The fifth in a position-by-position preview of the UCF football team heading into fall camp:
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TODAY: OFFENSIVE LINE
What to expect
New offensive line coach A.J. Blazek went to work combing the transfer market in search of suitable replacements for starters Paul Rubelt, Gaard Memmelaar, Carter Miller and Keegan Smith. The four, along with occasional starters Jabarri Brooks and Cameron Kinnie, accounted for more than 2,800 offensive snaps last season.
UCF surrendered 20 sacks last season, middle of the pack in the Big 12 in sacks allowed. The unit also allowed the Knights to rush for 158 yards per game.
The Knights signed four transfers, led by 6-foot-5, 306-pound Henry Tabansi, who was a two-year starter at Buffalo. He’s expected to fill the left tackle spot, while Brady Wayburn (6-5, 305), a transfer from UConn, could fill either guard spot.
Cooper Terpstra (6-4, 304) played sparingly at center at Michigan State last season and has been in the middle of a competition with Jacob Maiava. Conner Meadows has also taken snaps in the middle along with Owen Spell and Wayburn.
Meadows could also wind up at the other guard spot after accumulating more than 1,000 snaps over the past two seasons.
Preston Cushman is the only returning starter, starting all 12 games at right tackle last season. Georgia Tech transfer Tyler Gibson could also see some time at tackle, as Blazek looks to build an 8-10 person rotation up front.
Justin Royes, LaParka Langston, Camp Lott and Spell also figure into the rotation mix.
True freshmen Kasiyah Charlton and Amahn Williams were early enrollees and could see some snaps at least on special teams.
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What they’re saying
“We really want to identify and move the line of scrimmage where we can take advantage of leverage. So we’re going to be athletic and run off the football. We’re going to be scouting our pass protection and using our play action to help us out.” — new UCF offensive line coach A.J. Blazek.
Returnees
Preston Cushman
Connor Meadows
Owen Spell
Camp Lott
LaParka Langston
Justin Royes
Matthew Prigmore
Ethan Higgins
Noah Senka
RaiShaun McHaney
Jacob Maiava
Dominick Campbell
Arrivals
Henry Tabansi (Buffalo), redshirt junior
Brady Wayburn (UConn), redshirt senior
Cooper Terpstra (Michigan State), redshirt junior
Tyler Gibson (Georgia Tech), redshirt senior
Kasiyah Charlton (Brunswick High), freshman
Amahn Williams (Tabor High), freshman
Departures
Paul Rubelt (eligibility)
Gaard Memmelaar (eligibility)
Carter Miller (transfer to South Carolina)
Jabari Brooks (eligibility)
Cameron Kinnie (eligibility)
Keegan Smith (eligibility)
Projected depth chart
LT1 — Henry Tabansi
LG1 — Brady Wayburn
C1 — Cooper Terpstra
RG1 — Connor Meadows
RT1 — Preston Cushman
LT2 — Owen Spell
LG2 — LaParka Langston
C2 — Jacob Maiava
RG2 — Justin Royes
RT2 — Tyler Gibson
Previous
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: [email protected]. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
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