Get pumped for UCF football this Friday

It’s time to meet the players at UCF Football FanFest, which returns to Knight country this Friday. The team will shake hands, sign autographs and take photos to get fans pumped up for the season ahead.

And with third-year starting quarterback Blake Bortles, an Oviedo High School grad, at the forefront of the Knights’ offense, the team is looking to build on last season’s momentum.

They went 10-4 in 2012, with their biggest loss coming against Big Ten juggernaut Ohio State when they fell 31-16. With the rest of their losses coming off a deficit of a touchdown or less, the Knights were statistically three touchdowns shy of a nearly undefeated season.

Though he was just a sophomore last year, Bortles threw for 3,059 yards — the first time a UCF quarterback had done that since 2002.

FanFest opens its gates at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Bright House Networks Stadium. It’s free and open to the public. Demonstrations and a team introduction are from 6 to 6:45 p.m. followed by an autograph signing, fan skills session, giant hamster ball races, food and more.