As expected, UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is cashing in his NFL Draft stock at its peak. Bortles made his decision official on Monday afternoon, informing head coach George O’Leary he will enter the NFL Draft this spring. He will be joined by UCF running back Storm Johnson.
Bortles had been holding off on making his decision until receiving his evaluation from the NFL to get a better sense of where he may be expected to be drafted. After an impressive showing in the Fiesta Bowl victory over Big 12 champion Baylor, the input must have been promising for the Offensive Player of the Year in the American. Bortles has been moving up various draft boards over the last month and his performance in the Fiesta Bowl did nothing to take away from his momentum heading in to the draft season.
Bortles completed 67.8 percent of his pass attempts this season for 3,581 yards. Both were second in the league behind only Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, who himself is considered a top draft pick candidate after leaving with one year of eligibility to spare. Johnson was the American’s leading rusher this past season as well. Johnson rushed for 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Where UCF goes from here now should be interesting. The Knights look to have a winning foundation set up for years of success within the American moving in to the new College Football Playoff era, but replacing the top two offensive players will leave for some interesting position battles heading in to the spring. Freshman William Stanback was second on the team in rushing this season with 443 rushing yards and six touchdowns, so he should be the leading candidate to lead the running game in 2014. Freshman quarterback Justin Holman played sparingly behind Bortles this season but could be a leading contender for the starting job in 2014.