12 best players in UCF football history

July 18, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.
Blake Bortles, QB, 2011-13
7,598 passing yards, 56 TDs | 561 rushing yards, 15 TDs
Buzz: In 2013, Bortles was named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after leading UCF to a 12-1 record, a historic achievement for the school at the time and capped the season with a 52-42 triumph against then-No. 6 Baylor in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. He threw for 301 yards and 3 touchdowns while also running for 93 yards, earning him the Offensive Player of the Game award.
Joe Burnett, KR/PR, 2005-08
96 punt returns, 1,304 yards, 3 TDs | 26 kick returns, 745 yards, 2 TDs | 16 interceptions
Buzz: Burnett set multiple school records for career punt returns, season punt return yardage (463) and career punt return yardage, along with finishing in the top three in career punt return touchdowns and season and career kickoff return touchdowns (2). He also holds the UCF record for career interceptions.
Daunte Culpepper, QB, 1996-1998
11,412 passing yards, 84 TDs | 456 carries 1,020 yards, 24 TDs
Buzz: Culpepper finished his career holding more than 30 school records, including total offense (12,432 yards), passing yards and touchdown passes. He became the third player in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 in a career. Culpepper finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1998.
Gabe Davis, WR, 2017-19
2,447 receiving yards, 23 TDs
Buzz: Davis put together one of the best overall seasons by a UCF receiver in 2019 when he set a school record with 1,241 yards on 72 catches with 12 touchdowns. His career receiving yards rank seventh all-time and his touchdowns remain tied for second with Bret Cooper. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills in 2020.
Shaquem Griffin, LB, 2013-17
175 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 5 fumbles recovered
Buzz: Griffin was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year after a career season in 2016 where he finished with 92 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss with a team-leading 11.5 sacks. The following season, he was named Chick-fil-A Defensive Player of the Game after totaling 12 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in UCF’s win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
Brandon Marshall, WR, 2002-05
1,674 receiving yards, 13 TDs
Buzz: Marshall is among 15 former players with a 1,000-yard receiving season at UCF. He ranks in the top 10 in several school records, including receptions in a season (74), receiving yards in a season (1,195) and touchdown receptions in a season (11). Marshall went on to a successful NFL career, earning Pro Bowl status six times while being named an All-Pro in 2015.
Bruce Miller, DL, 2007-2010
214 tackles, 57.5 tackles for loss, 35.5 sacks
Buzz: Miller finished his career as the school’s all-time sack leader while also finishing second in tackles for loss. He was voted Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and ’10 while helping UCF finish with the top defense in the league. His sack total ranks him among the top five all-time in Florida.
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton (10) has a smile on his face as he runs for a touchdown during the UConn at UCF football game at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, November 11, 2017. UCF won the game 49-24. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Milton led UCF to a 27-6 record in three seasons as the Knights’ starting quarterback, including an American Athletic Conference championship and a win over Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl during the 2017 season. (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)
McKenzie Milton, QB, 2016-2021
8,863 passing yards, 72 TDs | 1,078 rushing yards, 20 TDs
Buzz: Milton led UCF to a 27-6 record in three seasons as the Knights’ starting quarterback, including an AAC championship and a win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl during the 2017 season. He established several school records, including passing yards (4,037) and passing touchdowns (37) in a season. Milton finished eighth in the Heisman voting in 2017 and sixth in ’18.
Latavius Murray, RB, 2008-12
453 carries, 2,424 yards, 37 TDs | 50 catches, 524 yards, 6 TDs
Buzz: Murray finished his career ranked among the top five in several rushing categories at UCF, including rushing touchdowns (3rd), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (4th), average yards per carry (sixth), rushing attempts (8th) and rushing yards (8th). He was named MVP for the 2010 Conference USA title game and Liberty Bowl.
Asante Samuel, DB, 2000-02
127 tackles, 8 INTs, 38 pass breakups | 63 punt returns, 673 yards; 10 kickoff returns, 168 yards
Buzz: Samuel finished his career among the top record holders at UCF, including a school-record 38 career passes defended. He also finished among the top 10 in interceptions (8th), punt returns (4th), punt return yardage (4th) and average per punt return (7th). He was drafted in the fourth round by the New England Patriots in 2003, becoming a three-time Super Bowl champion.
Kevin Smith, RB, 2005-07
905 carries, 4,679 yards, 45 TDs
Buzz: Smith holds a multitude of school records, including the all-time rushing leader, career rushing touchdowns, career 100-yard rushing games (22) and 200-yard rushing games (6). He led the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing in 2007 with 2,567 yards, which was second to only Barry Sanders’ 2,628 yards in 1988.
Matthew Wright, K, 2015-18
55 of 71 field goals (77.5%), 210 of 213 (98.5%) extra points
Buzz: Wright is the program’s all-time leader in points (375) while holding several other school records, including career field goals made, field goal percentage, PATs made in a game (10), season (80) and career, PATs attempted in a career and consecutive PATs made (154).