Sophomore Jeff Godfrey has been the starting quarterback for the UCF Knights for two seasons, but he will not be playing for George O’Leary for a third season. Godfrey has decided to transfer, according to his father, speaking to the Orlando Sentinel.
Jeff Godfrey Transferring From UCF Football, Father Confirms
UCF Knights quarterback Jeff Godfrey will transfer from the program
Godfrey led UCF to a Conference USA title and a Liberty Bowl win last season, but the team was disappointing in 2011. Though they were expected to challenge for the Conference USA title and make another bowl game appearance, the Knights finished just 5-7, with Godfrey replaced by redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Bortles at some point during the final three games of the season.
Godfrey’s father, Jeff Godfrey, Sr., claimed that his son was affected by the firing of wide receivers coach David Kelly, who started recruiting him in the eighth grade. There is an ongoing NCAA investigation into potential violations by the Knights’ football and basketball programs, and Kelly was believed to have been fired due to his role in those potential violations. Said Godfrey, Sr.:
“I trusted David Kelly...Coach O’Leary never explained to me why David Kelly was fired. And Jeff told me everything changed the day after he was fired. He went to practice and he was the No. 2 quarterback. They started him to keep him quiet, but he was the No. 2. And Jeff noticed all the Miami players who were close to Kelly being pushed aside.”
UCF Athletics sent out a tweet on Monday night stating that Godfrey had been declared ineligible for spring practice. The school will not elaborate on that statement, but says it is not due to the NCAA investigation, and Godfrey’s father says that his son is in good academic standing.
Godfrey will not be transferring to a school in Conference USA or the Big East, but has not made any decision about a potential school otherwise.
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