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The Daytona News-Journal created its 105-man roster of all-timeUCF greats, and eight safeties across Knights history have graced the All-FBS team since the program joined the FBS 30 years ago.
Many talented safeties have stepped foot on campus in Orlando. Some have made program history, putting UCF on the map, and have been drafted by the NFL, representing the Black and Gold.
The Knights' All-FBS team is not limited to players who finished their collegiate careers in Orlando. Transfers and players who did not finish their career at UCF made the News-Journal's 105-man roster.
Saturday's list will focus on the eight safeties who made the News-Journal's All-FBS team.
Grant was a unanimous First Team All-AAC selection in 2020. He led the team in tackles with 72, and ranked second in the conference and 12th nationally with two fumble recoveries.
This past season, with the New England Patriots, he was one of three former Knights in Super Bowl XL. New England lost to the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch, and Grant saw his UCF successors hoist the Lombardi trophy.
Geathers joins the All-FBS team with his cousin, Jarvis, who made the list as a defensive end. He finished his career tallying 383 tackles, third in program history, along with a First Team All-AAC honor in 2014.
Throughout his four-year career, Geathers recorded back-to-back seasons with 100 tackles or more (117 in 2012 and 100 in 2013).
Ishmael earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and All-C-USA First Team in 2012. He ended his tenure in Orlando as the all-time top tackler among defensive backs and third overall -- before Geathers surpassed him two seasons later -- with 368.
Bigby emerged as one of the best safeties in the MAC shortly after UCF joined the conference. He earned consecutive First Team All-MAC selections in 2002 and 2003.
Rashad became a permanent starter for the Knights in 2007, his junior season, and he did not disappoint. He was named to the All-C-USA Second Team and recorded over 100 tackles for the first time since Peter Sands in 2003.
In his senior campaign, Rashad regressed as a tackler, but it was because of his growth generating turnovers. He finished with five interceptions and 10 pass breakups en route to an All-C-USA First Team selection.
Gibson started all 13 games in 2017 and was tied with his All-FBS teammate Mike Hughes in interceptions with four. He earned First-Team All-C-USA that season along with Hughes.
Alexander was named to the All-C-USA Second Team in 2014. He finished the season with the third-most tackles with 75 and added two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Damps finished his career with seven interceptions while UCF was an independent school. In 2000, he recorded 107 tackles on the season, and 22 of them came against Alabama in an historic 40-38 upset.
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Many talented safeties have stepped foot on campus in Orlando. Some have made program history, putting UCF on the map, and have been drafted by the NFL, representing the Black and Gold.
The Knights' All-FBS team is not limited to players who finished their collegiate careers in Orlando. Transfers and players who did not finish their career at UCF made the News-Journal's 105-man roster.
Saturday's list will focus on the eight safeties who made the News-Journal's All-FBS team.
Richie Grant, Starter
Grant was a unanimous First Team All-AAC selection in 2020. He led the team in tackles with 72, and ranked second in the conference and 12th nationally with two fumble recoveries.
This past season, with the New England Patriots, he was one of three former Knights in Super Bowl XL. New England lost to the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch, and Grant saw his UCF successors hoist the Lombardi trophy.
Clayton Geathers, Starter
Geathers joins the All-FBS team with his cousin, Jarvis, who made the list as a defensive end. He finished his career tallying 383 tackles, third in program history, along with a First Team All-AAC honor in 2014.
Throughout his four-year career, Geathers recorded back-to-back seasons with 100 tackles or more (117 in 2012 and 100 in 2013).
Kemal Ishmael
Ishmael earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and All-C-USA First Team in 2012. He ended his tenure in Orlando as the all-time top tackler among defensive backs and third overall -- before Geathers surpassed him two seasons later -- with 368.
Atari Bigby
Bigby emerged as one of the best safeties in the MAC shortly after UCF joined the conference. He earned consecutive First Team All-MAC selections in 2002 and 2003.
Sha'reff Rashad
Rashad became a permanent starter for the Knights in 2007, his junior season, and he did not disappoint. He was named to the All-C-USA Second Team and recorded over 100 tackles for the first time since Peter Sands in 2003.
In his senior campaign, Rashad regressed as a tackler, but it was because of his growth generating turnovers. He finished with five interceptions and 10 pass breakups en route to an All-C-USA First Team selection.
Kyle Gibson
Gibson started all 13 games in 2017 and was tied with his All-FBS teammate Mike Hughes in interceptions with four. He earned First-Team All-C-USA that season along with Hughes.
Brandon Alexander
Alexander was named to the All-C-USA Second Team in 2014. He finished the season with the third-most tackles with 75 and added two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Damien Damps
Damps finished his career with seven interceptions while UCF was an independent school. In 2000, he recorded 107 tackles on the season, and 22 of them came against Alabama in an historic 40-38 upset.
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundtable-rtb/id6450423049) and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
