UCF Knights in the NFL: A Legacy of Football Talent

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has steadily grown into a football powerhouse, with a rich tradition of producing talented players who have gone on to make their mark in the National Football League (NFL). From the program's inception in 1979 to its rise to prominence in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), UCF has consistently developed athletes who have excelled at the highest level of professional football. As of 2025, 52 UCF Knights have been drafted into the NFL, including four first-round selections. This article explores the impact of UCF players in the NFL, highlighting some of the most notable Knights who have left their mark on the league.

Recent NFL Combine Participants

UCF continues to send its top talent to the NFL, with several players recently participating in the annual NFL Scouting Combine. In 2026, edge rushers Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly represented UCF at the combine, showcasing their skills and athleticism for NFL scouts.

The NFL Combine is a crucial event for college players hoping to make it to the NFL. It allows them to demonstrate their physical abilities through a series of drills and tests, providing valuable information for NFL teams as they make their draft decisions. The 2026 NFL Combine took place from Thursday, Feb. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 29, and aired on the NFL Network.

Malachi Lawrence

Malachi Lawrence, a standout edge rusher for the Knights, earned All-Big 12 first-team honors. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder set career highs in tackles (28) and tackles for loss (11), adding seven sacks. A five-year member of the program, Lawrence departs ranked 10th all-time in sacks (20).

Nyjalik Kelly

Nyjalik Kelly transferred to UCF in 2024, making 23 starts over two seasons. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Fort Lauderdale native recorded 99 tackles, 17 TFLs, 8½ sacks, five forced fumbles, and four pass breakups for the Knights.

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UCF's Draft Success

UCF has consistently had players selected in the NFL Draft, with two players drafted in each of the past two seasons. In the 2025 NFL Draft, several Knights will look to state their cases during the annual scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Last year, running back RJ Harvey became the Knights' highest draft pick since 2021, taken 60th overall by the Denver Broncos. He totaled 896 scrimmage yards as a rookie and scored 12 touchdowns, helping the Broncos reach the AFC championship game. Though he went undrafted, former UCF tackle Amari Kight had the most memorable rookie season as he earned a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Seattle Seahawks.

UCF Knights All-Century Football Roster: Offense

To celebrate the quarter-century mark of UCF football, a 60-player roster was selected by the Black and Gold Banneret staff, covering the best players since 2000. The roster includes 25 offensive players, 25 defensive players, and 10 special teamers.

Quarterbacks

McKenzie Milton (2016-2018): Milton quarterbacked UCF to its first undefeated season in program history in 2017, going 13-0. He finished in the top ten of the Heisman Trophy voting in 2017 (8th) and 2018 (6th), which tied Daunte Culpepper (1998) for the highest finish by a Knight. His 2017 season ranks as the school single-season record in passing yards (4,037), total offense (4,650), passing touchdowns (37) and passing efficiency (179.29). He has 8,683 passing yards in three seasons, fourth in school history. His career pass efficiency rating of 152.25 ranks third all-time at UCF. He has 12 300-yard passing games, which ranks third in program history, and has two 400-yard passing games, which is tied for fourth. He also has 72 touchdown passes, which ranks fourth, while also ranking fourth in total touchdowns with 92. Milton is a two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-AAC selection (2017 and 2018).
Blake Bortles (2011-2013): Bortles ranks 2nd in program history in career passer rating with a 153.76 and completion percentage (65.7%). He is 5th in career completions (585) and passing yards (7,598), and ranks 6th in passing touchdowns (56) behind Daunte Culpepper, Ryan Schneider, Darin Hinshaw, Dillon Gabriel and McKenzie Milton. As a starter in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he posted a 22-5 record for the Knights.
Ryan Schneider (2000-2003): Schneider ranks 2nd in program history behind Daunte Culpepper with 10,976 passing yards and 82 touchdown passes. He holds the record for most consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass with 28 straight games.

Running Backs

Kevin Smith (2005-2007): Smith is the all-time leading rusher at UCF with 4,864 yards rushing and 45 touchdowns. He was part of UCF’s first two bowl teams, in 2005 as a freshman, and in 2007, when he led the Knights to their first-ever CUSA Championship and a trip to the Liberty Bowl. Smith was the 2007 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-American, making him the first UCF player to achieve that. In 2007, Smith led the nation in both rushing yards and touchdowns, setting the all-time rushing records for UCF, Conference USA and the State of Florida, coming up just shy of Barry Sanders’ NCAA record. Smith ended up with 2,567 yards, just 61 shy of Sanders’ record of 2,628. He set a new NCAA record with 450 carries, breaking a record held by Marcus Allen (405) of USC in 1981, and ran for over 100 yards in 13 games, the most in a single season in FBS history. He also ran for 29 touchdowns, which is tied for the sixth-most in a single season in FBS history. Smith finished in 8th place for the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and was inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
R.J. Harvey (2020-2024): Harvey is one of four UCF running backs to reach 3,000 career rushing yards. His 3,792 Rushing Yards (92.5) ranks 2nd all-time. He has 48 Total Touchdowns (#1 All-time at UCF) and 43 Rushing Touchdowns (2nd). One of four running backs to reach 4,000 all-purpose yards and one of three to average over 100 yards from scrimmage (112.9), Harvey passed Adrian Killins for second place all-time among running backs (4,627). He has 16 games (2nd) with at least 100 yards rushing out of 41 games (39%)
Latavius Murray (2008, 2010-2012): Murray has 2,424 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns, with 37 of them being rushing touchdowns and 264 points (3rd at UCF). He was the MVP of the 2010 C-USA Championship Game with 123 all-purpose yards scoring two touchdowns in the Knights 17-7 win over SMU. Murray was also the 2010 Liberty Bowl MVP in the victory over Georgia, where he had 104 yards rushing scoring the winning TD in UCF’s first-ever bowl win. Murray was a First Team All-C-USA choice in 2012 and scored three touchdowns along with 110 all-purpose yards in the 2012 Beef O’Brady Bowl win over Ball State.
Adrian Killins (2016-2019): Killins ranks 6th in program history in career rushing yards with 2,459. He averaged 6.06 yards per carry (3rd in program history) and scored 25 career touchdowns (6th in program history). He also has 4,361 career all-purpose yards (4th in program history). He received First-Team All-AAC honors in 2017 and Second-Team All-AAC honors in 2018 and 2019.
Alex Haynes (2001-2004): Haynes finished his UCF career as the program’s all-time leading rusher with 3,359 yards (3rd Currently). He has 27 rushing touchdowns, 15 100-yard rushing games, and 4,021 all-purpose yards becoming the first Knight running back to reach the 4,000 yard milestone. Haynes averaged 98.1 all purpose yards in his career which ranks him 4th all-time among running backs. He was the first Knight to have four rushing touchdowns in a game when he did so against Tulane in 2001.
Otis Anderson (2017-2020): Anderson has 3,708 career all-purpose yards and 27 career touchdowns are both the 8th-most in program history. He ran for 2,182 career yards, 9th-most in program history and has the 2nd-highest career average yards per carry in program history at 6.1 yards per carry. He also returned punts, which he was given Honorable Mention All-American honors by Phil Steele for in 2019. His 478 career punt return yards rank 5th in program history and his 13.2 yards per punt return average ranks the 4th-best in program history. Anderson received Honorable Mention All-AAC selection in 2019 and an All-AAC Second Team selection in his senior season, 2020.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall (2002-2005): Marshall had 112 receptions, 1,674 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns when he played at UCF from 2002-2005. He was selected to the All-CUSA Second Team in 2005 and played in 13 games and got career highs in receptions (74), receiving yards (1,195), and touchdowns (11). He had 11 catches for 210 yards (the fourth-most in a single game in program history) and three touchdowns in the 2005 Hawaii Bowl, where he was named MVP of the game. Marshall was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He is the first player in NFL history to have a 1,000-yard season with four different teams (Denver, Miami, Chicago and NY Jets). He set an NFL record with 21 catches in a game and is a six-time NFL Pro Bowler, which is the most by any UCF Knight, and made NFL All-Pro First Team in 2012. Marshall ranks 16th all-time in NFL history with 970 receptions, 23rd in receiving yards with 12,351 and tied for 25th in touchdowns with 83.
Mike Sims-Walker (2003-2006): Sims-Walker was an All-CUSA First Team selection in 2006, and holds the school record with 90 receptions in 2006. His 1,178 receiving yards in 2006 rank fifth in program history. He was a 2005 All-CUSA Second Team selection and had three interceptions during the 2004 season, which led the team. He has 184 receptions rank fourth in program history and 2,561 yards rank fourth in program history. He played in the NFL from 2007-2011 with Jacksonville Jaguars and the St Louis Rams.
Breshad Perriman (2012-2014): Perriman had 115 receptions for 2,243 yards and 16 touchdowns. In 2014, he became the first Knight wideout since Mike Sims-Walker in 2006 to reach 1,000 yards receiving in a season and ranked 6th in the nation with 20.88 yards per reception. He averaged 19.5 yards per reception in career which is the best in program history, and was named to the All-CUSA freshman team in 2012 and to the All-AAC First Team in 2014
Tre’Quan Smith (2015-2017): Smith had 168 receptions (tied for 5th all-time at UCF), 2,748 yards (3rd all-time), and 22 touchdowns (4th all-time). He was named AAC Rookie of the Year becoming the first freshman in UCF history to lead his team in receptions and receiving yards. His 52 receptions and 724 receiving yards rank as the most by a freshman in program history. He was selected All-AAC Second Team that season and his 1,171 receiving yards rank as the sixth-most a Knight has had in a single season in program history. Smith also ranks tied for second in career 100-yard receiving games (11) and ninth in career yards per reception with 16.4.
Gabe Davis (2017-2019): Davis finished in the top 10 at UCF all-time in TD catches (23, 2nd), yards (2,447, 7th), catches (152, 10th), and games with 100 or more receiving yards (8, tied for 9th). He was named All-AAC twice (Second Team in 2018, First Team in 2019), and part of three bowl teams, including two New Year’s Six Bowl trips, and two AAC Championships (2017-2018). Davis also broke Doug Gabriel’s single-season school record for receiving yards with 1,241 in 2019. He made NFL history in 2022 by becoming the first player to catch four touchdowns in a playoff game and the first receiver to have 200 or more receiving yards and four touchdowns in any game since Jerry Rice in 1990.
Doug Gabriel (2001-2002): Gabriel played two years at UCF, finishing his career with 97 receptions for 1,869 yards and 20 touchdowns, plus 795 yards on 37 kickoff returns. His 20 touchdowns rank eighth all-time at UCF and he shares the UCF record for most touchdown catches in a game with 4. His 19.3 career yards per reception is the 2nd-best in program history. He held the single-season record at UCF for most receiving yards in a single season for 17 years with 1,237 yards in 2002. He was named All-MAC Second Team in 2002 and played 57 NFL games in four seasons in Oakland and New England, catching 101 balls for 1550 yards and scoring 8 TDs

Tight Ends

Jordan Akins (2014-2017): Akins left a pro baseball career to play football at UCF as a 21-year-old freshman in 2014. He received First Team all-conference accolades from the American Athletic Conference in 2017 and caught 81 passes for 1,149 yards (14.2) and scored 8 touchdowns. He was drafted in the third round (98th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by Houston Texans and has played in NFL since 2018 with Texans and Browns
Darcy Johnson (2002-2005): Johnson received All-Conference USA Second-Team honors in 2005. He caught 81 passes for 919 yards (11.3-yard avg.) and scored 6 touchdowns. He played in NFL with New York Giants (2006-2009) and St Louis Rams (2010)

Offensive Tackles

Josh Sitton (2004-2007): Sitton was named first-team All-CUSA in 2007, helping the Knights win the program’s first conference championship. He started at both guard spots and at right tackle during his career and was part of two UCF bowl teams, in 2005 and 2007. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He made four Pro Bowls (2012-2014, 2016) which is tied with Asante Samuel for second-most by a UCF Knight, behind only Brandon Marshall’s six and won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers. He made NFL All-Pro First Team in 2014, and Second Team twice in 2013 and 2015 at the guard position. Sitton is the only UCF Knight to win a conference championship, start in a bowl game, start in a Super Bowl, and play in a Pro Bowl. He was inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.
Jah Reid (2007-2010): Reid was named All-Conference USA First Team in 2009 and 2010. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft and played in NFL with Baltimore Ravens (2011-2014), Kansas City Chiefs (2015-2016), Houston Texans (2017).
Aaron Evans (2013-2017): Evans was a 2017 First Team All-AAC Team selection and part of UCF’s 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Bowl Teams. He was also part of UCF’s 2013, 2014, and 2017 AAC Championship Teams.

Centers

Jordan Johnson (2016-2019)
Mike Mabry (2001-2002): Mabry started 23 straight games for the Knights and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round, with the 250th overall pick, of the 2003 NFL draft. He signed with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League (AFL) on October 13, 2005.

UCF Players in the NFL

As the UCF football team prepares for its next matchup at Boise State, 21 former Knights look to begin their quest for a Super Bowl. The 2023 NFL season kicks off Thursday evening with a matchup between the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Detroit Lions.

Gabriel Davis (Buffalo Bills): Entering his fourth season, Davis became a first-time captain this season. He is coming off a stellar 2022 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 836 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. In seven career playoff games, Davis has recorded 22 receptions for 474 yards, with six touchdowns.
Latavius Murray (Buffalo Bills): Murray, a UCF Hall of Famer, will join Gabriel Davis as a member of the Bills this season. Murray, who is entering his 10th season, has 57 career touchdowns, with 8,167 all-purpose yards.
Jordan Akins (Cleveland Browns): The Cleveland Browns feature three former Knights on their roster, including tight end Jordan Akins. Akins, a 2018 third-round pick by the Houston Texans, played in 15 games for the Texans last season, and recorded a career-high in both yards (495) and touchdowns (5).
Trysten Hill (Cleveland Browns): The Cleveland Browns feature three former Knights on their roster, including defensive tackle Trysten Hill. Hill, a 2019 second-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in seven games for Dallas and six games for the Arizona Cardinals last year.
Charley Hughlett (Cleveland Browns): The Cleveland Browns feature three former Knights on their roster, including long snapper Charley Hughlett. Hughlett is entering his ninth season as the Browns’ long snapper.
Alex Ward (Los Angeles Rams): Fellow long snapper Alex Ward made the 53-man roster for the Los Angeles Rams. Ward, who spent six total seasons with the Knights, achieved numerous accomplishments on and off the field, which included being named a 2022 second team All-America long snapper. Currently, Ward is the only rookie undrafted free agent on the Rams’ 53-man roster.
Divaad “Newt” Wilson (Arizona Cardinals): Two other UCF rookies made NFL practice squads. Cornerback Divaad “Newt” Wilson, who led the Knights in interceptions last season, made the Cardinals’ practice squad
Ryan Swoboda (New York Jets): Two other UCF rookies made NFL practice squads. The New York Jets signed offensive tackle Ryan Swoboda to their practice squad.
Tre’Quan Smith (New Orleans Saints): Entering his sixth season with the New Orleans Saints, Tre’Quan Smith will look to add to his solid NFL career in which the wide receiver has tallied 18 career touchdowns and 1,764 career receiving yards.
Shaquill Griffin (Houston Texans): After playing with both Seattle and Jacksonville, former UCF cornerback and 2019 Pro Bowl selection Shaquill Griffin makes his way Houston where he will start his seventh NFL season with the Texans. Griffin has six career NFL interceptions and 327 tackles under his belt.
Mike Hughes (Atlanta Falcons): Fellow cornerback Mike Hughes enters his sixth NFL season and his first with Atlanta in 2023 (three career interceptions, 178 tackles)
Richie Grant (Atlanta Falcons): Safety Richie Grant is also on the Falcons as he’s back for his third year in Atlanta after racking up 70 tackles and a pair of interceptions last season.
Brandon Johnson (Denver Broncos): Wide receiver Brandon Johnson is back for his second season with the Denver Broncos after catching a touchdown and racking up 42 yards on six catches during his rookie campaign last year.
Matt Prater (Arizona Cardinals): The veteran of the group is once again kicker Matt Prater. The former standout Knight kicker from 2002-2005 enters his 17th NFL season and third with the Arizona Cardinals.
Tay Gowan (Minnesota Vikings): Three former UCF players in Tay Gowan , Aaron Robinson and Tre Nixon will begin on the PUP list.
Aaron Robinson (New York Giants): Three former UCF players in Tay Gowan , Aaron Robinson and Tre Nixon will begin on the PUP list.
Tre Nixon (New England Patriots): Three former UCF players in Tay Gowan , Aaron Robinson and Tre Nixon will begin on the PUP list.
Jacob Harris (Jacksonville Jaguars): Jacob Harris, Justin McCray, Matthew Wright and Swoboda will open on the practice squad.
Justin McCray (Carolina Panthers): Jacob Harris, Justin McCray, Matthew Wright and Swoboda will open on the practice squad.
Matthew Wright (San Francisco 49ers): Jacob Harris, Justin McCray, Matthew Wright and Swoboda will open on the practice squad.

With 21 current players on NFL rosters, UCF ranks fifth in the Big 12 Conference in that department this season. Oklahoma leads the way with 39 former players on NFL rosters, while Texas follows with 35, TCU 26 and Cincinnati 25. UCF will enter the season ahead of nine fellow Big 12 schools in Houston (20), Oklahoma State (20), Baylor (18), BYU (18), Kansas State (17), Texas Tech (15), Iowa State (11), West Virginia (14) and Kansas (6).

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