Key losses: Nikai Martinez (transferred to Michigan State), Jireh Wilson, Corey Thornton (transferred to Louisville)
Top returners: Quadric Bullard, 5th year (26 career starts); Brandon Adams, Sr. (20 career starts); Demari Henderson, Jr. (8 career starts); Braeden Marshall, So. (3 career starts)
Key additions: Sheldon Arnold (5th year - transfer from ETSU), 6-1/190; Ladarius Tennison (5th year - transfer from Ole Miss), 5-10/200; Mac McWilliams (RS Sr. - transfer from UAB), 5-10/185; Bryon Threats (Sr. - transfer from Cincinnati), 5-10/195; Tre'Quon Fegans (RS So. - transfer from USC), 6-1/190; Antoine Jackson (So. - transfer from East Carolina), 6-1/175; Cedrick Hawkins (RS Fr. - transfer from Ohio State), 6-0/185; Jakob Gude (Fr.), 5-11/175; Jaylen Heyward (Fr.), 6-0/185; Chasen Johnson (Fr.), 6-1/180; Christian Peterson (Fr.), 5-10/175; Jashad Presley (Fr.), 6-2/220
No position group at UCF received more of a makeover in the offseason than this secondary group did. While UCF did return a handful of guys, they also brought in a gluttony of talent to provide depth and competition at both corner and safety. Losing Martinez, a hometown hero that was a productive member of the Knights secondary, hurts a little less this upcoming season when considering who all they've gone out and added. Arnold was an FCS All-American safety at East Tennesse State last season (87 tackles, nine TFL, four INT, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, two TD's). Tennison, who has excelled on special teams throughout his career, brings 136 tackles (18 TFL) over the last four seasons at Ole Miss and Auburn with him to Orlando for his final season. McWilliams also brings a wealth of experience with him from UAB, where he accumulated 100 tackles (five TFL), one forced fumble, one INT, and one TD from 2020-23. The Knights are familiar with Threats, who played the last three seasons for conference-rival Cincinnati (19 starts, 123 career tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, four INT's). Hawkins, who won a state championship locally at Cocoa High School (four-star safety in '23 class), comes to UCF after redshirting his first season at Ohio State. And the well-traveled Fegans (former four-star cornerback in the '22 class, former Under Armour HS All-American) now lands in Orlando after stops at Alabama (2022, redshirted) and USC (2023, two starts)
In Adams, UCF brings back an experienced cornerback who has played in 39 out of a possible 40 career games since he arrived on campus as a true-freshmen. Bullard broke out his sophomore season as a Knight (2021), starting all 13 games en route to All-AAC honors (83 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks, one forced fumble in '21). The veteran defensive back suffered a significant knee injury midway through his junior campaign (2022), and he shuffled in and out of the rotation last season as he worked his way back to full strength (started six of 13 games in '23). Leading UCF in the secondary, Adams and Bullard have combined in their careers to start 46 games and record 230 tackles.
The Knights also boast two local standouts in their secondary in D. Henderson and Marshall. D. Henderson broke out in a big way last season, registering 45 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles in '23 (All Big-12 honorable mention). The word out of camp is that the rising junior suffered an injury that will keep him out for some time, but Coach Malzahn assured that he wouldn't be lost for the season. Marshall, a former four-star defensive back from the '23 class, appeared in all 13 games (three starts, two TFL, one INT) as a true freshmen last season. Perhaps this is the year that J. Henderson (RS So., 6-0/175), who has battled injuries over his first two seasons at UCF, stays healthy and provides additional depth/playmaking for UCF in their secondary.
With so much talent in front of them, it's hard to envision any of the true freshmen from the '24 class seeing this field this season. But injuries do happen, and the Knights brought in an incredibly talented group of high school standouts at corner and safety this past offseason, led by Heyward (four-star from Rockledge, FL) and Gude (four-star from GA). Johnson (Sanford, FL) and Presley (Orlando, FL) continue the new movement of local prep prospects inking with the Knights.
Prior Positional Previews:
Defensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-defensive-line.117479/
Offensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-offensive-line.117554/
Linebackers - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-linebackers.117648/
Running Backs - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-running-backs.117885/
Quarterbacks and Tight Ends - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-quarterbacks-tight-ends.118225/
Wide Receivers - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-wide-receivers.118332/
Top returners: Quadric Bullard, 5th year (26 career starts); Brandon Adams, Sr. (20 career starts); Demari Henderson, Jr. (8 career starts); Braeden Marshall, So. (3 career starts)
Key additions: Sheldon Arnold (5th year - transfer from ETSU), 6-1/190; Ladarius Tennison (5th year - transfer from Ole Miss), 5-10/200; Mac McWilliams (RS Sr. - transfer from UAB), 5-10/185; Bryon Threats (Sr. - transfer from Cincinnati), 5-10/195; Tre'Quon Fegans (RS So. - transfer from USC), 6-1/190; Antoine Jackson (So. - transfer from East Carolina), 6-1/175; Cedrick Hawkins (RS Fr. - transfer from Ohio State), 6-0/185; Jakob Gude (Fr.), 5-11/175; Jaylen Heyward (Fr.), 6-0/185; Chasen Johnson (Fr.), 6-1/180; Christian Peterson (Fr.), 5-10/175; Jashad Presley (Fr.), 6-2/220
No position group at UCF received more of a makeover in the offseason than this secondary group did. While UCF did return a handful of guys, they also brought in a gluttony of talent to provide depth and competition at both corner and safety. Losing Martinez, a hometown hero that was a productive member of the Knights secondary, hurts a little less this upcoming season when considering who all they've gone out and added. Arnold was an FCS All-American safety at East Tennesse State last season (87 tackles, nine TFL, four INT, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, two TD's). Tennison, who has excelled on special teams throughout his career, brings 136 tackles (18 TFL) over the last four seasons at Ole Miss and Auburn with him to Orlando for his final season. McWilliams also brings a wealth of experience with him from UAB, where he accumulated 100 tackles (five TFL), one forced fumble, one INT, and one TD from 2020-23. The Knights are familiar with Threats, who played the last three seasons for conference-rival Cincinnati (19 starts, 123 career tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, four INT's). Hawkins, who won a state championship locally at Cocoa High School (four-star safety in '23 class), comes to UCF after redshirting his first season at Ohio State. And the well-traveled Fegans (former four-star cornerback in the '22 class, former Under Armour HS All-American) now lands in Orlando after stops at Alabama (2022, redshirted) and USC (2023, two starts)
In Adams, UCF brings back an experienced cornerback who has played in 39 out of a possible 40 career games since he arrived on campus as a true-freshmen. Bullard broke out his sophomore season as a Knight (2021), starting all 13 games en route to All-AAC honors (83 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks, one forced fumble in '21). The veteran defensive back suffered a significant knee injury midway through his junior campaign (2022), and he shuffled in and out of the rotation last season as he worked his way back to full strength (started six of 13 games in '23). Leading UCF in the secondary, Adams and Bullard have combined in their careers to start 46 games and record 230 tackles.
The Knights also boast two local standouts in their secondary in D. Henderson and Marshall. D. Henderson broke out in a big way last season, registering 45 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles in '23 (All Big-12 honorable mention). The word out of camp is that the rising junior suffered an injury that will keep him out for some time, but Coach Malzahn assured that he wouldn't be lost for the season. Marshall, a former four-star defensive back from the '23 class, appeared in all 13 games (three starts, two TFL, one INT) as a true freshmen last season. Perhaps this is the year that J. Henderson (RS So., 6-0/175), who has battled injuries over his first two seasons at UCF, stays healthy and provides additional depth/playmaking for UCF in their secondary.
With so much talent in front of them, it's hard to envision any of the true freshmen from the '24 class seeing this field this season. But injuries do happen, and the Knights brought in an incredibly talented group of high school standouts at corner and safety this past offseason, led by Heyward (four-star from Rockledge, FL) and Gude (four-star from GA). Johnson (Sanford, FL) and Presley (Orlando, FL) continue the new movement of local prep prospects inking with the Knights.
Prior Positional Previews:
Defensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-defensive-line.117479/
Offensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-offensive-line.117554/
Linebackers - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-linebackers.117648/
Running Backs - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-running-backs.117885/
Quarterbacks and Tight Ends - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-quarterbacks-tight-ends.118225/
Wide Receivers - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-wide-receivers.118332/
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