Dr. Phillips alumni now teammates on UCF football team

ORLANDO As he nears the end of his first training camp as a college football player, UCF freshman receiver and Dr. Phillips alum Jaquarius "Q" Bargnare can sum up the difference between camp in high school and camp at a Division I college program pretty simply.

"Everything is way more intense," Bargnare said at the team's media day Aug. 17. "Everybody around me is faster and stronger. I've had to get adjusted to that."

Luckily, Bargnare has had a familiar face to help. Suiting up in the locker adjacent to his is former Dr. Phillips quarterback Nick Patti — Patti wears No. 2 for the Knights and Bargnare wears No. 3.

Patti, a senior for the Knights, is in his third year with the program and currently is in the running for either the starting or back-up job within UCF's stable of quarterbacks. Returning to Orlando after starting his career out west at Boise State, Patti says he has been energized by the arrival of a fellow Dr. Phillips alumnus.

"It's been awesome," Patti said. "I got fired up when I heard (Bargnare) was coming and I got fired up when I heard (current Dr. Phillips senior) Marvin (Washington) was coming (next year). ... There's a lot of talent here (locally) and that could be a seriously big thing for UCF."

Bargnare says Patti has been quick to lend a helping hand as he continues to get adjusted to the college game and all that goes with it — including post-practice ice baths that the former Panther says are significantly colder than those he was used to from high school.

Both players have been taken reps with the Knights' first and second unit offenses in practice, as first-year head coach Scott Frost has created an environment where nearly every job is up for grabs heading into the season. Frost, who was the offensive coordinator at Oregon before taking the job formerly held by George O'Leary, has invigorated a program that is coming off of an 0-12 season.

Even as Patti battles last year's starting quarterback, Justin Holman, for a place atop the Knights' depth chart, the senior says he has taken notice of Bargnare's performances so far.

"He works extremely hard and he's doing a great job in camp," Patti said. "We've taken reps together. ... Every time he has gotten an opportunity he's taken advantage of it."

Clad in UCF's new anthracite jerseys at the team's media day — one of several new jerseys that have also helped add some excitement ot the offseason — both players expressed enthusiasm about the season ahead and how quickly the program has shaken off a winless season and is ready to move forward.

"It's a great environment at UCF right now," Bargnare said. "It's a great time to be here."

The Knights open the regular season at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at home against South Carolina State.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].