I always love positing this because it is BY FAR the best draft preview content out there and Dane is super locked in on the prospect and who the teams actually like. Gives a great idea of how guys are valued. This year there are 15 players in there including walk-ons lol IDK why some of the pasting from the article turned out strange, but I did my best.
QB# 16. JOHN RHYS PLUMLEE | UCF 5116 | 203 lbs. | 5SR Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove) 1/2/2001 (age 23.31) #10
SUMMARY: John Rhys Plumlee, who is also a talented pianist and singer, grew up in Hattiesburg. He was always a dual-sport star (baseball and football) and was the6A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior quarterback at Oak Grove High. A four-star recruit, Plumlee flipped from Georgia to Ole Miss and saw immediate action for an injured Matt Corral in 2019. He backed up Corral in 2020 and moved to receiver in 2021. He transferred to UCF for his final two seasons and set the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He also played outfield for the baseball teams at both Ole Miss and UCF. A true dual-threat quarterback, Plumlee is dynamic in the RPO game and throws well on the move with fast eyes and a strong arm. Overall, Plumlee struggles with inconsistent placement and decision-making as a passer, but his athletic instincts make him an interesting position-change prospect and candidate for the practice squad.
GRADE: Priority Free Agent
WR# 20. JAVON BAKER | UCF 6012 | 202 lbs. | 4SR Atlanta, Ga. (McEachern) 2/18/2002 (age 22.19) #1
BACKGROUND: Javon (JAY-von) Baker was born and raised in West Atlanta. He said he “grew up rough,” but sports were his outlet, and he played “everything”
— from skateboarding to basketball. He picked up football at age 11, and it quickly became as his go-to sport. Baker started his high school career at KIPP Atlanta
Collegiate, where he played as a freshman. For his final three prep years, he transferred to John McEachern High School in Powder Springs, where he was a three-year
varsity letterman. As a junior, Baker helped his team win eight games and make the playoffs, with 1,105 receiving yards and e ight touchdowns. As a senior, he led
McEachern to 12 straight wins and the 2019 regional title before a loss to North Gwinnett in the state playoff quarterfinals. Baker finished his final season with 58
receptions for 629 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning All-America honors. He played for Cam Newton’s 7-on-7 squad and lettered in track at McEachern with personal
bests of 12.17 seconds in the 100 meters and 6 feet in the high jump.
A four-star recruit, Baker was the No. 34 wide receiver in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 20 recruit in Georgia. After his sophomore season, he received offers
from several SEC programs, like Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. Baker also made waves at the Nike Opening Regional in Atlanta, where he won the wide
receiver MVP award. Soon after, several other big-time programs, like Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State entered the mix during his junior year. He took several visits
to Tuscaloosa and committed to the Crimson Tide in November 2018. Baker was the No. 19 recruit in former head coach Nick Saban’s 2020 class. Over his first two
seasons at Alabama, he struggled to see meaningful offensive snaps, which led to him leaving the program (Baker: “I just needed to touch the ball.”). He entered the
transfer portal in January 2022 and initially committed to Kentucky. However, he didn’t participate in spring practices, and Baker later revealed that Kentucky had
rescinded its offer. With his options limited, he transferred to UCF in May 2022, despite not knowing much about the program. Baker accepted his invitation to the
2024 Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS: Explosive athlete with a smooth gait … put several big plays on his 2023 tape (five catches of 50-plus yards) … establishes initial leverage in his releases
and leans on pace and physicality in his route running … able to clear out catch space at the break point but can just as easily work with bodies around him (see 2023
bowl game vs. Georgia Tech) … plays with good body length and climbs the ladder to make athletic, mid-air adjustments … catches the ball away from his body and
quickly puts it away for YAC opportunities … used on screens and jets so he could show off his vision and run balance to weave through the defense … physical
mentality also translates to his blocking … “learned a lot” from DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle while in Tuscaloosa … receiving production got better each season.
WEAKNESSES: Has speed but doesn’t always use it effectively … inefficient at times in/out of breaks, and his footwork can get wild … need s to improve his body
positioning at the catch point to close off defenders and frame the ball … occasionally relies on his body to finish catches, leading to frustrating focus drops (more
drops than touchdown catches in his career) … needs to put more of an emphasis on his sales techniques to bait coverage … wasn’t used as a returner in college and
offers very meager special-teams experience, although he has the athletic profile to play there … almost all of his offensive production came after he left Alabama.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at UCF, Baker was used across the formation in head coach Gus Malzahn’s up-tempo spread attack (72.9 percent of his 2023 snaps
came outside, 27.1 percent inside). After he struggled to see offensive snaps in his two seasons at Alabama, he transferred to UCF and led the team in receiving in
2023, ranking No. 2 in the FBS in yards per catch (21.9). Baker is a good-sized athlete with explosive flashes to create on YAC-designed plays (tunnels, swing screens,
etc.) or win deep (his 21 catches of 20-plus yards in 2023 ranks fourth best in the draft class, behind Nabers, Odunze and Malik Washington). He can make some wild
catches with his body control and length, but the drops and inconsistencies at the catch point can be maddening. Overall, Baker is a loose-striding athlete with ball tracking skills, although his tape is full of inefficiencies and question marks that didn’t allow him to consistently showcase his talent. He projects as a developmental Z receiver with starting upside.
GRADE: 4th Round
OT # 24. TYLAN GRABLE | UCF 6056 | 306 lbs. | 6SR Gordon, Ga. (Wilkinson County) 10/4/1999 (age 24.56) #71
BACKGROUND: Tylan Grable, one of five children, was born and raised in Gordon, a small city smack-dab in the middle of Georgia. He grew up playing multiple sports and was a do-everything athlete any time he played football. Grable attended Wilkinson County High School, where he was a four-year letterman on varsity (both basketball and football). He started at quarterback as a sophomore and junior (5,103 combined) passing yards, but the team managed just five total wins over those two seasons. Grable received recruiting interest but knew his future wouldn’t be at quarterback, so he prepared to switch positions for his senior year. However, he broke his foot during basketball season and then suffered the same injury in the first game of the 2017 football season, which sidelined him for his final season. A no-star recruit, Grable wasn’t ranked by recruiting services in the 2018 recruiting class. He received interest from local Division I programs, which wanted to see the230-pound quarterback at tight end or defensive end, but his foot injury as a senior prevented that. The lack of tape kept Divisi on I teams from offering him, and his only opportunity was a scholarship offer from Division II West Alabama. However, Grable elected to be patient and not sign. A few months after signing day, FCS Jacksonville State reached out, and Grable walked on as a tight end. After redshirting at his new position in 2018, his coaches moved him to offensive tackle (although, injuries forced him to play both positions in 2019). Grable played on the offensive line full-time in 2020 and earned the starting left tackle job. He entered the transfer portal after the 2021 season and committed to head coach Gus Malzahn and UCF over Arizona State, Houston and others. Grable took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic. He graduated with his degree from UCF (January 2023) and is working towards a second degree in sociology. Grable accepted his invitation to the 2024 East -West Shrine Bowl
STRENGTHS: Coordinated athlete and has the feet of an oversized tight end … has done a nice job evenly distributing his added weight/bulk since moving to the offensive line in 2019 … agile footwork helps him get in his stance quickly and protect the corner versus speed … shows the body control to redirect against inside counter moves … has done a better job relying on his post hand, and his length in general, to slow down rushers … appears comfortable on short and long pulls …uses his hip roll to work low to high and seal in the run game … keeps pounding his feet to generate movement when his latch hands are correctly placed … will occasionally finish with a toss-and-bury move … takes coaching well and still considers himself a pupil … started all 27 games at UCF the past two seasons (and practiced at center at the behest of UCF offensive line coach Herb Hand).
WEAKNESSES: Still more of a novice in several technical areas of playing the position, which is understandable considering his experience … hands often miss their mark, which results in excessive lunging to recover (penalized seven times for holding in 2023) … will give up ground when he allows rushers into his body … some of his body stiffness will show once he is engaged … sightlines and anticipation to properly read pressures and blitz angles are still a work in progress … not a true mauler in the run game and needs to finish with consistent torque/attitude … aside from tight end snaps at Jacksonville State, he was a left tackle only (96.4 percent of his snaps) in college.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at UCF, Grable lined up at left tackle in head coach Gus Malzahn’s up-tempo spread offense. A high school quarterback turned tight end and later offensive tackle in college (a similar path to that of Tytus Howard), he made the jump to the FBS with the Knights and showed steady growth, not allowing a sack in 2023. Grable is a smooth athlete and natural bender who can mirror in space and uses his long arms to recover. However, he needs to play with better control and less lunging in pass protection and run blocking, and he must improve his hand placement for heavier strikes and more power behind his punch. Overall, Grable has only been playing offensive line for four years and is understandably undeveloped in a few areas, but the improvements he’s shown in a short time and his athletic upside are promising. He is a developmental prospect (some teams like him best at center) who has yet to play his best football.
GRADE: 7th Round
Undrafted Guys
Other notable UCF guys
LB #23. TATUM BETHUNE | Florida State 5114 | 227 lbs. | 5SR Miami, Fla. (Central) 2/19/2001 (age 23.18) #15
BACKGROUND: Tatum Bethune was born and raised in Miami. His parents (Gregory and Shovon) are both longtime educators in Miami-Dade County, and his father was a safety at Florida A&M (1990-93). Bethune started playing football at age 5 at Pembroke Pines Optimist and played multiple positions, including the offensive line, where his aggressive play style was able to shine. Bethune attended Miami Central High School, where he was a three-year varsity letterman, primarily as a defensive end and linebacker. He led the team to back-to-back 10-win seasons in his junior and senior years (both times falling to Miami Northwestern in the quarterfinals of the 6A state playoffs). As a senior, Bethune earned a spot in the 2018 Miami-Dade All-Star Game and finished with 80 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss,14.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fourth-quarter interception that sealed a win for Central .A three-star recruit, Bethune was the No. 100 outside linebacker in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 185 recruit in Florida. He received offers from Appalachian State, Boston College, Tulane, UAB and UNLV before his lone SEC offer, from Auburn, arrived. However, he developed a bond with Randy Shannon while Shannon was the defensive coordinator at Florida, and Bethune committed to UCF in May 2018 shortly after Shannon was hired as the Knights’ defensive coordinator. He was the No. 9 ranked recruit in UCF’s 2019 class (same class as QB Dillon Gabriel). After three seasons, Bethune entered the transfer portal and was pursued by several programs, including his hometown Miami. But Bethune again followed Shannon, who was hired as defensive coordinator at Florida State. Bethune took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic and returned to Tallahassee for his fifth season in 2023. He earned Academic All-AAC honors at UCF and Academic All-ACC honors at Florida State and graduated with his degree from Florida State
STRENGTHS: Smaller in stature, but pops pads like he is a much bigger player (see his hit on Jayden Daniels on 2023 LSU tape) … quick to attack the line of scrimmage and fill … doesn’t second-guess himself once he triggers, which allows him to beat blockers to the spot … explosive, well-timed Blitzer (26 pressures over the last two seasons) … highly alert in coverage, sniffing out screens or carrying speed … played on kick and punt coverages both of his seasons at FSU … an introvert off the field, but an extrovert on the field and appears to be in his element between the lines … team captain and leads by example (NFL scout: “When I ask the coaches who their best practice player is, ‘TB’ is the first name they mention.”) … played in 61 games the last five seasons.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks an ideal linebacker frame and can continue developing his strength … gets pulled into gaps and late punching his way off blocks … impatient when scraping and false steps will follow him to the next level … tight in his hips and late to respond to ball carriers who can swiftly change run lanes … average chase speed in pursuit … tends to prioritize violence over discipline in his play, which will leave him out-leveraged at times … blasts into the ball carrier, but his wrap can be late to embrace, which leaves him falling off tackle attempts … can be washed at the second level by climbers … will get handsy in coverage as he tries to keep track of routes … part of a heavy rotation and averaged just 37.6 defensive snaps per game in 2023.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Florida State, Bethune played Will linebacker in defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s 4-2-5 base scheme. After three years at UCF ,he proved to be a natural fit with the Seminoles over the last two seasons and finished his career with 339 career tackles. A run-and-hit player, Bethune is a violent striker with large hands, relentless play demeanor and better power in his frame than expected. Though he is consistently around the football, because of his warp 244processing speed, his positioning and balance will suffer at times, leaving him out-leveraged and falling off tackle attempts. Overall, Bethune is a fast-flow linebacker who plays with intent and coverage upside, but his aggressive nature will be used against him at the NFL level. He projects as an NFL backup and special teamer.
GRADE: 7th Round-Priority Free Agent
Center# 9. MATT LEE | Miami 6035 | 301 lbs. | 5SR Oviedo, Fla. (Hagerty) 6/6/2001 (age 22.89) #55
BACKGROUND: Matthew “Matt” Lee was born and raised in Oviedo. His father (Mike) played on the offensive line at UCF in the early ’90s (multiple members of his family also attended UCF), and Lee attended Knights football games throughout childhood, which started him on his own football journey. Lee attended Hagerty High School and was a four-year letterman at both offensive tackle and on the defensive line. He became a starter as a sophomore and played the bulk of his snaps as a blocking tight end in Hagerty’s run-heavy, single-wing offense. Lee played at both left tackle and right tackle over his final two seasons, leading Hagerty to the 2018district championship. He was also a member of the Hagerty weightlifting squad and led the program to the 2018 district title . He finished second in the heavyweight division with a bench press of 360 pounds and clean-and-jerk of 310.A three-star recruit, Lee was the No. 162 offensive tackle in the 2019 class and the No. 260 recruit in Florida. After his sophomore season, he received his first Division I offers (Florida Atlantic and Air Force). With a 3.9 GPA and 1350 SAT score, Lee started to receive attention from Ivy League programs, including offers from Columbia, Cornell, Harvard and Yale. In May 2018, he received an offer from South Florida and committed. He wasn’t recruited by Scott Frost’s staff at UCF, but whenJosh Heupel took over as head coach, Lee received an offer and made the easy decision to flip to his hometown team. He signed as a center (despite having neverplayed the position) and was the No. 19 recruit in Heupel’s 2019 class. After four seasons with the UCF program, Lee entered the transfer portal and signed withMiami for his final season of eligibility.His cousin (Alex Galvez) played on the offensive line at UCF in the 1990s. Lee graduated with his degree in integrated studie s (December 2022) from UCF beforetransferring. He accepted his invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.YEAR (GP/GS) POSITION NOTES2019: (4/0) UCF; Redshirted;
STRENGTHS: Light-footed and graceful on the move … ability as a puller/climber and in the screen game can be weaponized with improved control … plays with a wide base and mirrors inside rushers well in pass protection … initial strikes are firm and measured, helping him stay centered … recognizes things well to handle stunts and rarely appears surprised, allowing him to anchor at shallow depth … penalized just once in 2023, for a questionable block below the waist … smart and vocal and helps adjust protections … regularly looking for work and his consistency as a finisher will serve him well in the pros … started double-digit games each of the last four seasons (48 career starts across two programs).
WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal body mass, and his playing weight will dip below 300 pounds … short arms will have a tough time combating the long-levered interior rushers in the NFL … tends to lose leverage throughout the rep, and his hand exchange must improve to better respond to counters … has some body tightness, which hinders his ability to recover from awkward positions … can be cratered by side-angled blocks … doesn’t have the pop or power to consistently move bodies in the run game … will be thrown off balance or whiff when he lunges at this targets in space … saw some action as a backup guard in 2019, but 97.6 percent of his college snaps(and all 48 starts) came at center
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Miami, Lee was the starting center in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s balanced run scheme. He outplayed his recruiting rankings during his four years at UCF and put together his best season after joining the Hurricanes in 2023, earning second team All-ACC honors. In pass protection Lee was a boring study — and I mean that as a compliment, because he rarely allowed any pressures, thanks to his setup, mirror quickness and clamp-down hands. Though he can create stalemates in the run game, he isn’t a powerful drive blocker and will struggle to shield lanes at times. Overall, Lee doesn’t have the powerdesired by most schemes, but he can handle surface blocks in the run game while staying stout in pass pro, thanks to his quickness and technique. In the rightsituation, he can secure a backup role and compete for NFL playing time.
GRADE: 5th-6th Round
QB# 16. JOHN RHYS PLUMLEE | UCF 5116 | 203 lbs. | 5SR Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove) 1/2/2001 (age 23.31) #10
SUMMARY: John Rhys Plumlee, who is also a talented pianist and singer, grew up in Hattiesburg. He was always a dual-sport star (baseball and football) and was the6A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior quarterback at Oak Grove High. A four-star recruit, Plumlee flipped from Georgia to Ole Miss and saw immediate action for an injured Matt Corral in 2019. He backed up Corral in 2020 and moved to receiver in 2021. He transferred to UCF for his final two seasons and set the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He also played outfield for the baseball teams at both Ole Miss and UCF. A true dual-threat quarterback, Plumlee is dynamic in the RPO game and throws well on the move with fast eyes and a strong arm. Overall, Plumlee struggles with inconsistent placement and decision-making as a passer, but his athletic instincts make him an interesting position-change prospect and candidate for the practice squad.
GRADE: Priority Free Agent
WR# 20. JAVON BAKER | UCF 6012 | 202 lbs. | 4SR Atlanta, Ga. (McEachern) 2/18/2002 (age 22.19) #1
BACKGROUND: Javon (JAY-von) Baker was born and raised in West Atlanta. He said he “grew up rough,” but sports were his outlet, and he played “everything”
— from skateboarding to basketball. He picked up football at age 11, and it quickly became as his go-to sport. Baker started his high school career at KIPP Atlanta
Collegiate, where he played as a freshman. For his final three prep years, he transferred to John McEachern High School in Powder Springs, where he was a three-year
varsity letterman. As a junior, Baker helped his team win eight games and make the playoffs, with 1,105 receiving yards and e ight touchdowns. As a senior, he led
McEachern to 12 straight wins and the 2019 regional title before a loss to North Gwinnett in the state playoff quarterfinals. Baker finished his final season with 58
receptions for 629 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning All-America honors. He played for Cam Newton’s 7-on-7 squad and lettered in track at McEachern with personal
bests of 12.17 seconds in the 100 meters and 6 feet in the high jump.
A four-star recruit, Baker was the No. 34 wide receiver in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 20 recruit in Georgia. After his sophomore season, he received offers
from several SEC programs, like Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. Baker also made waves at the Nike Opening Regional in Atlanta, where he won the wide
receiver MVP award. Soon after, several other big-time programs, like Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State entered the mix during his junior year. He took several visits
to Tuscaloosa and committed to the Crimson Tide in November 2018. Baker was the No. 19 recruit in former head coach Nick Saban’s 2020 class. Over his first two
seasons at Alabama, he struggled to see meaningful offensive snaps, which led to him leaving the program (Baker: “I just needed to touch the ball.”). He entered the
transfer portal in January 2022 and initially committed to Kentucky. However, he didn’t participate in spring practices, and Baker later revealed that Kentucky had
rescinded its offer. With his options limited, he transferred to UCF in May 2022, despite not knowing much about the program. Baker accepted his invitation to the
2024 Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS: Explosive athlete with a smooth gait … put several big plays on his 2023 tape (five catches of 50-plus yards) … establishes initial leverage in his releases
and leans on pace and physicality in his route running … able to clear out catch space at the break point but can just as easily work with bodies around him (see 2023
bowl game vs. Georgia Tech) … plays with good body length and climbs the ladder to make athletic, mid-air adjustments … catches the ball away from his body and
quickly puts it away for YAC opportunities … used on screens and jets so he could show off his vision and run balance to weave through the defense … physical
mentality also translates to his blocking … “learned a lot” from DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle while in Tuscaloosa … receiving production got better each season.
WEAKNESSES: Has speed but doesn’t always use it effectively … inefficient at times in/out of breaks, and his footwork can get wild … need s to improve his body
positioning at the catch point to close off defenders and frame the ball … occasionally relies on his body to finish catches, leading to frustrating focus drops (more
drops than touchdown catches in his career) … needs to put more of an emphasis on his sales techniques to bait coverage … wasn’t used as a returner in college and
offers very meager special-teams experience, although he has the athletic profile to play there … almost all of his offensive production came after he left Alabama.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at UCF, Baker was used across the formation in head coach Gus Malzahn’s up-tempo spread attack (72.9 percent of his 2023 snaps
came outside, 27.1 percent inside). After he struggled to see offensive snaps in his two seasons at Alabama, he transferred to UCF and led the team in receiving in
2023, ranking No. 2 in the FBS in yards per catch (21.9). Baker is a good-sized athlete with explosive flashes to create on YAC-designed plays (tunnels, swing screens,
etc.) or win deep (his 21 catches of 20-plus yards in 2023 ranks fourth best in the draft class, behind Nabers, Odunze and Malik Washington). He can make some wild
catches with his body control and length, but the drops and inconsistencies at the catch point can be maddening. Overall, Baker is a loose-striding athlete with ball tracking skills, although his tape is full of inefficiencies and question marks that didn’t allow him to consistently showcase his talent. He projects as a developmental Z receiver with starting upside.
GRADE: 4th Round
OT # 24. TYLAN GRABLE | UCF 6056 | 306 lbs. | 6SR Gordon, Ga. (Wilkinson County) 10/4/1999 (age 24.56) #71
BACKGROUND: Tylan Grable, one of five children, was born and raised in Gordon, a small city smack-dab in the middle of Georgia. He grew up playing multiple sports and was a do-everything athlete any time he played football. Grable attended Wilkinson County High School, where he was a four-year letterman on varsity (both basketball and football). He started at quarterback as a sophomore and junior (5,103 combined) passing yards, but the team managed just five total wins over those two seasons. Grable received recruiting interest but knew his future wouldn’t be at quarterback, so he prepared to switch positions for his senior year. However, he broke his foot during basketball season and then suffered the same injury in the first game of the 2017 football season, which sidelined him for his final season. A no-star recruit, Grable wasn’t ranked by recruiting services in the 2018 recruiting class. He received interest from local Division I programs, which wanted to see the230-pound quarterback at tight end or defensive end, but his foot injury as a senior prevented that. The lack of tape kept Divisi on I teams from offering him, and his only opportunity was a scholarship offer from Division II West Alabama. However, Grable elected to be patient and not sign. A few months after signing day, FCS Jacksonville State reached out, and Grable walked on as a tight end. After redshirting at his new position in 2018, his coaches moved him to offensive tackle (although, injuries forced him to play both positions in 2019). Grable played on the offensive line full-time in 2020 and earned the starting left tackle job. He entered the transfer portal after the 2021 season and committed to head coach Gus Malzahn and UCF over Arizona State, Houston and others. Grable took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic. He graduated with his degree from UCF (January 2023) and is working towards a second degree in sociology. Grable accepted his invitation to the 2024 East -West Shrine Bowl
STRENGTHS: Coordinated athlete and has the feet of an oversized tight end … has done a nice job evenly distributing his added weight/bulk since moving to the offensive line in 2019 … agile footwork helps him get in his stance quickly and protect the corner versus speed … shows the body control to redirect against inside counter moves … has done a better job relying on his post hand, and his length in general, to slow down rushers … appears comfortable on short and long pulls …uses his hip roll to work low to high and seal in the run game … keeps pounding his feet to generate movement when his latch hands are correctly placed … will occasionally finish with a toss-and-bury move … takes coaching well and still considers himself a pupil … started all 27 games at UCF the past two seasons (and practiced at center at the behest of UCF offensive line coach Herb Hand).
WEAKNESSES: Still more of a novice in several technical areas of playing the position, which is understandable considering his experience … hands often miss their mark, which results in excessive lunging to recover (penalized seven times for holding in 2023) … will give up ground when he allows rushers into his body … some of his body stiffness will show once he is engaged … sightlines and anticipation to properly read pressures and blitz angles are still a work in progress … not a true mauler in the run game and needs to finish with consistent torque/attitude … aside from tight end snaps at Jacksonville State, he was a left tackle only (96.4 percent of his snaps) in college.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at UCF, Grable lined up at left tackle in head coach Gus Malzahn’s up-tempo spread offense. A high school quarterback turned tight end and later offensive tackle in college (a similar path to that of Tytus Howard), he made the jump to the FBS with the Knights and showed steady growth, not allowing a sack in 2023. Grable is a smooth athlete and natural bender who can mirror in space and uses his long arms to recover. However, he needs to play with better control and less lunging in pass protection and run blocking, and he must improve his hand placement for heavier strikes and more power behind his punch. Overall, Grable has only been playing offensive line for four years and is understandably undeveloped in a few areas, but the improvements he’s shown in a short time and his athletic upside are promising. He is a developmental prospect (some teams like him best at center) who has yet to play his best football.
GRADE: 7th Round
Undrafted Guys
- Jajuan Forte 220th WR
- Corey Gammage 304th WR
- Alec Holler 30th TE
- Zach Marsh Wojan 106th TE
- Tylan Grable 24th OT
- Mark Anthony Richards 137th ranked RB
- Javon Baker 20th Ranked WR
- Lokahi Pauole 52nd Guard
- Bula Schmidt 47th Center
- Tre'Mon Morris-Brash 67th Edge
- Jason Johnson 36th LB
- Walter Yates 113th LB
- Dejordan Mask 133rd S
- Jireh Wilson 87th S
- Decorian Patterson 62nd CB
Other notable UCF guys
LB #23. TATUM BETHUNE | Florida State 5114 | 227 lbs. | 5SR Miami, Fla. (Central) 2/19/2001 (age 23.18) #15
BACKGROUND: Tatum Bethune was born and raised in Miami. His parents (Gregory and Shovon) are both longtime educators in Miami-Dade County, and his father was a safety at Florida A&M (1990-93). Bethune started playing football at age 5 at Pembroke Pines Optimist and played multiple positions, including the offensive line, where his aggressive play style was able to shine. Bethune attended Miami Central High School, where he was a three-year varsity letterman, primarily as a defensive end and linebacker. He led the team to back-to-back 10-win seasons in his junior and senior years (both times falling to Miami Northwestern in the quarterfinals of the 6A state playoffs). As a senior, Bethune earned a spot in the 2018 Miami-Dade All-Star Game and finished with 80 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss,14.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fourth-quarter interception that sealed a win for Central .A three-star recruit, Bethune was the No. 100 outside linebacker in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 185 recruit in Florida. He received offers from Appalachian State, Boston College, Tulane, UAB and UNLV before his lone SEC offer, from Auburn, arrived. However, he developed a bond with Randy Shannon while Shannon was the defensive coordinator at Florida, and Bethune committed to UCF in May 2018 shortly after Shannon was hired as the Knights’ defensive coordinator. He was the No. 9 ranked recruit in UCF’s 2019 class (same class as QB Dillon Gabriel). After three seasons, Bethune entered the transfer portal and was pursued by several programs, including his hometown Miami. But Bethune again followed Shannon, who was hired as defensive coordinator at Florida State. Bethune took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic and returned to Tallahassee for his fifth season in 2023. He earned Academic All-AAC honors at UCF and Academic All-ACC honors at Florida State and graduated with his degree from Florida State
STRENGTHS: Smaller in stature, but pops pads like he is a much bigger player (see his hit on Jayden Daniels on 2023 LSU tape) … quick to attack the line of scrimmage and fill … doesn’t second-guess himself once he triggers, which allows him to beat blockers to the spot … explosive, well-timed Blitzer (26 pressures over the last two seasons) … highly alert in coverage, sniffing out screens or carrying speed … played on kick and punt coverages both of his seasons at FSU … an introvert off the field, but an extrovert on the field and appears to be in his element between the lines … team captain and leads by example (NFL scout: “When I ask the coaches who their best practice player is, ‘TB’ is the first name they mention.”) … played in 61 games the last five seasons.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks an ideal linebacker frame and can continue developing his strength … gets pulled into gaps and late punching his way off blocks … impatient when scraping and false steps will follow him to the next level … tight in his hips and late to respond to ball carriers who can swiftly change run lanes … average chase speed in pursuit … tends to prioritize violence over discipline in his play, which will leave him out-leveraged at times … blasts into the ball carrier, but his wrap can be late to embrace, which leaves him falling off tackle attempts … can be washed at the second level by climbers … will get handsy in coverage as he tries to keep track of routes … part of a heavy rotation and averaged just 37.6 defensive snaps per game in 2023.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Florida State, Bethune played Will linebacker in defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s 4-2-5 base scheme. After three years at UCF ,he proved to be a natural fit with the Seminoles over the last two seasons and finished his career with 339 career tackles. A run-and-hit player, Bethune is a violent striker with large hands, relentless play demeanor and better power in his frame than expected. Though he is consistently around the football, because of his warp 244processing speed, his positioning and balance will suffer at times, leaving him out-leveraged and falling off tackle attempts. Overall, Bethune is a fast-flow linebacker who plays with intent and coverage upside, but his aggressive nature will be used against him at the NFL level. He projects as an NFL backup and special teamer.
GRADE: 7th Round-Priority Free Agent
Center# 9. MATT LEE | Miami 6035 | 301 lbs. | 5SR Oviedo, Fla. (Hagerty) 6/6/2001 (age 22.89) #55
BACKGROUND: Matthew “Matt” Lee was born and raised in Oviedo. His father (Mike) played on the offensive line at UCF in the early ’90s (multiple members of his family also attended UCF), and Lee attended Knights football games throughout childhood, which started him on his own football journey. Lee attended Hagerty High School and was a four-year letterman at both offensive tackle and on the defensive line. He became a starter as a sophomore and played the bulk of his snaps as a blocking tight end in Hagerty’s run-heavy, single-wing offense. Lee played at both left tackle and right tackle over his final two seasons, leading Hagerty to the 2018district championship. He was also a member of the Hagerty weightlifting squad and led the program to the 2018 district title . He finished second in the heavyweight division with a bench press of 360 pounds and clean-and-jerk of 310.A three-star recruit, Lee was the No. 162 offensive tackle in the 2019 class and the No. 260 recruit in Florida. After his sophomore season, he received his first Division I offers (Florida Atlantic and Air Force). With a 3.9 GPA and 1350 SAT score, Lee started to receive attention from Ivy League programs, including offers from Columbia, Cornell, Harvard and Yale. In May 2018, he received an offer from South Florida and committed. He wasn’t recruited by Scott Frost’s staff at UCF, but whenJosh Heupel took over as head coach, Lee received an offer and made the easy decision to flip to his hometown team. He signed as a center (despite having neverplayed the position) and was the No. 19 recruit in Heupel’s 2019 class. After four seasons with the UCF program, Lee entered the transfer portal and signed withMiami for his final season of eligibility.His cousin (Alex Galvez) played on the offensive line at UCF in the 1990s. Lee graduated with his degree in integrated studie s (December 2022) from UCF beforetransferring. He accepted his invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.YEAR (GP/GS) POSITION NOTES2019: (4/0) UCF; Redshirted;
STRENGTHS: Light-footed and graceful on the move … ability as a puller/climber and in the screen game can be weaponized with improved control … plays with a wide base and mirrors inside rushers well in pass protection … initial strikes are firm and measured, helping him stay centered … recognizes things well to handle stunts and rarely appears surprised, allowing him to anchor at shallow depth … penalized just once in 2023, for a questionable block below the waist … smart and vocal and helps adjust protections … regularly looking for work and his consistency as a finisher will serve him well in the pros … started double-digit games each of the last four seasons (48 career starts across two programs).
WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal body mass, and his playing weight will dip below 300 pounds … short arms will have a tough time combating the long-levered interior rushers in the NFL … tends to lose leverage throughout the rep, and his hand exchange must improve to better respond to counters … has some body tightness, which hinders his ability to recover from awkward positions … can be cratered by side-angled blocks … doesn’t have the pop or power to consistently move bodies in the run game … will be thrown off balance or whiff when he lunges at this targets in space … saw some action as a backup guard in 2019, but 97.6 percent of his college snaps(and all 48 starts) came at center
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Miami, Lee was the starting center in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s balanced run scheme. He outplayed his recruiting rankings during his four years at UCF and put together his best season after joining the Hurricanes in 2023, earning second team All-ACC honors. In pass protection Lee was a boring study — and I mean that as a compliment, because he rarely allowed any pressures, thanks to his setup, mirror quickness and clamp-down hands. Though he can create stalemates in the run game, he isn’t a powerful drive blocker and will struggle to shield lanes at times. Overall, Lee doesn’t have the powerdesired by most schemes, but he can handle surface blocks in the run game while staying stout in pass pro, thanks to his quickness and technique. In the rightsituation, he can secure a backup role and compete for NFL playing time.
GRADE: 5th-6th Round
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