UCF Knights Look to Justin Holman at Quarterback
Aug 30, 2014; Dublin, IRL; Central Florida Knights quarterback Justin Holman (13) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
The University of Central Florida Knights will have a new quarterback under center Saturday when they visit the Missouri Tigers.
After starting their season opening loss to Penn State on the bench, Justin Holman came in for the second half and nearly rallied the Knights to a win after going 9-of-14 for 204 yards and throwing a touchdown while running for two more.
But now the pressure turns to Holman after being named the team’s new starter. After the failures of Pete DiNovo, who went 3-of-8 for 18 yards against Penn State, Holman will be expected to carry the Knights offense moving forward.
After the success of Blake Bortles last season and the fact that UCF have one of the better receiving corps in the country, there’s ample reasons to why the Knights should be regularly putting up points.
“He needs to just be himself,” UCF head coach George O’Leary said of Holman to Fox Sports Florida. “I think the game plan’s in place. I think he just needs to go out and execute it. And that’s about as much pressure. The only pressure he’s gonna get is what he puts on himself.”
DiNovo couldn’t deal with the pressure against Penn State but it appears Holman may not have such problems as his confidence is soaring after his performance in Dublin, Ireland.
“(The comeback) allows me to go in with a little confidence, knowing you don’t really have to look over your shoulder,” Holman told the Palm Beach Post. “But you still have to push yourself because those guys behind me are still competing.”
Nonetheless, it will be Holman’s first career collegiate start against 2-0 Missouri.
Holman was the favourite heading into the offseason to be the team’s starter but consistency issues lost him the job, a problem he seems to have now fixed.
DiNovo will be Holman’s backup on Saturday.