The College Football Performance Awards announced its Offensive Watch List and UCF had a pair of players receive recognition. Former Oviedo HS star Blake Bortles was named to the 2013 CFPA Quarterback Trophy Watch List, while junior Justin Tukes earned a spot on the tight ends list.
Bortles, a junior, joined an elite list that is comprised of 33 quarterbacks across the country, including returning CFPA recipients AJ McCarron (Alabama), Braxton Miller (Ohio State) and Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M). An All-Conference USA Second Team pick in his first year as a starter in 2012, Bortles put together an incredible season en route to helping UCF to a 10-4 record and a C-USA East Division title. He ranked fourth on the Knights’ single-season chart with 251 completions and fifth with 3,059 yards and 25 touchdowns. Bortles became the first UCF quarterback to throw for at least 3,000 yards since 2002.
The 2012 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl MVP, Bortles will enter 2013 riding a school-record streak as he has not thrown an interception in his last 174 attempts.
One of his targets last year was Tukes, who started 10 games as a sophomore in 2012. He racked up 10 catches for 107 yards highlighted by a touchdown reception at Ohio State. Combined with his blocking ability up front, Tukes guided the offense to average 35.4 points per game, marking the fifth-highest average in UCF history. The Black and Gold, meanwhile, set the school mark with 61 offensive touchdowns as well. Following the regular season, Tukes earned All-C-USA Honorable Mention status.
All CFPA recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration. More than 130 CFPA recipients have signed professional contracts, and 21 have been first-round NFL Draft selections.
Article provided by UCFAthletics.com.