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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
UCF football position preview: Defensive line
The sixth in an occasional position-by-position preview of the UCF football team heading into the offseason: TODAY: DEFENSIVE LINE What to expect No unit provides as much experience as the defensive front, which is anchored by a pair of veteran edge rushers, Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly. Together, this duo accounted for nearly half of the team's total quarterback sacks last season, contributing 10.5 out of the 22 sacks. The addition of Pittsburgh transfer Sincere Edwards, who recorded 3 sacks and 6 tackles for loss, will strengthen a group that also includes returning players Jamaal Johnson and Isaiah Nixon. Advertisement The return of John Walker, who missed the entire 2024 season due to a leg injury, enhances the tackle position. This is especially important given the departures of starters Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter. Georgia Tech transfer Horace Lockett Jr. is expected to play a significant role at the nose tackle position alongside Derrick LeBlanc. Additionally, Tulsa transfer R.J. Jackson Jr. will serve as a strong backup for Walker. What they're saying 'I want us to be known as a violent group, a group that gets to the ball and a group that is respected. When guys run the ball, they better go to the perimeter. That's the expectation for us. We want to be physical up front, locking things out and being disruptive even in the pass rush. I want to be able to knock stuff back, to penetrate and affect the quarterback.' — UCF defensive tackles coach Kenny Martin. On Roster Malachi Lawrence, redshirt senior Nyjalik Kelly, senior Jamaal Johnson, redshirt junior Isaiah Nixon, redshirt sophomore John Walker, junior Derrick LeBlanc, redshirt sophomore Keshaun Hudson, redshirt junior Andrew Rumph, redshirt sophomore Tyreek'e Robinson, redshirt freshman Advertisement Arrivals Sincere Edwards (Pittsburgh), sophomore Aymeric Koumba (Michigan), redshirt sophomore Horace Lockett Jr. (Georgia Tech), redshirt junior RJ Jackson Jr. (Tulsa), junior Jeffson LaFontant (Bethune-Cookman), junior Rodney Lora (North Carolina), redshirt freshman RyShawn Perry (TBD), freshman Departures Ricky Barber Lee Hunter Matthew Alexander Daylan Dotson Jack Morgan Josh Dorsainvil Marcus Downs Projected depth chart (offseason) DE — Nyjalik Kelly | Isaiah Nixon NT — Horace Lockett Jr. | Derrick LeBlanc DT — John Walker | RJ Jackson Jr. DE — Sincere Edwards | Malachi Lawrence Advertisement Previous Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends Offensive line Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@ Sign up for the Sentinel's Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kickoff times, TV revealed for several UCF football games
UCF will open its 2025-26 football season with back-to-back night games. The Knights are set to host Jacksonville State in a Thursday night matchup at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. It's the first game under new coach Scott Frost, who is making his return to the program after an eight-year absence. Advertisement UCF hosts North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. It's the first-ever meeting with the Aggies, a team from the Football Championship Subdivision that plays in the Coastal Athletic Association. Both games will be aired on ESPN+. The Big 12 also announced that UCF's game with Houston on Friday, Nov. 7, which has been designated as the annual Space Game, will be televised on FS1. Additional kickoff times and television designations will be announced at a later time. 2025 SCHEDULE Aug. 28 – Jacksonville State, 7, ESPN+ Sept. 6 – North Carolina AT&T, 7, ESPN+ 13 – BYE 20 – North Carolina 27 – at Kansas State Advertisement Oct. 4 – Kansas 11 – at Cincinnati 18 – West Virginia (Homecoming) 25 – BYE Nov. 1 – at Baylor 8 – Houston (Space Game), TBD, FS1 15 – at Texas Tech 22 – Oklahoma State (Senior Knight) 29 – at BYU Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@ Sign up for the Sentinel's Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams selected in 5th round of 2025 NFL Draft
UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams was selected in the 5th round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday. The Philadelphia Eagles used the No. 145 overall pick to select McWilliams, who became the second Knight chosen in this year's draft. The Denver Broncos selected running back RJ Harvey in Friday's second round with the No. 60 overall pick. Advertisement He becomes the first defensive back selected since the Atlanta Falcons took Richie Grant in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound McWilliams totaled 32 tackles, including 7 tackles for loss and a sack. He also registered an interception, 2 passes defended and a forced fumble in 11 games in his only season with the Knights. He previously spent four seasons at UAB, where he totaled 101 tackles, 23 passes defended and an interception. McWilliams becomes the 52nd player from UCF to be selected in the NFL draft and the 15th overall defensive back, joining a group that includes Aaron Robinson, Tay Gowan, Shaquill Griffin, Josh Robinson and Asante Samuel. Advertisement He's the second Knight to be drafted by the Eagles, along with defensive end Greg Jefferson in 1995. Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@ Sign up for the Sentinel's Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
