July 16, 2008

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DALLAS (www.UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF football team was selected to repeat as champions of the Conference USA East Division as the preseason poll of the league's 12 head coaches was released on Wednesday. The Knights have captured the East Division in two of their three seasons in C-USA, including a title run a year ago.

"I think it is very nice that the league coaches selected us to win the division," head coach George O'Leary said. "But, I have been around long enough to know that the games are played on the field."

UCF was picked to win the East, receiving 67 of a possible 72 points, while Tulsa was an unanimous pick to win the West, receiving all 72 points. If the coaches' poll holds true, the Knights and Golden Hurricane would square off in the C-USA Championship Game set for Dec. 6 for the third time in four seasons. Each team has won a league title since joining the conference in 2005.

A pair of Knights were also mentioned in the preseason report for earning spots on the coaches' preseason All C-USA squad. Seniors Joe Burnett (Eustis, Fla.) and Pat Brown (St. Charles, Ill.) were both named to the squad, while Burnett was selected as the league's Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive time.

Burnett has three career punt returns for touchdowns with two of those coming in C-USA Championship Games. He leads all active punt returns in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with 929 career punt return yards and his three career scores are tied for the most by any returnee this season.

A first-team All C-USA selection a year ago, Burnett was named to the 2008 squad as a punt returner. Burnett has 12 career interceptions, which is the second highest total in UCF history. Brown has been a constant for the Knights at left tackle during his tenure at UCF. A second-team all league selection last season, Brown leads all left tackles nationally with 38-career starts.

C-USA East Division
1. UCF (67)
2. East Carolina (60)
3. Southern Miss (49)

C-USA West Division
1. Tulsa (72)
2. Houston (59)
3. UTEP (42)

Offensive Player of the Year
Damion Fletcher, RB, Southern Miss
Defensive Player of the Year
Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
Special Teams Player of the Year
Joe Burnett, PR, UCF

First Team Offense
QB Chase Clement, Sr., Rice
RB Tarrion Adams, Sr., Tulsa
RB Damion Fletcher, Jr., Southern Miss
OL Patrick Brown, Sr., UCF
OL Robby Felix, Sr., UTEP
OL Ryan McKee, Sr., Southern Miss
OL Doug Palmer, Jr., East Carolina
OL Brandon Pearce, Sr., Memphis
WR Duke Calhoun, Jr., Memphis
WR Jarett Dillard, Sr., Rice
WR Brennan Marion, Sr., Tulsa
WR Jeff Moturi, Jr., UTEP
TE Cody Slate, Jr., Marshall

First Team Defense
DL Albert McClellan, Sr., Marshall
DL Moton Hopkins, Sr., Tulsa
DL Philip Hunt, Sr., Houston
DL Zach Slate, Sr., East Carolina
DL C.J. Wilson, Jr., East Carolina
LB Joe Henderson, Sr., UAB
LB Gerald McRath, Jr., Southern Miss
LB Brian Raines, Sr., Rice
DB Will Dunbar, Sr., UAB
DB Kenneth Fontenette, Sr., Houston
DB Andrew Sendejo, Jr., Rice
DB C.J. Spillman, Sr., Marshall

First Team Special Teams
K Jose Martinez, Sr., UTEP
P Thomas Morstead, Sr., SMU
KR Darius Marshall, So., Marshall
PR Joe Burnett, Sr., UCF

For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures. For more information on UCF Knights football tickets call (407) 823-1000.