UCF Football: Can Knights repeat undefeated season?
By Zach Bigalke
Defense
While the offense should function at least as well as it did last season, the UCF defense could experience some drop-off in 2018. Five of the Knights’ starting 11 defense in 2017 have moved on from Orlando. That leaves some holes all over the field that Heupel and defensive coordinator Randy Shannon will look to plug as quickly as possible.
The secondary will need to replace Mike Hughes, who had a huge impact at cornerback in his one year with the Knights. Originally a North Carolina recruit, Hughes landed with UCF after a junior-college stint and electrified the defensive backfield. Hughes finished in a tie with free safety Kyle Gibson for the team lead in interceptions, and his early departure also puts a hole in special teams.
Shannon must also find replacements for defensive ends Tony Guerad and Jamiyus Pittman. Guerad and Pittman combined for 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last year, and it will fall to players like Brendon Hayes and Dedrion Bacote-Sweat to replicate that productivity on the edges.
Focusing on the linebackers
The biggest losses, though, came in the linebacking corps. Two of the three starters from last year’s unit are now in the NFL. Chequan Burkett was a redshirt senior with 82 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, and an interception returned for a 45-yard touchdown. His loss alone would be tough to deal with, but Burkett isn’t even the biggest loss in the unit.
That honor falls to Shaquem Griffin, the disruptive force at the second level who dramatically impacted both the passing and running attacks of opponents. Griffin joined his brother Shaquill as a member of the Seahawks after Seattle selected the linebacker in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Griffin earned the draft pick after a year where he had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a fumble recovery touchdown, an interception, seven sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Losing that kind of productivity, between Burkett and Griffin, will be the hardest thing for UCF to manage in 2018. Shannon and Heupel have their work cut out identifying the right fits to step in, though players like Titus Davis and Pat Jasinski have plenty of veteran experience to take over leadership in the linebacking corps.