***Predators News Release***
ORLANDO, FL – The Orlando Predators are pleased to announce that former UCF quarterback and projected first-round NFL Draft pick Blake Bortles will be participating in the ceremonial coin toss on Friday, March 21 at CFE Arena.
Bortles, who just completed his pro day in front of NFL scouts on UCF’s campus yesterday, is a projected top-five draft selection according to ESPN’s Scouts Inc. The quarterback helped guide UCF to its first ever BCS Bowl win in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on New Years Day.
While a senior at Oviedo High School, Bortles was rated as the number eight prospect in the Orlando Sentinel Central Florida Top 100. The quarterback led his team to a 9-2 record while setting career records in Seminal County with 5,576 passing yards and 53 touchdowns.
During his time at UCF, Bortles was voted on to the ALL-C-USA second team, and was selected as the as the MVP of the Beef ’O’ Brady’s Bowl. During his impressive junior year, Bortles was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and was selected to the First Team. Bortles also joined fellow Knight, Daunte Culpepper as the only other quarterback to have at least 3,000 yards passing in back to back seasons. The quarterback was also anSI.com Honorable Mention All-American and was the Sporting News American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
ABOUT ORLANDO PREDATORS: The Orlando Predators are heading into their 23rd season as Orlando’s most exciting professional sports franchise. Proud members of the Arena Football League, the Predators have achieved unprecedented success on the field, reaching the AFL postseason a league-leading 19 times in their history. The Orlando Predators have advanced to the AFL playoffs a league-leading 19 times in their history while securing seven conference championships, including two ArenaBowl Championship victories in 1998 and 2000.