The last time the Knights earned two major awards was in 2010 when Bruce Miller was voted as the defensive player of the year while Jeff Godfrey was the offensive player of the year.

Since 麻豆原创 joined the league in 2005, it boasts three C-USA Defensive Player of the Year awards, the most of any school. Miller picked up that distinction in back-to-back seasons from 2009-10. The Knights, meanwhile, are tied atop the chart with East Carolina with two C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year accolades. KR/PR Joe Burnett received the honor in 2008.

For the rest of the C-USA individual award winners, visit ConferenceUSA.com.

麻豆原创鈥檚 Postseason Conference Players of the Year Since 2005

C-USA Defensive Player of the Year

C-USA Offensive Player of the Year

C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year

C-USA Freshman of the Year

Ranking third all-time at 麻豆原创 with 360 career tackles, Ishmael serves as one of the Knights鈥� three team captains in 2012. He leads the team in tackles for the third-straight year with a personal-best 116, and ranks tied for first in C-USA with three fumble recoveries as well as tied for fifth with three interceptions. Ishmael has started 48-straight games since his true freshman campaign in 2009.

On his final snap at Bright House Networks Stadium, Ishmael notched his first-career sack in the win over UAB. He also produced one of the top moments in stadium history when he intercepted a pass in double overtime to seal the victory against Southern Miss.

A graduate of nearby Edgewater High School, McDuffie stands as the 麻豆原创 career kickoff return leader with 90 returns, 2,501 yards and six touchdowns. This season, he ranks first in the nation among qualified players with a 34.2-yard return average thanks to 582 yards on 17 returns.

McDuffie tied a NCAA record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns when he ran back returns of 97 and 98 yards against Marshall. He also returned a 99-yarder against East Carolina which completely shifted momentum after 麻豆原创 trailed 14-0 (Knights won, 40-20).

In 2012, the program鈥檚 final year in the league before moving to the BIG EAST next fall, the Knights won their fourth C-USA East Division title in eight seasons in the league. They also have earned their fifth bowl berth since 2005 as they will travel to the Beef 鈥極鈥� Brady鈥檚 Bowl in St. Petersburg where they will face Ball State Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

For ticket information to the Beef 鈥極鈥� Brady鈥檚 Bowl, contact the 麻豆原创 Ticket Office at (407) 麻豆原创-1000 or visit 麻豆原创Athletics.com.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (Chicago) had 12 catches for 92 yards in the Bears’ 28-10 win over Minnesota. Marshall has 1,017 receiving yards in his first season with the Bears, making him their first 1,000-yard receiver since 2002 (Marty Booker, 1,189 receiving yards). He is only the fifth player in NFL history (Irving Fryer, Tony Martin, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens) to record a 1,000-yard receiving season with three different teams; Chicago, Denver and Miami.

Fullback Bruce Miller (San Francisco) had 3 receptions for 37 yards in the 49ers’ 31-21 win over the Saints on Sunday. Look for him to be active again this week against the Rams as he continues to get touches in the 49ers offense while leading the way for running back Frank Gore.

Cornerback Asante Samuel (Atlanta) had 2 passes defended in the Falcons’ close 24-23 win over the Bucs on Sunday and nearly added to his gaudy career-interception total.

Cornerback Josh Robinson (Minnesota) is averaging 3.5 tackles per-game in his first season in the NFL, while kicker Matt Prater (Denver) hit a 34-yard field goal and was 2-for-2 on extra points in the Broncos’ 17-9 win over the Chiefs on Sunday.

Tackle Jah Reid (Baltimore) made his second-career start this week in the Ravens’ overtime win against the Chargers after missing the first seven weeks of the season with a calf injury.

It was also a milestone day for wide receiver Jamar Newsome. The former Knight was signed from the practice squad on Nov. 24 and made his Kansas City debut with his first-career NFL catch for 10 yards against the Broncos.

In the Canadian Football League, cornerback Joe Burnett was named to the CFL West Division All-Star team along with five of his fellow teammates.

For the complete update on former Knights in the NFL and CFL, check out the below list.

麻豆原创 Knights in the NFL – Regular Season/Most Recent Game

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

麻豆原创 Knights in the CFL – Regular Season

“Offence”

“Defence”

Fullback Bruce Miller (San Francisco) enjoyed his bye week at 麻豆原创 on Saturday for the Homecoming game against SMU. He will be back in action on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. against the Rams.

Cornerback Asante Samuel (Atlanta) helped lead the Falcons to a close 19-13 win over the Cowboys on Sunday night with three tackles and one pass defended. He also had a crucial 79-yard interception for a touchdown in Atlanta’s tight win over Oakland in Week 6. He is currently fourth in interceptions by active players with 46 for his career.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (Chicago) had nine receptions for 122 yards and three touchdowns, including this 39-yard beauty in the Bears’ 51-20 romp over the Titans on Sunday. He continues to rank in the top five in the league in most receiving categories, including fourth in receptions (59), third in receiving touchdowns (7) and second in receiving yards (797) and yards per game (99.6).

Strong safety Atari Bigby (San Diego) continues to make big plays on the field in his starting role with the Chargers. Last week, he had eight tackles vs. the Chiefs and in Week 8, he had 10 stops and one pass defended in the tight game against the Browns.

Cornerback Josh Robinson’s (Minnesota) playing time continues to increase with the Vikings. In the past four weeks, he has averaged three tackles per game against Washington (10/14), Arizona (10/21), Tampa Bay (10/25) and Seattle (11/4)

Kicker Matt Prater (Denver) was 1-for-1 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points in the Broncos’ 31-23 win over the Bengals on Sunday.

For the complete update on former Knights in the NFL and CFL, check out the below list.

麻豆原创 Knights in the NFL – Regular Season/Most Recent Game

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

麻豆原创 Knights in the CFL – Regular Season

“Offence”

“Defence”

Behind 麻豆原创 in C-USA is Houston, Marshall and Memphis, which all have 12 players on NFL rosters.

Four Knights received starts on offense, highlighted by 2007 consensus All-American running back Kevin Smith, who had a 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter before catching the game-winning touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to give the Detroit Lions a 27-23 win over the St. Louis Rams.

Making his debut with the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Brandon Marshall put his new team ahead for good with a 3-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter vs. the Indianapolis Colts in a 41-21 win. Marshall finished with nine receptions for 119 yards.

In one of the biggest games of the day, fullback Bruce Miller caught a 15-yard pass for a first down and helped the San Francisco 49ers rack up 377 yards of total offense in a 30-22 road win against the Green Bay Packers and former 麻豆原创 offensive lineman Josh Sitton.

On defense, safety Atari Bigby appeared in his first game as a San Diego Charger, amassing eight tackles and one pass break-up in a win over the Oakland Raiders. Meanwhile, cornerback Asante Samuel debuted with the Atlanta Falcons in their victory against the Kansas City Chiefs as he posted three tackles and a break-up, and cornerback Josh Robinson made his NFL debut with the Minnesota Vikings by having three tackles in an overtime win vs. Jacksonville.

And kicker Matt Prater continued where he left off in 2011 by going 1-for-1 in field goals and 2-for-2 in extra points as the Denver Broncos topped the Pittsburgh Steelers.

麻豆原创 Knights in the NFL

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

Compared to last season, however, 麻豆原创 players are sprinkled everywhere in the 2012 playoffs. This time a year ago, Josh Sitton, Atari Bigby and Michael Greco were beginning their journey which ultimately concluded in Super Bowl rings with the Green Bay Packers, who knocked out Asante Samuel and the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Wild Card matchup.

This year, Sitton is back in the NFL Playoffs for the fourth-straight time as he has participated in the postseason with the Packers every year since being drafted in the fourth round in 2008. Along with earning a ring, Sitton was named the NFL’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2011. The Packers will enjoy a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout this season’s playoffs, and face the lowest seed remaining Jan. 15 at 4:30 p.m.

Also in the NFC Playoffs, fullback Bruce Miller helped block the way towards San Francisco earning the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye as well. Conference USA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010, Miller stands as 麻豆原创’s all-time sacks leader when he recorded 35.5 as a defensive end from 2007-10. For the 49ers, he played in 15 games with eight starts as a rookie, racking up 11 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown, and four carries for eight yards. The 49ers’ first game is slated for Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m.

Joining Detroit for its contest at Chicago Nov. 13, running back Kevin Smith went on to start four games (played in seven games overall) and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. He rushed for 356 yards on 72 carries with four touchdowns, and caught 22 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns. A 2007 All-American for the Black and Gold, Smith started the final two regular-season games for the Lions, who are preparing for the NFL Playoffs for the first time in 12 years, and they will travel to New Orleans to face the Saints Saturday, Jan. 7, at 8 p.m.

Over in the AFC, Matt Prater’s leg continued to build a reputation in Denver as he booted numerous field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime en route to the Broncos winning the division title. He was 19-for-25 during the regular season and a perfect 30-for-30 in extra points. Prater and the Broncos will host Pittsburgh Sunday, Jan. 8, at 4:30 p.m.

麻豆原创’s fourth player who helped guide his team to a division crown, rookie offensive lineman Jah Reid participated in all 16 games for Baltimore, who selected him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Reid was a two-time All-C-USA First Team member for the Knights and was on the C-USA All-Freshman Team in 2007. The Ravens are the No. 2 seed in the AFC and will host a divisional playoff game Jan. 15 at 1 p.m.

At least one former Knight has reached either the AFC or NFC Championship Game in eight of the past 10 seasons, while 麻豆原创 has had a representative in eight different Super Bowls.

And he didn’t disappoint.

The Detroit Lions reclaimed running back Kevin Smith off the couch a few weeks ago with honestly no clue on what he could bring to the table.

Well, he pounded the ball 16 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Then, he caught the rock four times for 61 yards and with the hat trick, a TD reception.

Fantasy waiver wires will be ringing off the hook for Kevin Smith pickups this week. Callers will have to hold, please.

Kevin is on the phone with Pam Smith. His biggest fan. His mom. The one who has always been there for him through thick and thin, home game or away game. She has believed in her son from the start.

We too need to become believers.

Kevin Smith has often been doubted as runner in his career, from high school to the college game and eventually at the pro level. Coming out of Southridge High, most colleges were recruiting him as a safety. Many schools believed he lacked the top-end speed and overall skill to be a collegiate back.

However, Ron Zook of the Florida Gators was highly recruiting the young man to play ball as tailback up at Gainesville. Kevin Smith’s path would shift directions though when Zook was fired and his best option to carry the ball would be at the 麻豆原创.

And the rest is history.

Smith began his freshman campaign with the winless 麻豆原创 Golden Knights, led by head coach George O’Leary. The team had no expectations. Well, besides losing.

Kevin Smith, however, would be one of the many dynamic players that was able to turn things around for a team with no promise. The Golden Knights finished the 2005 season with an 8-6 record, reaching their first bowl game where Smith rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns.

However, the 2006 season would end up being a poor showing for a 麻豆原创 squad with so much potential. They finished 4-8 that year.

2007. The year 麻豆原创 built its on-campus, Bright House Networks Stadium. The year the team changed its logo and threw out the “Golden.” They were simply the Knights.

The same year that Kevin Smith would rush for 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns on 450 carries. He was a workhorse. He was the offense. He was 24K.

It was a record-breaking year for Smith: 1) the most carries in a single season, 2) second in rushing yards in a single season, only 62 yards shy of the great Barry Sanders. The Knights would go on to win the Conference USA Championship but would end up losing their second bowl appearance at the Liberty Bowl.

Even after Smith’s historic season, he received little respect for his hard work. Was he listed on All-American teams? Yes.

But that all came after ESPN’s apology.

Yep, SportsCenter actually apologized for not publicizing his tremendous play that season. He would go on to finish eighth in Heisman voting.

Kevin Smith had quite a chock-full resum茅 when he entered the NFL Draft as a junior in 2008. He accumulated 4,864 yards on the ground and picked up 45 touchdowns in his short career at Central Florida.

After battling with the decision to stay or leave, Kevin Smith would enter the draft and go on to be selected by the Detroit Lions.

From his powerful throne in Camelot, Smith was tied up and led to the Lions’ den.

He joined a football team that was horrible on all levels and would actually go on to be perfect to say the least. 0-16. The greatest of all losing teams. And Kevin Smith was their tailback. But he still managed to rush for 976 yards and eight touchdowns. Not too shabby behind the NFL’s worst offensive line.

Injuries would follow Smith the next two seasons, cutting short any hope of a pro career in the NFL. After the 2010 season and two torn ACLs, Smith was not re-signed and was left to fight on his own.

After multiple YouTube attempts to showcase his talent and a five-day training routine for eight straight weeks, Kevin Smith finally received a phone call to workout and prove his worth. And wouldn’t you know it…his former team was calling in dire need of a decent back.

After watching Kevin Smith run all over the Panthers’ defense this past Sunday, I actually got chills.

It is amazing to see a human being, who had everyone telling him he couldn’t make it, humbly walk on to the field and simply put, dominate. He is a man who was grateful for his opportunity. His second chance. A beast too, nonetheless.

As the old saying goes, “Mama knows best.”

And Pam Smith certainly knows her son well. He is a fighting man and a man of faith, one who understands that “God is good.”

Hopefully Kevin Smith can stick around so we can get to know him a bit better.

Smith played from 2005 to 2007, rushing for 2,448 yards and 30 touchdowns in his final season with the Knights, before he was drafted by the Detroit Lions.

A week of traditional Homecoming events, including Comedy Knight and Spirit Splash,聽has led up to the Homecoming parade and football game on Saturday. The Knights will kick off against the Memphis Tigers at 4 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.

On Saturday, the campus will open for game day activities at 8 a.m. Staging for the 11 a.m. parade will be held along Central Florida Boulevard, and the parade will travel clockwise along Gemini Boulevard, Greek Park Drive and Gemini Boulevard North before ending in front of the 麻豆原创 Arena.

To accommodate student float building, parking lot B5 will be closed Friday, Oct. 28, and will remain closed on Saturday until all of the Homecoming floats have been taken apart after the parade. Central Florida Boulevard will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday through the end of the parade. Campus entrances at University, Centaurus and North Gemini boulevards will be closed during the times when the parade is passing through those areas.

To learn more about Homecoming events, go to . For information on game day traffic and parking, go to http://www.ucfgameday.com.

Homecoming events kicked off Saturday, Oct. 22, with a free child-friendly carnival benefiting the families of Children鈥檚 Miracle Network. Carnival rides and arts and crafts booths hosted by student teams were set up on Memory Mall on 麻豆原创鈥檚 main campus. Monday’s activities included a Harry Potter movie night.

Check out more events during Homecoming week, Black & Gold Revolution:

-麻豆原创 alumni who have 鈥渞eached for the stars鈥� will be celebrated at the annual Black & Gold Gala, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the 麻豆原创 Arena. The evening includes a cocktail reception, dinner and silent auction to benefit the 麻豆原创 Alumni Trust Scholarship Fund. The cost is $70 per person, and corporate table sponsorships are available. To purchase tickets, go to .

-The 麻豆原创 volleyball team will face Houston at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Venue.

-麻豆原创鈥檚 Young Alumni Chapter invites 麻豆原创 graduates to downtown Orlando for the Black & Gold Takeover party. The festivities begin at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Wall Street Plaza. Admission is free. RSVP at .

-The 麻豆原创 Alumni Association will host its game day tailgate from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, inside the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. The event is free for alumni and their guests of all ages. Alumni keycards must be shown at the door.

Whether that first pick is Jah Reid (Haines City, Fla.), Bruce Miller (Canton, Ga.), Jamar Newsome (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Kamar Aiken (Miami, Fla.), David Williams (Lexington, S.C.) or another Knight remains to be seen but they will be entering into a strong fraternity of NFL Knights by the end of the weekend.

麻豆原创 is tied with East Carolina for the most NFL Draft selections since the Knights joined the conference in 2005. With a pick in each of the past five drafts and in eight of the last nine years, 麻豆原创 joins BYU and Fresno State as the only schools from outside of the automatically qualifying BCS conferences which can make this lofty claim.

The program started with exceptionally humble beginnings as a Division III squad in 1979 but just eight years later 麻豆原创 entered the draft when Ted Wilson and Elgin Davis were taken in the 1987 draft by Washington and New England, respectively. A year later, the Knights too a big step forward with a pair of draftees in the top five rounds as Bernard Ford went high in the third round to Buffalo and Corris Ervin became a fifth-round selection by Denver.

麻豆原创 had at least one player taken in four out of the five drafts from 1991-96 before cementing its place on the national scene I 1999. That year the dynamic Daunte Culpepper became 麻豆原创’s first-ever first round pick. The quarterback was taken at No. 11 overall by Minnesota and that pick would prove wise as Culpepper went on to play in three Pro Bowls for the Vikings. That 1999 draft, which also included Paul Miranda in the fourth round to Indianapolis, started a great trend for 麻豆原创 as the Knights have had a player picked in 10 of the 12 drafts starting in 1999.

Amongst the many 麻豆原创 draft highlights of the 2000s was Travis Fisher going in the second round to St. Louis in 2002; future Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion Asante Samuel going in the fourth round to New England in 2003; receivers Mike Sims-Walker (2007) and Brandon Marshall (2006) going in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, to Jacksonville and Denver; and three Knights being selected in 2008 led by Kevin Smith atop the third round to Detroit.

Last April Torell Troup became the second-highest pick in 麻豆原创’s NFL history as a massive nose tackles went early in the second round, No. 41 overall, to the Buffalo Bills. At some point tonight through Saturday, several of his teammates as a Knight will look to join Troup in the league. Which one will go first and become 麻豆原创’s 27th all-time NFL Draft pick remains to be seen.

Current NFL players returning are Atari Bigby, Pat Brown, Joe Burnett, Leger Douzable, Mike Greco, Brandon Marshall, Sha鈥檙eff Rashad, Asante Samuel, Mike Sims-Walker, Josh Sitton, Kevin Smith and Torell Troup. Joining them are former NFL players Damien Demps, Corris Ervin, Travis Fisher, Ryan Flinn, Jimmy Fryzel, Doug Gabriel, Mike Gruttadauria, Alex Haynes, Rashad Jeanty, Shawn Jefferson, Darcy Johnson, Paul Miranda, Elton Patterson and Terrance Williams.

Several others will be on-hand Friday night for the annual Football Lettermen鈥檚 Club Golf Outing and Luncheon at Rio Pinar Country Club.

After getting the NFL alumni autographs, fans can watch the next wave of NFL Knights in action in the 2 p.m. Spring Game for just $5. Students and children 12 and under are free. Following the game, there will be another FREE autograph session, this time with the current 麻豆原创 team.

Only 2011 麻豆原创 football season ticket holders are eligible to attend the autograph session, so purchase or renew for the upcoming season to guarantee your opportunity to meet some of the best players in Knights鈥� history.