Brett Hodges, UCF Transfer and Hometown Boy Battles for QB Position

It's here—the last week the University of Central Florida Knights can devote their entire focus to the playbook.

Class begins Monday, Aug. 24, and the Knights' coaching staff must make final personnel decisions by the end of this week.

In one of the more interesting stories of preseason's end, senior quarterback transfer Brett Hodges may successfully steal the starting quarterback spot from sophomore mainstay Rob Calabrese.

Both quarterbacks appear ready to make a start for the Knights, but Hodges boasts more than two additional years of college football experience. 

Hodges transferred to UCF from Wake Forest in late spring after completing his Bachelor's degree. A transfer rule allows athletes to avoid sitting out a season if they complete their undergraduate degree at one school and seek a Master's degree that is only available at their next school.

Hodges plans to complete a Master's degree in forensic computer science that is not offered at Wake Forest.

It's obvious, though, that academics aren't the only reason why Hodges has decided to play for the Knights.

A central Florida native, Hodges stood out as the leading man at Winter Springs High School, just minutes away from UCF's main campus, and had big plans to do the same in North Carolina. In his senior season with the Demon Deacons, however, he was determined as the backup quarterback.

Not satisfied with his college football career as a whole, he decided to play for a team he has considered playing for since he was young. Hodges' father, Karl, told the Orlando Sentinel that Brett is “very excited about the opportunity” to start in 2009 for the black and gold.

Hodges has impressed the Knights' coaching staff, in particular, because of his rapid mastery of the playbook. At 6'1", 197 pounds, Hodges is quite the physical presence as well.

During his time at Wake Forest, Hodges appeared in 11 games, going 46-of-69, passing for 402 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. While the redshirt senior definitely has room to improve, he's giving Calabrese a run for his money—a run that will end in a decision by the end of this week as the Knights set their depth chart.

See this article in its original fashion at Examiner.com Orlando Sports where UCF Knights football articles are published by Jessica Reuter multiple times per week.