celebrate the quarter-century mark, we picked the UCF Knights All-Century Football Roster, covering the best players since 2000.

We have put together a 60-player roster (25 offensive players, 25 defensive players, 10 special teamers) as voted on by the Black and Gold Banneret staff.

We continue our three-part series with the Defense:

Cornerbacks

Asante Samuel — 1999-2002

Returned 63 punts for 673 yards (4th in school history) and 10 kickoff returns for 168 yards (16.8 avg.) as a Knight from 1999-2002.

Samuel finished tied for ninth in career interceptions (8). His 38 break-ups broke the school’s career record of 34.
As a junior in 2001, Samuel was an All-Independent First-Team selection by Football News, with 41 tackles (31 solo) with two picks and a team-high 13 passes defended. He also returned 19 punts for 165 yards that season.
Samuel was a team captain as a senior in 2002 and was an All-MAC First-Team selection with 48 tackles (42 solo) and 15 passes defended. He also returned 19 punts for 233 yards (12.3-yard average) in 2002.
Samuel was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft and developed into an all-timer. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion, a two-time All-Pro selection (2007 and 2009) and a four-time Pro Bowl selection in 11 seasons in the NFL.
Samuel played for the Patriots, Eagles and Falcons from 2003-13, and holds the NFL postseason record with four pick-sixes.
Was inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.

Joe Burnett — 2005-2008

Named first-team All-American as a senior in 2008 and First-Team All-CUSA all four years of his career.
Helped UCF to its first two bowl berths (2005 Hawai’i Bowl, 2007 Liberty Bowl) and the school’s first-ever conference championship in 2007.
Burnett holds the UCF program records for career interceptions (16), interception return yardage (262).
Burnett also had 221 career tackles, including 12 TFLs.
Inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

Josh Robinson — 2009-2011

NCAA Football: Central Florida at Southern Methodist — Josh Robinson (20) prepares to take the field to face SMU in 2011

Two-time first-team All-CUSA performer in 2010 and 2011, as well as 2nd team in his freshman season of 2009.
He was a key part of UCF’s CUSA Championship team in 2010 and held then-Georgia WR and future NFL star A.J. Green to just 77 yards and no TDs to help the Knights beat the Bulldogs in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, UCF’s first-ever bowl win.
Robinson’s 10 career interceptions are tied for the fifth-most in program history.
6 interceptions in 2009, tied for the third-most interceptions in a season in program history.
Ranks second in program history in career passes broken up (36) and tied for second in single-season passes broken up (15).

Travis Fisher — 1999-2001

Fisher racked up 130 tackles, including 61 during his senior season.
Ranks seventh in program history in career passes broken up (31).
Fisher was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the second round with the 64th overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft being the highest-drafted defensive back in UCF history before Mike Hughes was selected in the first round with the 30th overall pick in 2018.
Fisher played nine seasons in the NFL - five seasons with the Rams, two with the Detroit Lions and one each with the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens - and led the league with two pick-sixes and 205 interception return yards in 2003.

A.J. Bouye — 2009-2012

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St Petersburg Bowl - Ball State v Central Florida — A.J. Bouye #21 during the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St Petersburg Bowl Game at Tropicana Field on December 21, 2012 in St Petersburg, Florida.

Second Team CUSA pick in 2012
Part of the CUSA Championship team in 2010.
Played in three bowl games (‘09, ‘11, ‘12).
Spent nine seasons in the NFL playing for the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers. He is also one of eight former UCF players that have participated in the Pro Bowl, thanks to his 2017 selection to the game.

Jacoby Glenn — 2013-2014

Bitcoin St Petersburg Bowl - North Carolina State v Central Florida — Jacoby Glenn #12 at Bitcoin St Petersburg bowl on December 26, 2014

All-AAC First Team selection as a freshman in 2013.
Was the American Athletic Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year and an All-AAC First Teamer in 2014.
First freshman or sophomore in UCF history to be named a conference player of the year. While only with the Knights for two seasons.
Glenn helped them win two AAC titles and the Fiesta Bowl against Baylor.
Selected to the Associated Press’ All-America Second Team in 2014 (UCF’s first AP All-American since 2007).
Seven interceptions in 2014 are the 2nd-most in a single season in program history and helped propel him to nine career interceptions, which is tied for the 7th-most in program history.
15 passes broken up in 2013 are tied for the second-most in a season in program history.

Shaquill Griffin — 2013-2016

NCAA Football: Central Florida at South Florida — Shaquill Griffin (10) at Raymond James Stadium vs South Florida Bulls

Earning All-AAC Second Team honors in 2016.
Grabbed a team-high four interceptions and broke up 15 passes, tying him for the second-most in a single season at UCF. His 19 passes defended ranked fifth in the nation and topped in The American in 2016.
Ranks tied for ninth in program history in passes broken up (29) and tied for eighth in program history in interception return yardage (168).
Griffin would be drafted in the 3rd round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

Safeties

Richie Grant — 2017-2020

Jim Thorpe finalist in 2020, making him the second UCF Knights player to be a finalist for a major national college football award after Daunte Culpepper was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback, in 1998.
Three-time first-team All-AAC (2018-2020) performer, even leading the conference with six interceptions in 2018, which is tied for third in program history for the most interceptions in a single season.
Ranks tied for fourth in program history in career forced fumbles (7) and tied for fifth in career interceptions (10).

Clayton Geathers — 2010-2014

Two-time All-AAC performer.
Finished 3rd all-time at UCF in tackles with 383 and tied for most games played at UCF at the time with 53.
Named to the All-CUSA Freshman team in 2011 and finished his collegiate career with 30 passes broken up (tied for 8th in program history)
Selected in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts and spent five seasons with the team.

Atari Bigby — 2001-2004

NFL: San Diego Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Atari Bigby (26)

Two-time All-MAC first-teamer (2002-2003), recording over 100 tackles in a season twice during his UCF Knights career, with 104 in the 2002 season and 112 tackles in 2003.
Played in the NFL from 2005-2012. After brief stints with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, Bigby ended up with the Green Bay Packers from 2005-2010, getting a Super Bowl ring for Super Bowl XLV. After the Packers, he played for Seattle Seahawks in 2011 and played his final season with the San Diego Chargers in 2012.

Kemal Ishmael — 2009-2012

NCAA Football: Central Florida at Brigham Young

CUSA Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
Two-time First Team All-CUSA choice in 2010 and 2012. He led the Knights in tackles three straight years becoming only the third UCF player to do so.
Fourth-most tackles in program history with 368 and the third-most career fumble recoveries (6).
Drafted in the 7th round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons and has played his entire career there, ending in 2019.

Sha’reff Rashad — 2005-2008

First-team All-Conference USA in 2008
Second-team All-Conference USA in 2007
2nd all-time at UCF in Interceptions (14)

Linebackers

Shaquem Griffin — 2015-2017

Welcome to the @UCFKnights
Hall of Fame, Shaquem Griffin! ⚔️✨ pic.twitter.com/Nho4C68IdB
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) November 2, 2024

AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Named the Peach Bowl’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2018 Peach Bowl as
Making the American Athletic Conference Fifth Anniversary Team (2018),
Second-Team All-American in 2017, and First-Team All-AAC in 2016 and 2017.
Griffin ranks 10th all-time in tackles for loss in UCF history with 33.5 and tied for 10th in career sacks with 18.5.
Ranks tied for third for the most tackles for a loss in a season (20) and sixth in single-season sacks (11.5).
Inducted into UCF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024.

Terrance Plummer — 2011-2014

NCAA Football: St. Petersburg Bowl-Central Florida vs Ball State

Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP in the Knights’ win over Baylor, his 14 tackles going down as a UCF bowl-game record.
Ranks eighth all-time at UCF in tackles with 334 and was a two-time AAC First Team selection (2013 and 2014). Plummer was part of three bowl teams (2012-2014) and two AAC championship teams (‘13 and ‘14).

Nate Evans — 2016-2019

2-time All AAC conference selection during his Knights career.
Part of 4 UCF bowl games which includes
2 AAC Championships.
247 tackles in his career.

Tito Rodriguez — 1998-2002

10th all-time in tackles (321)
Tied for most tackles in game with 23 (11-10-01)
School FBS record of 143 tackles set in 2002

Defensive End

Elton Patterson — 1999-2002

4th all-time at UCF in career sacks (30.5)
Knights’ all-time leader in tackles for loss (59.5).
Drafted in the 7th round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Patterson played in the NFL with the Bengals (2003-2004), Minnesota Vikings (2005), and Jacksonville Jaguars on two separate occasions (2004 and 2006). Patterson also played in the Arena Football League, Canadian Football League, and NFL Europe.

Leger Douzable- 2004-2007

102 tackles and 14 sacks during his time as a Knight
First-team All-Conference USA in 2007
Third-team All-Conference USA after leading the team with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss in 2006.
Played in the NFL from 2008-2017 with various teams including New York Giants (2008-2009), Los Angeles Rams (2009), Jacksonville Jaguars (2010-2011), Tennessee Titans (2012), New York Jets (2013-2015), Buffalo Bills (2016) and San Francisco 49ers (2017)

Bruce Miller — 2007-2010

Two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010
All-time school leader in sacks with 35.5.
Part of two Conference USA Championship teams (2007, 2010)
Three bowl teams (2007, 2009 and 2010)
Selected All-CUSA three times (Second Team in 2008 and First Team in 2009 and 2010).
Ranks second in program history in tackles for losses (57.5).

Paul Carrington — 2002-2005

1st Team All-CUSA (2005)
16.0 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, eight pass break-ups in career.
Led Conference USA in 2005 with 9.0 sacks.

Tre’mon Morris-Brash — 2019-2023

2nd all-time at UCF in Tackles for loss (58.5).
6th all-time at UCF in Sacks (26)
1st Team All-Big 12 in 2023
1st Team All-AAC in 2022

Defensive Tackles

Torrell Troup — 2006-2009

Buffalo v Central Florida — Torrell Troup #98 rushes the passer during the game on September 19, 2009

Two-time All-Conference USA .
105 tackles, 24 of which were for a loss.
Team captain as a senior helping the Knights to a St. Petersburg Bowl bid.
Starter on UCF’s 2007 Conference USA Championship team which played in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
2nd round draft pick at 2010 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Trysten Hill — 2016-2018

Trysten Hill UCF — UCF defensive lineman Trysten Hill carries the War on I-4 Trophy after UCF’s victory over USF on Friday, November 24th, 2017. Photo: Derek S. Warden

2nd Team All-AAC (2017)
Selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (58th overall) in the 2019 NFL draft.

Jamiyus Pittman — 2014-2017

Jamiyus Pittman celebrates scoring a TD against East Carolina. (Photo: Derek Warden) — Jamiyus Pittman celebrates scoring a TD against East Carolina in 2017. (Photo: Derek Warden)

1st Team All-AAC in 2017
2nd Team All-AAC in 2016

Ricky Barber — 2021-2024

1st Team All-AAC (2022)
Honorable Mention Big 12 (2024)

UCF Football All Quarter Century Team: The Defense

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