Central Florida AD White to Big 12: 'We can build a monster here'

UCF athletic director Danny White isn't about to let an 0-12 football record in 2015 stand in his way of pushing for Big 12 expansion candidacy.

White spoke with ESPN.com on Wednesday in a phone interview and explained that the institution would "elevate" the current Big 12 if added during expansion, according to Jake Trotter of ESPN.

"We check every single box," White said. "It's inevitable that UCF will be a top 25, even top 10 athletic department. Of the Group of 5 athletic departments, our place has been at the pole position for some time. When you consider the future, it's not even close.

"We can build a monster here," White added.

White believes that the university's geographic location will be instrumental in proving that UCF is a worthy expansion candidate. As far as enrollment numbers go, UCF holds the largest in the country.

White was not shy in pointing out these resources.

"Being in the most fertile recruiting territory in the country is an enormous asset for us," White said.

UCF president John Hitt was quick to back the Knights for expansion just a day after Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced the beginning of expansion negotiations.