Ricot Joseph Profession: Former NFL Safety/Cincinnati Bengals

Ricot Joseph, a free safety from Lake Worth, starred at UCF from 1998-2001. A tireless worker, Joseph initially joined the team as a walk-on in 1997, would earn a scholarship, become a productive starter and sign with an NFL team after college.

Joseph saw action in six NFL games during the 2002 season with the Washington Redskins, who signed Joseph to a one-year contract on Sept. 2. After his first year mostly on Washington's practice squad, Joseph signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 10, 2003, and playing nearly two seasons on their practice squad as well.

Joseph started all 11 games as a senior in 2001, finishing second on the team with an impressive 104 tackles, including 66 solo stops. Joseph also had two tackles for loss, one sack, six pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

In 2000, he started nine of 11 games at free safety. He finished with 74 tackles on the year, 51 of which were solo. He also wound up with two interceptions, seven pass break ups and a blocked punt. His most productive outing came in the season finale against Virginia Tech when he tallied 14 tackles, 10 solo. He opened the year with 11 tackles against Georgia Tech and had six tackles in six of the 11 games. He had interceptions against William & Mary and Louisiana-Monroe.

In 1999, Joseph saw his first action at UCF and really came into his own with a breakout season. He was named UCF's Special Teams MVP as well as Most Improved Defensive Player. He played in 10 games and finished with 35 tackles and a sack. He also had two interceptions to go along with his three blocked punts. Two of his blocked punts were picked up and returned for touchdowns, against South Carolina and Middle Tennessee. He also blocked a punt against Nicholls State. He reaped what he sowed earlier in the season when pivked up a punt that was vlicked by Elliott Shorter and returned it for a touchdown against Bowling Green. He registered six tackles against Florida and Georgia and five tackles against Georgia Tech and MTSU. His interceptions came against UF and Eastern Michigan. He earned the team's "Big Stick" award for a hit against EMU.

A Lake Worth Community High graduate, Joseph redshirted his first season in 1997 and then spent 1998 with the show team. He was a physical education major at UCF.