UCF QB Blake Bortles needs to up his play, coach says

University of Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles is putting together a fine sophomore season so far, completing 66.9% of his passes through the Knights' first four games, and throwing for 935 yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions.

UCF head coach George O'Leary, though, believes Bortles must step up his play throughout the rest of the 2012 season.

"He's not been out there for three years, he's been out there for one year, for four games," O'Leary said Monday. "When you get hit a couple of times, all of a sudden you start looking around and you start to get a little bit antsy. Everybody's like that until they have enough experience to get over that."

O'Leary chalked the inconsistency up as nothing more than a young quarterback in need of game experience. He said he was sure Bortles would learn from the experience and trusts him to lead the Knights' preparation for the Pirates.

Through four games this year, the Knights are 2-2. UCF has yet to play a conference game this year, and the Knights will hope that Bortles can mature as the team runs through its Conference USA schedule.