Former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper played in his first United Football League game Saturday as the starter under center for Sacramento. He finished 21-of-40 for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 27-10 loss.

The college football season arrived Thursday with former Central Florida prep football players coming up with big plays for their respective programs. Two offensive linemen, a kicker and four others on the defensive side of the ball were among the standouts.

Earlier this month at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg former UCF catcher Drew Butera made his return to the Sunshine State as the Minnesota Twins visited the Tampa Bay Rays, just 121 miles away from Jay Bergman Field, where Butera made his home from 2003-05.

There is no shortage of UCF alumni heading off to NFL camps this week. Last fall the Knights had 15 alumni on active NFL rosters, two of which played in the Pro Bowl. This season there are 17 former Knights entering camp to help get things underway.

When the College World Series ended late Tuesday night at Rosenblatt Stadium, Apopka High School alum Robert Beary bottled up handfuls of infield dirt from the historic site after his first season at South Carolina was capped off with a national championship win.

Later this week the College World Series begins, on Saturday, June 19. And while area teams such as UCF and Stetson will not be taking part, it doesn’t mean Central Florida players have been left out. Florida and Florida State have a combined eight locals on baseball rosters.

For the young ballplayers who recently accepted their high school diplomas, the decision is now whether to start collegiate playing careers or join minor league baseball teams. For current underclassmen hailing from nearby, the decision is a similar one to make.

This wasn’t how summer break was supposed to start for Mike Von Kamecke. Last Saturday the former Bishop Moore lacrosse star ended his college career in the NCAA Division III title game in Maryland as Salisbury lost in the championship to Tufts by a 9-6 score.

A total of eight former UCF baseball players are enjoying life in the professional ranks this April. The Knights are represented at the Major League level by Drew Butera, while four other former players are competing at the Double-A level or higher in 2010.

And with the 41st overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select… Torell Troup. The nose tackle became the second-highest UCF draft pick all-time and first player taken from Conference USA on Friday with the ninth pick in the second round.