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DEFENSIVE BACKS

Depth ChartWith 2009 Statistics

DEF. BACKS COACH Sean Beckton

CORNERBACK20 Josh Robinson, SO, 5-10, 186 69 tackles, 6 INTs, 14 pass def.23 Justin Boddie, SR, 6-2, 194 58 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack

CORNERBACK22 Emery Allen, R-SR, 5-9, 183 medical redshirt in 200919 A.J. Bouye, SO, 6-0, 177 10 tackles

FREE SAFETY18 Kemal Ishmael, SO, 5-11, 194 70 tackles, 1 INT25 Jarrett Swaby, R-FR, 6-1, 189 Belle Glade, Fla. (Glades Day)

STRONG SAFETY21 Darin Baldwin, SR, 5-11, 207 32 tackles, 7 pass def. 40 Reggie Weams, SR, 6-0, 191 24 tackles, 1 INT

NOTABLE NEWCOMERS30 Jordan Ozerities, FR, 5-10, 191 Mount Dora, Fla. (Mount Dora)31 Cornelius Whitehead, FR, 6-1, 175 Mount Dora, Fla. (Mount Dora)47 Clayton Geathers, FR, 6-2, 190 Georgetown, S.C. (Carvers Bay)

A young secondary stepped up in 2009 and proved they were up for the task of replacing

four graduated standout starters from the 2008 season. Now a more veteran group, this year’s unit will be expected to continue to im-prove and become a strength of the defense. The group will include a mix of veterans looking for a chance to shine in their last seasons at UCF and standout sophomores looking to build off impressive freshmen campaigns. Fifth-year seniors Emery Allen and Justin Boddie will both com-pete for starting spots and playing time at cornerback. Allen returns after missing the majority of 2009 due to injury while Boddie aims to back-up his career-best 58 tackles as a junior. Two more seniors - Da-rin Baldwin and Reggie Weams - will compete to start at strong

safety. Baldwin made 32 tackles and had seven pass break-ups last season while Weams contributed 24 tackles and an interception. Indicating their potential for impressive careers with the Black and Gold, Josh Robinson and Kemal Ishmael burst onto the scene to make an immediate impact as true freshmen a year ago. Starting nine games at free safety, Ishmael led all secondary players with 70 tackles in 2009, but it was Robinson who really made a splash. Robinson’s six interceptions were tied for the most nation-ally among true freshmen, and he added 59 tackles and eight pass break-ups. His performance led to a laundry list of accolades, includ-ing his being a consensus freshman All-America selection and a sec-ond-team All-Conference USA per-former. Expectations are high for Robinson, who has been listed as a

consensus first-team preseason all-conference pick. Two other returning young players will vie for time with red-shirt freshman Jarrett Swaby slated to backup Ishmael while sopho-more A.J. Bouye will aim to get on the field at cornerback. Bouye ap-peared in 10 games as a rookie in 2009 and registered 10 total tackles. Among the UCF newcomers who could find time in the second-ary is freshman Clayton Geathers, a 6-foot-3 safety from Hemingway, S.C., who already has the size to play collegiately. Freshmen cor-nerbacks Jordan Ozerites and Cor-nelius Whitehead will both be in the battle for playing time as well. Ozerites was an early enrollee who had a chance to participate in spring practice.

- Heather Lancaster

PROVIDING COVERAGE Kemal Ishmael led UCF’s second-ary with 70 tackles as a true freshman a year ago

Four years ago, as a true freshman at UCF, Darin Baldwin looked around the secondary and saw veterans like Joe Burnett, Sha’reff Rashad, Jason Venson and Johnell Neal. Now

it is Baldwin who is the wily veteran in a young but talented group of defensive backs that includes true sophomore standouts Josh Robinson and Kemal Ishmael. “I have been around here for a long time, and I have learned a lot from the guys that came before

me,” Baldwin said. “I’m hoping I can relay some of those experiences to our young guys while helping us reach our goals on the field.” Baldwin looks forward to 2010 while embrac-ing his role as veteran and leader and also aiming to be the secondary’s consistent starter at strong safety. The senior from Miami’s South Dade High School is currently number one on the team’s depth chart at the position, and believes the experience of 32 games, six starts and 61 tackles in his career will keep him there throughout the season. - A.G.

TAKING HIS TURNTHE NUMBERS

Josh Robinson

and Kemal Ishmael combined to make 20 starts in the UCF secondary as true freshmen a season ago.

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The conclusion of the 2008 season marked the end of the Joe Burnett era in the de-fensive backfield at UCF. But the loss of

Burnett along with Jason Venson, Sha’reff Ra-shad and Johnell Neal also opened the door for a new UCF star. One of the most heralded re-cruits in UCF history, Josh Robinson quickly filled that void, leaving little doubt that he was a star in the making. While cementing himself as a starter early on in 2009, the cornerback led all true freshmen nationally in both interceptions (six) and passes defended (15). The Sunrise, Fla., native was a unanimous Freshman All-American and was also named to the All-Conference USA Second-Team. While many around the program expected great things from Robinson, he admits to sur-prising himself. He also credits his competitive-ness for his success. “I was very surprised because I did not real-ly know what to expect at the college level,” said Robinson. “God has blessed me with the ability

so I have to give Him credit first, but then my competitiveness. I love to compete so no matter what I do, I try to be the best at it so I think that separated me.” So what is next for the young corner-back now that he is a sophomore and has more pressure? A sophomore slump? He certainly doesn’t think one is coming. “Of course there is pressure to do more than what I did last year,” Robinson said. “But I am pretty comfortable with that pressure and ready to exceed what I did last year. I just have to make sure I do not practice bad habits and just work on every aspect of my game.” The comparisons with Burnett only in-creased with Robinson’s success in filling his shoes as a true freshman. While some would shy away from the comparisons, he welcomes them with open arms. After all, after one season, Robinson is already ahead of the pace that made Burnett UCF’s all-time leader in interceptions with 16.

“I’m honored,” Robinson said of the comparisons. “Joe Burnett is a great former UCF Knight. I’m always look-ing to improve and he’s a great guy to learn from. He is a person I want to try and model my game after. I am honored by it and I’ll just try to live up to it. I’ll do my best and try to exceed it as well.” Like Burnett before him, Robinson is a ballhawk who lives for the chance to

WORTHY COMPARISONJosh Robinson is honored by the comparisions to Joe Burnett

get his hands on the ball. His freshman season included two huge plays in Texas - an intercep-tion of Heisman Trophy finalist Colt McCoy and a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown against Rice. “I take the most pride in coming up with the ball,” said Robinson. “I love stopping the other team’s offense and being able to say, ‘alright, you are done and it’s time for our offense to come on the field.’” With that attitude and confidence, the only thing that may prevent Robinson from shatter-ing Burnett’s records is if opposing quarterbacks decide not to risk throwing the ball to his side of the field.

- Andrew Gavin

Tale of the TapeLike former UCF standout Joe Burnett before him, Josh Robinson was named a Freshman All-American after an impressive start to his career. As Robinson enters his sophomore campaign, the comparisons to Burnett continue. Here is how the two stack up to each other:

Robinson vs. Burnett 20 Number 19 5-10 Height 5-9 186 Weight 192 Sunrise, Fla. Hometown Eustis, Fla. Plantation High School Eustis 6 INTs as Fr. 5 ??? INTs in career 16 ??? NFL Draft 5th rd. pick, Steelers

“I take the most pride in coming up with the ball. I love stopping the other team’s offense and being able to say, ‘Alright, you are done and it’s time for our offense to come on the field.’”

- Josh Robinson