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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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.
