Key losses - OT Tylan Grable, OG Lokahi Pauole
Top returners - Amari Kight, 6th year (6-7/318, 10 starts at UCF), Marcellus Marshall, SR. (6-5/310, 11 starts at UCF), Adrian Medley, 6th year (6-5/305, 7 starts at UCF)
New additions - Jabari Brooks (6-3/335, transfer from Samford), Wes Dorsey (6-7/315, transfer from WKU), Keegan Smith (6-3/295, transfer from Central Michigan), Waltclaire Flynn (6-2/304, FR.)
If there's one unit I'm concerned about heading into the 2024 season for UCF, then it would have to be their newly made over offensive line group. One reason for the concern is the loss of Pauole, who has been the leader and rock of the room over the past four seasons (48 starts at UCF as an interior lineman from 2019-2023). That's a massive man the Knights can no longer count on to create holes up the middle. UCF also loses Grable, who was a two-year starter (27 starts) at tackle for the Knights.
Kight and Medley are both very experienced sixth-year guys who do return in the trenches. Injuries and depth in front of them are two things that have held both players back in their respective college careers, but both found consistent playing time down the stretch for UCF last season. Marshall, who transferred to UCF from Kent State, was a welcomed addition to the OL room (starting games both inside and outside on the line last year).
To add experience on the line, UCF added a trio of lineman through the portal this past offseason. Brooks was an All-Conference lineman last season at Samford and comes to Orlando with over 30 career starts in the Southern Conference (guard and center). Dorsey started 11 games at tackle last season for Western Kentucky, while Smith started at right guard for Central Michigan in 2023 (15 career starts).
Unlike the defensive line that rotates guys in and out throughout drives, Coach Hand likes to find one cohesive unit to go with (barring injuries of course). Sure, an occasional substitution will need to happen from time to time. But my point is, Coach Hand will have his hands-full (get it?) finding a grouping to go with in camp, while ensuring that they have ample enough time to gel as a cohesive unit.
Prior Positional Previews:
Defensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-defensive-line.117479/
Top returners - Amari Kight, 6th year (6-7/318, 10 starts at UCF), Marcellus Marshall, SR. (6-5/310, 11 starts at UCF), Adrian Medley, 6th year (6-5/305, 7 starts at UCF)
New additions - Jabari Brooks (6-3/335, transfer from Samford), Wes Dorsey (6-7/315, transfer from WKU), Keegan Smith (6-3/295, transfer from Central Michigan), Waltclaire Flynn (6-2/304, FR.)
If there's one unit I'm concerned about heading into the 2024 season for UCF, then it would have to be their newly made over offensive line group. One reason for the concern is the loss of Pauole, who has been the leader and rock of the room over the past four seasons (48 starts at UCF as an interior lineman from 2019-2023). That's a massive man the Knights can no longer count on to create holes up the middle. UCF also loses Grable, who was a two-year starter (27 starts) at tackle for the Knights.
Kight and Medley are both very experienced sixth-year guys who do return in the trenches. Injuries and depth in front of them are two things that have held both players back in their respective college careers, but both found consistent playing time down the stretch for UCF last season. Marshall, who transferred to UCF from Kent State, was a welcomed addition to the OL room (starting games both inside and outside on the line last year).
To add experience on the line, UCF added a trio of lineman through the portal this past offseason. Brooks was an All-Conference lineman last season at Samford and comes to Orlando with over 30 career starts in the Southern Conference (guard and center). Dorsey started 11 games at tackle last season for Western Kentucky, while Smith started at right guard for Central Michigan in 2023 (15 career starts).
Unlike the defensive line that rotates guys in and out throughout drives, Coach Hand likes to find one cohesive unit to go with (barring injuries of course). Sure, an occasional substitution will need to happen from time to time. But my point is, Coach Hand will have his hands-full (get it?) finding a grouping to go with in camp, while ensuring that they have ample enough time to gel as a cohesive unit.
Prior Positional Previews:
Defensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-defensive-line.117479/