Johnell Neal News

The following are news and notes from Day 1 of the Florida Sports Writers Association media days in Tampa: Crossfire Miami Coach Randy Shannon said he plans to use a two-quarterback system this season while UCF ...

Led by senior offensive lineman Patrick Brown and senior cornerback Joe Burnett , several Knights are receiving preseason honors from college football preview magazines.

Nine UCF football players were named to Phil Steele's preseason All-Conference USA teams and senior cornerback Joe Burnett was named to the publication's preseason fourth-team All-American defensive unit on ...

Police say the man believed to have shot a local football star Friday morning is in custody. via WAFB-TV Baton Rouge

“I'm sick and tired of talking about this, that and the other thing, to be very frank with you”

"We got a tough schedule, a good football team, and we're going to have a lot of fun and you guys all should be excited!" He then slammed his fist down on the table . via The Wizard of Odds

A man, who police believe was the shooter last Friday when senior UCF football player Johnell Neal was stuck several times by gunfire in front of his home in Louisiana is in custody, a Baton Rouge television ... via The Orlando Sentinel

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida safety Jamar Hornsby was kicked off the team yesterday after turning himself in on charges he used the gas credit card of a woman who was killed along with another player in an ... via The Courier-Journal

“I plan on visiting them in Baton Rouge. Johnell is an outstanding leader on this football team and he knows all his teammates are thinking of him.”

UCF senior football player Johnell Neal was injured in a shooting Thursday night in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La. via El Sentinel

Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Sports UCF lost someone extremely important to its football program Friday, although many have never heard of him. via Central Florida Future

After previewing the Knights offense a couple days ago, I bring you the experienced defensive unit. via BleacherReport

It must be a little boring waiting for the NFL draft right now, because former Knights' running back Kevin Smith made an appearance during Wednesday morning's workout. via The Orlando Sentinel

“I don't think Kevin was hampered (by an ankle injury); I think our offensive line hampered him”

The last time the University of Central Florida was coming off a season seemingly filled with this much promise and coming off a heartbreaking bowl loss, it fell flat of its face. via Florida Today

GAME NOTES: The red-hot UCF Knights will try to complete one of their best seasons ever this weekend, when they tangle with the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the 49th annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis. via WFTV Orlando

Kevin Smith ran for 284 yards and four touchdowns, moving into second place behind Barry Sanders on the NCAA's single-season rushing list, and Central Florida beat Tulsa 44-25 for the Conference USA ... via Charlotte Observer

*OVERVIEW: The UCF Knights on Saturday captured their first league title, beating Tulsa 44-25 in the Conference USA Championship Game. An announced crowd of 44,128 -- not quite a sellout -- saw Knights RB Kevin Smith run for 284 yards and four touchdowns.

*TURNING POINT: Trailing 17-13 early in the second quarter, the Golden Hurricane appeared to have made the go-ahead score on QB Paul Smith's 8-yard run into the end zone. But UCF Coach George O'Leary challenged the play after assistant coach Dave Huxtable told him Tulsa had 12 men on the field. The score was overruled, and the Golden Hurricane were penalized 15 yards. 'That's probably the play of the game,' O'Leary said. The drive ended in an interception by Johnell Neal. Two plays later, UCF scored a touchdown on a 46-yard run by Smith to take a 24-13 lead after the extra point. Read more

“I know that it was a big game. It was a championship game where you've got to go all-out. You've got to leave everything you've got on the field. I would've regretted it if I would've went down on that play.”

The UCF Knights know where they'll spend bowl season, but who will they face Dec. 29 in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn.?

Liberty Bowl and Southeastern Conference officials were still trying to decide Saturday night among four teams: Mississippi State, Arkansas, Kentucky and Alabama.

'I don't think any of the four would be a bad selection,' said Perry Winstead, the Liberty Bowl's chief financial officer. 'Every one of them has story lines, and that's what's great about this year's game.' Read more

Like long-suffering Cubs fans, pre-2004 Red Sox fans or Browns fans, UCF fans can rattle off a laundry list of all the heart-breaking losses, near-miss upsets and simply disappointing or embarrassing ... via The Ledger

Champs at last. In its 12th season of Division I-A football, the University of Central Florida won its first league title in football Saturday afternoon, beating Tulsa 44-25 in the Conference USA championship ... via South Florida Sun-Sentinel

If you like offense, you are loving this game. The Knights lead at halftime 31-23. UCF running back Kevin Smith and Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith - Conference USA's co-offensive players of the year - are playing ... via The Orlando Sentinel

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bright House Networks Stadium -- Orlando, Florida. Television: None. via Press of Atlantic City