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Jerry O’Neill on UCF Knights Hall of Famers Brandon Marshall and Kevin Smith

Knights’ long-time sideline reporter shares his perspective on two transformational players

Jerry O’Neill Jamiyus Pittman Peach Bowl
UCF Football sideline reporter Jerry O’Neill (R) speaking to Jamiyus Pittman after the 2018 Peach Bowl.
Photo: Derek Warden

With the UCF Hall of Fame inductions coming up this week, we reached out to several of our favorite people to talk to in order to get their perspective on some of the inductees.

For the two football players being inducted this week, Brandon Marshall and Kevin Smith, we could think of no one better equipped to dish on those two guys than the ‘Stache himself, Jerry O’Neill.

Jerry has been the sideline reporter for UCF Football on the radio for more than a quarter of a century, so he’s seen his share of great players come and go.

Here’s Jerry’s take on both guys.


On Kevin Smith

“Without question one of the greatest offensive weapons ever to play at UCF. We knew in 2007 Kevin was going to be special. On the first play of the first game, he ran 80 yards untouched for a touchdown at N.C. State, in a game the Knights would win.”

“In his final game at home, Kevin ran for 284 yards and 4 TDs in the conference championship win over Tulsa. He was a great leader and special player, and a joy to watch.”


On Brandon Marshall

UCF v South Carolina
Brandon Marshall
Photo By Grant Halverson/Getty Images

“One of the most-gifted athletes to play at UCF. When UCF faced a shortage of players in the secondary, Brandon moved to safety. In his senior season he thrived, and his last game for UCF might have been his best. In UCF’s first ever bowl game, the 2005 Hawai’i Bowl, Brandon Marshall caught 11 passes for 210 yards and 3 TDs. We knew NFL fans would eventually see what we had seen: unbridled athleticism. I always liked seeing Brandon Marshall in action!”


Jerry is retired from his regular radio hosting gig, but he will return to the UCF Football radio crew as the sideline reporter once again in 2019.