UCF Knights College Football Preview 2021: Top Players
Best UCF Knights Offensive Player
QB Dillon Gabriel, Jr.
How do you possibly replace a talent like McKenzie Milton? Dillon Gabriel proved over the last two years that he could keep the UCF quarterback position amazing.
Milton led the Knights to massive things before suffering a horrific injury, and now he’s getting a new start at Florida State. UCF worked through a few quarterback options, and then Gabriel stepped up and turned into another big-time passer from Hawaii.
The lefty needs to be a bit more accurate, and he’s not too great for the ground game, but he’ll bomb away for close to ten yards per throw and he’s a proven playmaker with 61 touchdown passes and 11 picks in his two seasons.
2. OG Cole Schneider, Sr.
3. WR Jaylon Robinson, Jr.
4. C Matthew Lee, Soph.
5. WR Nate Craig-Myers, Sr.
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Best UCF Knights Defensive Player
LB Eriq Gilyard, Sr.
The 5-11, 228-pound veteran holds up well on the inside and has been through enough battles to be among the team’s most reliable defenders. He’s been one of the team’s top tacklers over the last few years with 174 stops with 18.5 tackles for loss in his three seasons. Last year he started to force more big plays, and this season he might be turned loose even more in the new D.
2. S Derek Gainous, Sr.
3. LB Tatum Bethune, Jr.
4. DT Cam Goode, Jr.
5. CB Corey Thornton, Soph.
Top Incoming UCF Knights Transfer
DE Big Kat Bryant, Sr.
Just when it seemed like the former Auburn Tiger was a lock to be an Oklahoma Sooner, he pivoted to UCF to play for his old coach.
He hasn’t been quite the pass rusher he was supposed to be as a big-time recruit – just ten sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in his four years at AU – but the defense needs as much big-time talent as it can get for the rotation. There are several other big transfers coming in to play for Gus Malzahn, too, and Bryant will instantly matter in the rotation.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– UCF Knights Schedule Analysis