The 10 Greatest Players in UCF-USF History

1. USF Quarterback Matt Grothe (years played: 2006 - 2008)

As tough as it may be for Knights fans to hear this, this selection was an easy one.  Grothe led the Bulls to three wins in this series and was a fantastic dual threat menace each time out.  Overall, he threw for 860 yards, ran for 298, and collected ten touchdowns in his career against UCF.  Grothe was also the vocal lightning rod to keep fanning the flames on the fledging rivalry. By the way, are Facebook pokes still a thing?

2. USF Wide Receiver Taurus Johnson ('06 - '08)

Johnson also got to participate in three "War on I-4" matchups and was most often Grothe's main target in the passing game.  During the three meetings, he hauled in 15 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.  Johnson also grabbed the winning touchdown in overtime in 2008 at Bright House Networks Stadium.

3. USF Running Back Andre Hall ('05)

There is no question that Hall was the star in the inaugural game between these two.  He ran for 157 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns, including the first in rivalry history.  USF almost doubled up UCF in time of possession during the 2005 game and Hall coupled with an almost non-existent running game for the Knights get a lot of the credit for that.

4. UCF Quarterback Blake Bortles ('13)

Finally a Knights player finds their way on the list and there is no surprise that it's Bortles.  He did not have his best game statistically in the 2013 reboot of the showdown with the Bulls, but he made big plays when necessary.  Bortles threw a game-winning bomb to Breshad Perriman and finished 17-26 for 219 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

5. USF cornerback Trae Williams ('05 - '07)

Williams played in the first three meetings and was particularly essential to the Bulls' win in 2006.  He intercepted Steven Moffett on the first two possessions of the game.  The picks led to one USF score in the 24-17 victory.

6. USF defensive end George Selvie ('06 - '08)

If Williams set the tone for a Bulls win in 2006, then Selvie set it in 2007.  Selvie was a menace on the first possession against UCF, grabbing a sack on second down and hurrying Knights' quarterback Kyle Israel on third down.  He had four tackles for loss and forced a fumble in the 64-12 blowout.

7. UCF Wide Receiver Mike Walker ('05, '06)

Walker was a big time pass catcher in the first two editions of this game.  He caught 12 of Moffett's 19 completions in the 2006 game for 133 yards.  The oft-maligned quarterback looked for Walker nine times on UCF's final drive as they attempted the comeback.

8. USF Cornerback Mike Jenkins ('05 - '07)

Throughout the first three games of the rivalry, Jenkins just made plays.  He had an interception in the 2007, two pass deflections in 2006, and another breakup in 2005.

9. UCF Defensive End Leger Douzable ('06 - '07)

Douzable's shining moment in the rivalry was 2006, when he had four tackles for loss including two sacks.  Douz should get huge credit for being one of the few Knights' defenders that could find Grothe and bring him down.

10. UCF Wide Receiver Rocky Ross ('07,'08)

Before J.J. Worton made his catch against Temple, "The Catch" in UCF history referred to a play made in 2008 by Ross.  To force overtime, he had a 31 yard catch and run with 1:40 remaining in regulation.  Unfortunately, the Knights would not find themselves on the winning end of the game, but the Ross play stuck in the minds of many.

Is someone missing from the list? Let us know in the comments below.