Following up on a strong year by UCF football standouts Latavius Murray, Quincy McDuffie and Rannell Hall, the trio was named to the College Football Performance Awards Special Teams Watch List Monday.
Senior running back Latavius Murray and senior wide receiver Quincy McDuffie earned spots on the All-Purpose Trophy list, while the sophomore wideout Hall was recognized on the Kickoff Returner Trophy list.
Murray emerged as the Knights top ground threat last season, rushing for 549 yards, which was second on the team, and eight touchdowns, to go along with 242 yards and a touchdown through the air.
He was honored with the team MVP after a stellar season finale, notching 233 yards on 21 attempts with two touchdowns, while also posting two receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown. Murray was a finalist for the nation’s Running Back Performance of the Year for the effort.
McDuffie was one of UCF’s primary receiver targets, leading the Knights with 43 receptions for 482 yards and one score. He became the first UCF wide receiver in school history to rush for at least 100 yards, finishing with 132 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown, while also being a legitimate kick return threat.
After a rough start that included some common freshman mistakes, Hall became a stud for the Knights midway through the season. He ignited UCF’s kick return game, returning a kickoff for the first time of his career against SMU.
Hall had 23 returns for 714 yards and a 31.0 average to finish fifth in the nation in kickoff returns as a true freshman. He represented UCF as the lone freshman from any school to be voted onto the All-Conference USA First Team.
Recipients of the CFPA is based purely on objective scientific rankings that determines how individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
The Knights will look to McDuffie and Hall in the upcoming 2012-2013 season to anchor their receiving core, while Murray will likely be first on the depth charts for running backs. The trio should be huge contributors for the UCF offense this season.
