UCF Knights LB Deshawn Pace: "The linebackers are gonna bring the energy."

[ucf1]

There is a lot of transition on the UCF Knights defense, specifically at the linebacker position. Considered a position of weakness a year ago, UCF bolstered the group from the transfer portal, including veteran Deshawn Pace. After spending the first part of his career at Cincinnati, the versatile and athletic Pace is excited to get started in Orlando.

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[AuburnLegacy_1]

There is a lot of transition on the UCF Knights defense, specifically at the linebacker position. Considered a position of weakness a year ago, UCF bolstered the group from the transfer portal, including veteran Deshawn Pace. After spending the first part of his career at Cincinnati, the versatile and athletic Pace is excited to get started in Orlando.

Click here for more.

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It is crazy to think that the LB unit went from being one of the worst in the FBS to one of the best in the Big 12 conference in one season.

Will Linebacker
#8 Jesiah Pierre, Sr, 6’2″, 240
#13 Ben Roberts, R-Fr, 6’3″, 230

Pierre was the starter at WLB for Texas Tech and had the misfortune of playing the same position as one of the best freshmen linebackers in the country.

STAR
Ladarius Tennison OR Suntarine Perkins

Tennison was the starter at Star for Ole Miss and had the misfortune of playing the same position as the No. 1 player in Mississippi who happened to be the No. 2 linebacker in the nation in Perkins. Tennison also played strong safety at Auburn and Ole Miss, but will stick to Star at UCF.

STAR
#3 Deshawn Pace, Sr, 6’2″, 212

Pace is one of the best Stars in the nation.

MLB
Ethan Barr is a four-year SEC starter at MLB and two-time team captain for Vanderbilt and is the most experienced, yet least talented linebacker slated to start for UCF. Backup MLB Langston Patterson led Vandy in tackles.

All of these guys, save Pace, were being supplanted by more talented youngsters, but their experience and diversity is light years beyond what UCF had last season.

With the other transfers and the guys UCF has recruited and developed, LB is the deepest and most diverse position grouping on the field.

Quite a transformation.

 

[Guinness_Knight]

Need them to bring the TFLs and minimal gains 😎

 

[Central Floridave]

Go Knights!

 

[tjb74]

LB, Safety or Nickel, not sure where he will be lined up but I can’t wait to see him on our team. Guy plays with an edge.

 

[tjb74]

looking forward to this nastiness also…

 

[AuburnLegacy_1]

LB, Safety or Nickel, not sure where he will be lined up but I can’t wait to see him on our team. Guy plays with an edge.

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looking forward to this nastiness also…

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I hope they can figure out how to get both of those guys on the field at the same time. I think they are the two of the best three players on defense.

 

[KnightVision82]

Things change drastically in one year period when talent leaves or graduates AND coordinators change.

What has changed in off season? Now that we have the transfer portal it is easy to reload talent and we appear to have better and more talent at the LB position because of the transfers in.

Also, we have a new DC that attacks offenses rather than previous DC. This with the right players in the right positions could have a marked improvement in our defense.

Having said this I don't expect us to be a top 10 defense in the country but we need a defense that keeps our opponents under 30 points and our offense will win games.

 

[beelit47]

Things change drastically in one year period when talent leaves or graduates AND coordinators change.

What has changed in off season? Now that we have the transfer portal it is easy to reload talent and we appear to have better and more talent at the LB position because of the transfers in.

Also, we have a new DC that attacks offenses rather than previous DC. This with the right players in the right positions could have a marked improvement in our defense.

Having said this I don't expect us to be a top 10 defense in the country but we need a defense that keeps our opponents under 30 points and our offense will win games.

If our run defense was simply “average” last season we are probably 10-2 and playing in a much better bowl

 

[Knight_Classes_begin_7pm]

It is crazy to think that the LB unit went from being one of the worst in the FBS to one of the best in the Big 12 conference in one season.

Will Linebacker
#8 Jesiah Pierre, Sr, 6’2″, 240
#13 Ben Roberts, R-Fr, 6’3″, 230

Pierre was the starter at WLB for Texas Tech and had the misfortune of playing the same position as one of the best freshmen linebackers in the country.

STAR
Ladarius Tennison OR Suntarine Perkins

Tennison was the starter at Star for Ole Miss and had the misfortune of playing the same position as the No. 1 player in Mississippi who happened to be the No. 2 linebacker in the nation in Perkins. Tennison also played strong safety at Auburn and Ole Miss, but will stick to Star at UCF.

STAR
#3 Deshawn Pace, Sr, 6’2″, 212

Pace is one of the best Stars in the nation.

MLB
Ethan Barr is a four-year SEC starter at MLB and two-time team captain for Vanderbilt and is the most experienced, yet least talented linebacker slated to start for UCF. Backup MLB Langston Patterson led Vandy in tackles.

All of these guys, save Pace, were being supplanted by more talented youngsters, but their experience and diversity is light years beyond what UCF had last season.

With the other transfers and the guys UCF has recruited and developed, LB is the deepest and most diverse position grouping on the field.

Quite a transformation.

True. Any step forward is better than last year's defense.

 

[U C to the F]

Coaching staff drastically upgraded the defense in every spot via the portal, bringing in proven starters and multi-year eligible depth pieces. LB is much improved. DBs as well, guys who can take good angles and tackle instead of getting cooked and shook. The offense is greatly improved as well. Going to be interesting, I think we are very underrated right now, mostly by the Pac12 newcomers and the west coast media who seem clueless.