHLETIC HONOR ROLL: Landon Woodson, UCF, So., DE,...Had career highs with seven tackles and 3.0 sacks, matching the most by an American Athletic Conference player in a game this season, in a 58-46 win at USF. - American Athletic Conference Football

(DS#999 DE) rSr/2023

DE Landon Woodson, Central Florida
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
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11/27/20 - Jake Hescock, rSr/2022, Central Florida, 6-6, 250 (DS#999 TE) + More +

Jake Hescock has seen a lot in his three seasons as a tight end at UCF, but the redshirt senior isn't quite ready to close his college career. The Massachusetts native is going to take advantage of a one-time NCAA waiver that allows players who participated in this pandemic-altered season to receive an additional year of eligibility. "I think I'm definitely going to take it," Hescock said. "I think getting another year under [tight ends coach Alex] Golesh is going to be beneficial for me."

Hescock has appeared in 33 games during his career with the Knights, starting 12 times. He has 18 catches for 137 yards and five touchdowns during that stretch. This season, Hescock has seven catches for 37 yards and two touchdowns. He's spent time on the offensive line, at the slot position, at wideout and in the backfield to provide pass protection or run blocking. "We also have a very young room and it gives me an opportunity to leave a legacy with those guys," Hescock explained. "To help them figure out how to get things done and the process of being a college football player. So if I can stay and pass that along to those guys and get another year under Coach Golesh and grow, that sounds good to me." - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#999 TE) rSr/2022

TE Jake Hescock, Central Florida
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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11/27/20 - Kemore Gamble, rSr/2023, Central Florida, 6-4, 234 (DS#35 TE) + More +

Pitts' return gives the Gators perhaps the most productive - and dangerous - tight end groups in college football. Pitts, Gamble and Zipperer have combined for 38 receptions for 656 yards and 13 touchdowns, which leads the nation for the position. All three were highly rated, four-star recruits coming out of high school. Pitts began to emerge that season, pulling ahead of the other two and showing signs that he had a chance to be special. Even with Pitts becoming THE guy at tight end, the other two decided to stick around - and they're now flashing big-time playmaking ability in games.

"I'm the type of guy that I don't want to get stuff easy," Gamble said Monday. "I always want to have competition around me. When (Pitts) got here, I was like, 'Hmm, this guy's talented, he's very athletic, I like that type of competition, so I ain't going to leave and I'll stick it out here and we can battle.' "My dad always taught me never run from competition, you've always got to sit down and face it and never just run. My dad and my step dad used to always tell me that. I was brought up hard and nothing comes easy." Maybe Pitts was in a similar situation a few weeks ago. Projected as a top-five draft pick this spring, Pitts could have opted out for the rest of the season after the big blow to the head he took in the Georgia game that concussed him and led to nose surgery. - Times Union

(DS#35 TE) rSr/2023

TE Kemore Gamble, Central Florida
News Source: Times Union
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11/23/20 - Richie Grant, rSr/2021, Central Florida, 6-0, 197 (DS#3 FS) + More +

NOV 23 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL: Richie Grant, UCF, Sr., S,...Had a game-and career-high 16 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups in a 36-33 loss to No. 7 Cincinnati. - American Athletic Conference Football

(DS#3 FS) rSr/2021

FS Richie Grant, Central Florida
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
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11/21/20 - Aaron Robinson, rSr/2021, Central Florida, 6-0, 186 (DS#11 CB) + More +

Former Alabama defensive back Aaron Robinson, now at Central Florida, has been added to the roster for the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Robinson played at Alabama in 2016, seeing action in 13 games as a reserve defensive back before transferring back to his home state early the next year. The Deerfield Beach, Fla., native has started the last two seasons at nickelback for the Knights, totaling 98 tackles, three interceptions and 21 pass breakups heading into Saturday's game with Temple. Robinson is the fourth player with state of Alabama ties announced for the 2021 Senior Bowl, which takes place Jan. 30 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. - Birmingham News

(DS#11 CB) rSr/2021

CB Aaron Robinson, Central Florida
News Source: Birmingham News
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11/16/20 - Marlon Williams, Sr/2021, Central Florida, 5-11, 209 (DS#37 WR) + More +

NOV 16 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL: Marlon Williams, UCF, Jr., WR,...Had four receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-13 win against Temple. - American Athletic Conference Football

(DS#37 WR) Sr/2021

WR Marlon Williams, Central Florida
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
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11/02/20 - Daniel Obarski, rSr/2024, Central Florida, 6-2, 200 (DS#999 K) + More +

NOV 2 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Daniel Obarski, UCF, So., K, Chandler, Ariz.,...Obarski scored 14 points, matching his career high with three field goals, to help UCF to a 44-21 win at Houston. He connected on field goals of 34, 24 and 38 yards in the first half to help stake the Knights to a 23-7 halftime lead. Obarski ranks third in The American at kicker scoring at 9.0 points per game. - American Athletic Conference Football

(DS#999 K) rSr/2024

K Daniel Obarski, Central Florida
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
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10/29/20 - Jake Hescock, rSr/2022, Central Florida, 6-6, 250 (DS#999 TE) + More +

At 6-foot-7, Hescock has become a target for Gabriel in the red zone, with both of his touchdowns coming inside the opponent's 20, including a 4-yard score during the Knights' win over Tulane Saturday. All five of his career touchdowns have come inside the red zone. "I think that was one of the things that were a point of emphasis for him being able to grow in his ability to use him down the field and in the passing game," UCF coach Josh Heupel said. "He caught a couple of passes this week, one which was a touchdown. "I think he's grown as a complete player, but as an emphasis with Coach [Alex] Golesh coming in, he's gotten into details of route running and coverage recognition and trying to put himself in the right place for the quarterback to catch the ball."

Golesh, who coaches the Knights' tight ends, said Hescock is growing at a good rate. "We put a lot on him this offseason and I think missing spring was huge just in terms of the plans we had at developing him into a receiver," Golesh said. "He's done a good job and we're able to play him more whether the ball's come to him or not, he's been in a position to make plays." While Hescock's role as an offensive target has grown, so have his contributions as a blocker in the run game. "He's been challenged in a big way the last two weeks [to help]...us to run the ball better," Golesh said. "He's stepped up in that way a week ago and he's got to continue to do the dirty work and the reward of the catches will come." - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#999 TE) rSr/2022

TE Jake Hescock, Central Florida
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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10/27/20 - Javon Baker, Sr/2024, Central Florida, 6-1, 202 (DS#24 WR) + More +

True freshman Javon Baker is among the next wave of receivers who'll bump up the depth chart without Waddle. "Javon has a big catch radius," Saban said. "He's got really good hands. Very physical player. I think with our young guys, the challenge with them has been you guys have to be able to go out there and know what to do, do it with confidence and get some consistency in performance. They're all capable, and those are the guys that we need to show some maturity now in being able to prepare for the game." - Birmingham News

(DS#24 WR) Sr/2024

WR Javon Baker, Central Florida
News Source: Birmingham News
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10/26/20 - Marlon Williams, Sr/2021, Central Florida, 5-11, 209 (DS#37 WR) + More +

OCT 26 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL: Marlon Williams, UCF, Sr., WR,...Had nine receptions for 174 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-34 win against Tulane. - American Athletic Conference Football

(DS#37 WR) Sr/2021

WR Marlon Williams, Central Florida
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
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10/16/20 - Richie Grant, rSr/2021, Central Florida, 6-0, 197 (DS#3 FS) + More +

UCF safety Richie Grant isn't sure what happened on the play that knocked him out of the game during the third quarter of the Knights' loss to Tulsa on Oct. 10. But he does remember how badly he wanted to stay on the field and compete with his brothers. "All I can remember from that moment was I was telling the training staff, 'Let me get a couple of plays in. I don't want to let my brothers down,'" Grant recalled. "I didn't want to leave the field at all. "When I became aware of what was happening, I remember that was the only thought I had. I had to get back out there. I knew it was a crucial moment and I didn't want to let my team down."

A vicious hit left Grant on the ground for several minutes and took the air out of the stadium. Teammates huddled together under a constant drizzle, many on one knee watching as the training staff checked on their fallen teammate. Grant eventually got up and left the field under his own power. While he did return to the sidelines, he didn't return to action. UCF defensive back Richie Grant (27) runs during the Knights' loss to Tulsa on Oct. 3 at the Bounce House in Orlando. "I got a lot of text messages and calls; people telling me they were scared," Grant said. "To me, it felt like I was out a little bit and came back. I understood why they were scared like that. I remember the play before, but I didn't remember the play that happened." - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#3 FS) rSr/2021

FS Richie Grant, Central Florida
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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10/05/20 - Trent Whittemore, rSr/2025, Central Florida, 6-4, 211 (DS#180 WR) + More +

Kyle Trask's pass may have been high, but that didn't mean it was out of Trent Whittemore's reach. The Florida wide receiver made a leaping two-handed reception on a crossing route that split the Gamecocks coverage and set up UF's second touchdown of the afternoon in the process. The 26-yard snag elicited praise from spectators and teammates alike, the latter of which have seen the Gainesville native diligently work his way into the wide receiver rotation this season. "Oh yeah, just a play that we've been repping in practice all week and I got man coverage and Kyle (Trask) just put it in a great spot. I praise the Lord I was able to come down with it," Whittemore said. "I just credit Kyle for a great throw, putting it in a spot where it was going to me or nobody. So, credit to him and praise the Lord I was able to come down with it."

And that display of athleticism? It was hardly a surprise to those who have been closely following his ascension. The son of Buchholz High football coach Mark Whittmore, and the younger brother of Troy University wide receiver Luke Whittemore, Trent's athletic abilities aren't a secret around Alachua County. It's well-known he's been able to dunk a basketball since he was a 13-year-old at Cornerstone Academy, and his talents on the hardwood have only improved in the time since he was a budding Gainesville-area prospect and a former Buchholz High standout. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#180 WR) rSr/2025

WR Trent Whittemore, Central Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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10/03/20 - Greg McCrae, Sr/2021, Central Florida, 5-10, 182 (DS#31 RB) + More +

UCF's offense is a tsunami of speed. It can be frantic and frenzied and it's designed to create havoc for opposing defenses. Amid the chaos, there is senior running back Greg McCrae to keep things grounded. "We create chaos on purpose on offense in the way that we want to play, and Greg is consistently the same calm guy at every snap," Knights co-offensive coordinator Alex Golesh said. "I always think he's a guy with a calm sense of demeanor." Added UCF coach Josh Heupel, "His consistency in who he is and how he approaches every day is the No. 1 thing he brings to the table."

The Miami native made the journey from walk-on to an impact player in 2018, earning a scholarship in July and rewarding the coach's confidence with a 1,182-yard rushing season. He became the first UCF tailback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Storm Johnson in 2013. When asked to recount his journey, McCrae prefers to deflect attention elsewhere. "I don't want to get into it because it's a long story, but being here and being around these guys, they've helped me out so much," McCrae said. "They've been there for me every step of the way. The team, the coaches and the training staff, they've all been there for me. They've molded me into the guy that I am now." Injuries slowed him down last season. McCrae finished with 579 yards and seven touchdowns after missing two games due to a lower leg he sustained during the team's win over East Carolina on Oct. 19. Through two games so far this season, McCrae leads the team in rushing yards (133) and rushing touchdowns (2). He finished with a season high 16 carries for 83 yards during last week's win over East Carolina. - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#31 RB) Sr/2021

RB Greg McCrae, Central Florida
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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