McCrae nearly played for Navy

Leading rusher pivotal in victory over Midshipmen

If not for a change of heart a couple of years ago, it’s possible UCF’s leading rusher could have been playing for Navy Saturday.

Sophomore running back Greg McCrae didn’t have many offers coming out of Miramar High School, but Navy recruited him vigorously and he liked what he saw. So McCrae committed to the Naval Academy in January 2016.

“It was a cool experience,” McCrae said. “There’s a lot of good people there . ... Great programs, great coaches there. The people there really, genuinely care about you. At that point, it was an easy choice for me.”

McCrae’s father spent four years in the Navy directly after high school, but Greg McCrae said that didn’t influence his decision to go to Annapolis, stating that his father “always told me to choose my own path.”

After one semester, McCrae chose to leave the academy and by January 2017, he had enrolled at UCF and was making arrangements to walk on to the football team.

This year, McCrae was placed on scholarship and led the Knights with 17 carries for 101 yards and one touchdown during UCF’s win over Navy Saturday.

Although his time with the Midshipmen was brief, he said Navy’s emphasis on brotherhood continues to resonate with him.

“I really learned it’s not always about you. I always had that with me, but they really teach you that it’s a brotherhood there,” McCrae said. “That’s really what it is. A lot of people, that’s how they get through their days because of the person to the left and to the right of them. They’re always holding each other up.”

Hall’s homecoming: Rannell Hall is excited to once again step on the field at Spectrum Stadium and play football.

Hall, who spent four seasons as one of UCF’s top receivers, signed with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football earlier this year after several seasons in the NFL. The AAF is new startup league featuring eight teams from across the country, including one in Central Florida that will play in UCF’s home stadium.

“It’s been an exciting process, man,” Hall said before the Knights’ win over Navy Saturday. “I’ve always been on board with training since I started this year. I’m always staying healthy. That’s the main thing right now, just being healthy.

“I signed with the Apollos earlier this year. That was a big thing for me, something I was looking forward to. I’m excited where we’re at right now.”

Hall said he was drawn to the league for several reasons: the commitment to the players and the style of play, but perhaps the biggest reason was proximity.

“Just being in Orlando, honestly that’s the most exciting thing — being back home. Orlando is my second home and being able to play back in Spectrum Stadium,” he said. “Just coming home and being able to walk into a stadium with familiar faces you know, that’s a big thing.”

The AAF’s rosters are filled with regional players, with the Apollos signing former UCF, Florida, Florida State, Miami, FAU, FIU and USF stars.

Hall also is enjoying playing for coaching legend Steve Spurrier.

“He’s a great coach. I pretty much knew about him from my days of playing here at UCF under George O’Leary,” Hall said. “George O’Leary used to speak very highly of him and we played him here back in 2013 here in Spectrum Stadium. We came up short, 28-25, but he’s definitely someone who has a high knowledge of the game.”

Hall still closely follows UCF football and is excited to watch the team’s recent success, including the Knights’ 22-game win streak.

“It’s exciting to see the new team overcome and surpass what we achieved here in 2013 year at the Fiesta Bowl,” he said. “As a former player, that’s what I’m always looking forward to, who is going to do better.”

Hall said you can count him among the fans who believe No. 12 UCF deserves a chance to earn a College Football Playoff semifinal bid.

“Yeah, most definitely,” he said. “The actions speak for themselves. You know how the game of football is; there’s a lot of politics. But you can’t worry about that. You have to take it one week at a time — control what you can control.”