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Former Raven Brings An Edge To UCF's Defense

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Ex-Alonso player Leger Douzable, signing his letter-of-intent in 2004, has honed his skills at Central Florida.

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

Updated: 12/28/2007 11:11 pm

Leger Douzable left Tampa a big, pudgy defensive lineman brimming with endless potential.

He was part of Alonso's first football signing class and about to enter a world where his best wasn't yet good enough at the University of Central Florida.

He wasn't the biggest, the strongest or the fastest anymore, but the Knights were going to make sure he was by the time he left.

Entering his final game as a Knight when UCF faces Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis this afternoon, Douzable is looking for an ending as bold as his transformation during the past four years.

"Our workout program is amazing," Douzable said. "They really focused on getting me stronger and ready to play at the next level because in high school you're not ready for what you're going to be thrown into. As a freshman I was thrown in the fire."

Douzable earned playing time in all 11 of UCF's games his freshman year, playing at defensive tackle, where he was needed, instead of at defensive end, where he was recruited to play.

He played both positions at Alonso and after 2 1/2 seasons he was moved back to his natural position at defensive end.

In the meantime, Douzable was under the strict guidelines of UCF's nutrition and workout plans and his pudge was becoming brawn.

As a senior at Alonso he was listed at 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds, and now he stands at a strapping 6-4 and 305.

"It's unbelievable just the changes being in the strength program and working hard has paid dividends," Douzable said. "It's just amazing. They give us sheets that tell us what we should eat, like they map it out.

"They tell us how many times we should eat because a lot of people don't know you're not supposed to eat three times a day. You're supposed to eat a lot of little meals a day."

He was moved back to defensive end his junior year and at the end of the season, he had a team-leading seven sacks and 10 1/2 tackles for loss.

UCF hired Jim Panagos as its defensive line coach in the spring, and Douzable credits him with enhancing his effectiveness on the pass rush and in run blocking during the offseason.

Douzable leads the team in quarterback hurries (11), tackles for loss (13) and sacks (7 1/2 ) this season.

Two of those sacks came in the Conference USA title game against the high-powered Tulsa offense, which the UCF defense punished, especially in the second half.

"That meant a lot especially with having the new stadium," Douzable said. "There are going to be more people and fans at UCF that are going to be more focused on football.

"We're trying to make UCF a big football school and I think we're heading in the right direction right now."

A chunk of those fans is Douzable's family. His immediate family in Tampa - parents Anthony and Felichia Henry and little sister Larissa - are in attendance for all of UCF's games, including on the road, and members of his extended family from here and South Florida also go to games regularly.

"One thing that really stood out when he had his first official visit was that we were sitting and talking with the players that already had chosen UCF and they said the most difficult thing was that after games, there was no one to greet them," Felichia Henry said. "That really struck home and I said 'We've got to be there for him.'"

The support Douzable has received isn't something he takes for granted because he knows that everyone around him has enriched his life.

Now all that's left is to help bring home a Liberty Bowl championship.

Reporter Cristina Ledra can be reached at (813) 948-4203 or cledra@tampatrib.com.

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