2019 UCF Knights Position Breakdown: Running Backs

By UCF Knights // July 2, 2019

First Game set for August 29 at Spectrum Stadium vs. Florida A&M

ABOVE VIDEO: Take a look back at some of the highlights of UCF’s returning running backs for the 2019 season.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA (UCF Knights) – With 58 days to go until UCF football returns, the Knights are gearing up for the second season under head coach Josh Heupel.

After going 12-1 last year and winning the AAC Championship for the second straight year, UCF opens the 2019 season on Thursday, August 29, in a matchup against Florida A&M in primetime on CBS Sports Network.

In lead up to the season, UCF Knights are previewing the 2019 squad with a position-by-position breakdown in the coming days.

First up, running backs:

Returning Running Backs

Greg McCrae, Junior | 5-10, 175

Greg McCrae returns for his junior year. (UCF Knights Image)

Stats: Rushed for 1,182 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per carry and scored 11 total touchdowns

Record: McCrae set a new UCF record with his 8.9 yards per carry on the season, topping Killins’ record of 6.5 yards per carry set in the 2017 season

Ranking: Only one running back in the nation rushed for more yards per carry last season than Greg McCrae

Adrian Killins Jr., Senior | 5-8, 164

Adrian Killins Jr. return for his senior year. (UCF Knights Image)

Stats: Rushed for 715 yards and caught 19 passes for 377 yards, totaling eight touchdowns on the season

Record: Killins’ career yards per rush average of 5.7 is the best all-time at UCF

Watch: Look out for AK climbing up the charts, as he is currently sixth in UCF record books with 26 total touchdowns

Otis Anderson, Junior | 5-11, 174

Otis Anderson returns for his junior year. (UCF Knights Image)

Stats: Rushed for 275 yards on just 51 attempts, while catching 16 balls for 230 yards and totaling seven scores on the season

Ranking: Anderson also held punt return duties last year, ranking 10th in the nation with an average return of 11.9 yards

Note: Otis was listed as utility on the depth chart in 2018, because of his versatility and his ability to line up anywhere on the field

Bentavious Thompson, Redshirt-Sophomore | 6-1, 197

Stats: Rushed for 150 yards on 29 carries as a redshirt freshman in 2018

Note: Thompson had a stellar Spring Game, unofficially rushing for 110 yards on just 12 carries and scoring one touchdown on the ground

Quote: Josh Heupel on Thompson in Spring Game: “…ran with great pad level, finished (his) runs going north and south.”

Noteworthy Group

Last season, the UCF running backs helped lead the Knights to a new program record with 3,448 rushing yards on the season. It topped the previous record of 3,287 set in 2007, a team led by All-American Kevin Smith.

The 2018 Knights also set UCF records with 265.2 rushing yards per game, 43 rushing touchdowns scored and a team average of 5.8 yards per rush.

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