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TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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NFL
Central Florida QB could be top draft pick
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ORLANDO, Fla. — At the start of the 2013 season, few outside of Orlando knew much about Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bortles has lost his anonymity.
After leading the 10thranked Knights to the best season in program history, a 12-1 campaign capped by a 52-42 win over Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, Bortles could provide another stunning first in the 34-year history of the University of Central Florida football program: In early May, Bortles could be the top overall pick in the NFL draft.
ous clutch performances and NFL-prototype size.
It's not outside the realm of possibility for the Oviedo, Fla., native, who opted to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the professional ranks. Bortles is one of the hottest names in draft circles, shooting up projection charts during the season thanks to his numer-
the highest-drafted player in UCF history is quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was selected No.11 overall in 1999.
While the hot trend from the scouting world seems to be pulling the reins back on Bortles draft hype, a quick glance at teams selecting players early in the draft shows he may very well be a top-five pick.
Of the top five teams, four likely rank quarterback as their top need going into the draft: Houston Texans (No. 1), Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 3), Cleveland Browns (No. 4) and Oakland Raiders (No. 5).
O'Brien also got a first-hand look at Bortles when the Nittany Lions faced UCF earlier this season. Bortles was a big reason the Knights earned a 34-31 win at Penn State. He was 20-of-27 passing for 288 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Many have noted there is a strong connection between Houston's staff and UCF coach George O'Leary.
gia Tech from 1995-2001. The two coaches remain close, and connections between the staffs could give Houston a much greater picture of Bortles as a prospect and a person.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortels runs from the Baylor defense during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 1, 2014.
Former Penn State coach Bill O'Brien was recently hired as the Texans' head coach. O'Brien rose from graduate assistant to offensive coordinator under O'Leary at Geor-
O'Brien was very complimentary of the quarterback both before and after the game.
"Anytime you have a quarterback like (Bortles), who is accurate, has a strong arm, is big and can stand in the pocket and can run, it is a difficult challenge," O'Brien said in the postgame press conference. "He played a great game tonight and all the credit to him. I think he is a heck of a player. I didn't get a chance to meet him or say hello to him, but"
think he is a heck of a player." Listed at 6-foot-4, 230-pounds. Bortles name has been bounced around draft
projections ranging from the top quarterback available to an over-hyped prospect with a lot of fundamental flaws.
The NFL combine will be a huge opportunity for Bortles, giving him a chance to display his strengths.
TRACK FROM PAGE 12
came from sophomore Sydney Conley in the long jump. The Fayetteville, Ark., native's winning leap of 6.18 meters (20'3.5") was a new indoor personal record and the mark moved her up to No. 5 in the national long jump standings.
Redwine thought his team put in a good performance in Lincoln, but also admitted that the meet revealed some areas where the team can improve.
"I thought it was a good meet overall, but it wasn't a great meet," Redwine said. "We had six victories and all of those are extremely good...but we need more quality depth."
Because it is so early in the season, Redwine realizes one of the problem areas for the
team may be the young athletes as they work through their inexperience. According to Redwine, the team must remain patient as these young athletes continue to learn and grow.
"For some of our young people, because they are young, each meet can bring a different circumstance for them [and] a different challenge for them," Redwine said. "As coaches, sometimes we want it now, but we have to be patient and remember to teach first and as we do that the team continues to get better."
COLUMN FROM PAGE 12
Edited by Casey Hutchins
often scoring his points inside the paint and using his length to score around the rim, while Austin uses his length to shoot jump shots over defenders.
Austin finished the game 6-15 from the field and four of his six makes were 3-point buckets. Austin was 4-8 in the second half and two of those field goals were 3-point shots. Austin made both of his inside baskets while Embiid was sitting on the bench.
Embiid's offensive performance can be told by two plays. First, Embiid swished a turnaround jump shot from fourfeet away, where Austin guarded him. That shot was difficult, but Embiid made it look easy
Second, an alley-oop two-handed slam assisted by freshman guard Frank Mason. Embid used his athleticism to move up the court faster than most big men which got him in position to make the alley-oop play.
Embiid will have his hands full again with 3-point shooting centers in Georges Niang when Kansas hosts Iowa State on Jan. 29.
Both were key plays. The turnaround jumper gave Kansas a 29-28 lead and the alley-oop slam energized the crowd late in the first half.
Edited by Austin Fisher
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1.