McMullen adapts to big stage
Junior college transfer OT ‘ready’ for intensity of Division I football
There was no offseason for UCF offensive tackle Josh McMullen.
While other players were taking a break, he spent the past eight months trying to adapt to all that became new in his life.
A transfer from East Central Community College, McMullen has had to adjust to moving from Mississippi to Florida in January as well as moving from left tackle to right tackle. He’s had to get used to new teammates, new coaches, new schemes and, in time, new stadiums with much brighter spotlights.
“[Playing at UConn this week] is going to be intense because I think the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in was about 8,000, maybe, at the max,” McMullen said. “Going to D-1, 30,000 to 40,000 people, it’s going to be intense. I’m ready for it.”
McMullen is also ready to open some running lanes for Adrian Killins, Otis Anderson and the rest of the Knights’ tailbacks. He knows that run-blocking is his strength and he draws a certain amount of joy from being
a road-grader.
“That’s one of my favorite things to do. Honestly, I like getting in there and getting dirty,” McMullen said with a smile. “I like pass [protection], but it’s not my favorite as much as runblocking because, I don’t know, there’s something about the hard knocks that I like.”
When it comes to pass protection, McMullen has spent a lot of time lately focusing on his footwork, which he calls “one of my biggest concerns right now.” That’s because another one of the key differences between where he was and where he is now is the quickness of the pass rushers who shine in 40-yard-dash drills.
“That’s been a big adjustment for me, just figuring out how to block these dudes that are running 4.6s and 4.7s,” he said.
Although McMullen may not think he’s quite up to speed, UCF coach Josh Heupel said last week that athleticism is one reason the junior was on top of the team’s initial depth chart at right tackle, replacing senior Wyatt Miller, who was flipped over to left tackle during the spring.
“He’s done a great job of adding a lot of weight from where he started when he got here coming out of junior college,” the head coach said of McMullen. “He’s athletic. He’s got a great skill set, and I believe he’s going to play at a high level for us.”
Many more learning experiences are ahead for McMullen in his debut season at college football’s most competitive level. But he says all of the changes have been worth it.
“It’s been a wild ride, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “... Being here and being in a Division 1, it’s been great. Especially with the fan base of UCF and Orlando, it’s been great. I love it.”
Gibson to sit first half of opener
The Knights will have to begin their 2018 season without the services of their most experienced and decorated defensive back.
Heupel confirmed Tuesday fifth-year senior safety Kyle Gibson will be suspended for the first half of Thursday’s opener at Connecticut. The ban is part of Gibson’s punishment for the targeting penalty he was assessed during the fourth quarter of the Knights’ Peach Bowl victory over Auburn.
Gibson was ejected from the game following a replay review, and NCAA rules state a player who is confirmed to have committed targeting during the second half must sit out the first half of the following game.
Gibson, who started every game for the Knights last year, earned first team All-AAC honors and is a 2018 nominee for the Thorpe Award, which is presented to the best defensive back in college football.
In his stead, UCF will start sophomore Antwan Collier, who, about five minutes after Gibson was ejected, secured the Peach Bowl triumph for UCF with a last-minute interception in the end zone. Thursday will mark Collier’s first collegiate start, but his coaches are confident he will be able to handle everything that’s thrown at him from both sides.
“Obviously, he’s got the ability. He has shown that in the past,” defensive backs coach Willie Martinez said of Collier during preseason camp. “And learning the system that he had to learn, he picked it up rather quickly. Some guys, it takes some time. AC just picks it up really quick.
“He’s got great instincts and really has made tremendous strides since the spring. We asked him to do certain things to work on during the summertime like a lot of these guys, but he has really, really stepped it up in camp here. He has shown nothing but improvement in the spring through the summer.”