| The UFC Knights rounded out the 2009 season | | | | the starting role. |
| with a loss against Rutgers in the St Petersburg | | | | Defense: |
| Bowl, but still managed to finish up the season 8-5 | | | | The Knights figure to take a big hit in their run |
| and took home second place in the Conference | | | | defense this season, as they lose their top two |
| USA East with a 6-2 record. The Knights head | | | | defensive tackles from 2009 in Torrell Troup and |
| into the 2010 season looking to take home the | | | | Travis Timmons. They do however return both |
| conference title with 15 starters back. Here is a | | | | starters at defensive end in seniors David Williams |
| quick breakdown of what the Knights will send on | | | | and Bruce Milller, and Miller led the way for the |
| to the field on both sides of the ball, plus my | | | | Knights in 2009 with 13 sacks. Heading into the fall |
| thoughts on where they finish up in Conference | | | | it looks as though senior Wes Tunuufi Sauavao |
| USA. | | | | and junior EJ Dunstun will take over at the two |
| Offense: | | | | defensive tackle spots, and both bring a lot of |
| The Knights lose 2009 starting quarterback Brett | | | | size with an average weight of 304 lbs. |
| Hodges, and it isn't clear who they are going to | | | | The best unit on this side of the ball will come at |
| have starting to start the season. Junior Rob | | | | the three linebacker spots, where the Knights |
| Calabrese appears to have the early edge, after | | | | return two of the top players in the conference |
| throwing for 260 yards and three touchdowns on | | | | at the two outside spots in seniors Derrick |
| 46 attempts last season, but he must first beat | | | | Hallman and Lawrence Young. The two combined |
| out freshman Jeffrey Godfrey and Stanford | | | | for 15.5 tackles for loss in 2009 and are the top |
| transfer LD Crow. | | | | two leading tacklers back from last season. Look |
| At running back the Knights get back junior Brynn | | | | for junior Josh Linam and senior Chance |
| Harvey, who ran for 1,109 yards and 14 | | | | Henderson to battle it out for the starting middle |
| touchdowns in 2009. Brynn is the second leading | | | | linebacker job. |
| rusher back in Conference USA, and is all but a | | | | In the secondary the Knights return one of the |
| lock to be one of the top backs in the | | | | top young corners in the conference in |
| conference in 2010. | | | | sophomore Josh Robinson, but that is about the |
| The Knights get their top two threats back in the | | | | only good thing you can say about this group, as |
| passing game in junior AJ Guyton and senior | | | | they really struggled to stop the pass in 2009. |
| Kamar Aiken, plus get back junior starting tight | | | | Fellow sophomore Kemal Ishmael is the only other |
| end Adam Nissley back as well. It will be | | | | starter back in the secondary, as he returns at |
| interesting to see what kind of numbers this unit | | | | free safety. |
| puts up with a new starting quarterback, and my | | | | CUSA Prediciton - 1st East: The Knights are |
| early expectation are for this unit to have a bit of | | | | strong on both the offensive and defensive lines, |
| a down year. | | | | and I think that is going to carry them to the |
| With four starters back on the offensive line, it | | | | conference title in 2010. They are going to need |
| looks as though the Knights should have continued | | | | whoever earns the quarterback job to play well, |
| success with the ground game, and will also help in | | | | as they will struggle to move the ball if opposing |
| giving whoever wins the starting quarterback job | | | | defenses can just load the box. The amount of |
| a little more time to throw the ball. The only | | | | experience the Knights have coming back, is also |
| change for this unit comes at center, where | | | | a big reason why I have them pegged in the top |
| sophomore Jordan Rae is expected to take over | | | | spot. |
