The eighth in a position-by-position preview of the UCF football team heading into fall camp:
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TODAY: LINEBACKERS
What to expect
The return of Lewis Carter gives the Knights not only their leading tackler from last season back but also a solid foundation for the linebacker unit. Carter finished with a team-high 92 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, a quarterback hurry and two forced fumbles, playing alongside Cole Kozlowski, who earned a spot on the All-Big 12 third-team.
Kozlowski’s departure and that of Keli Lawson, who also saw significant snaps at middle and outside linebacker, left the team needing someone to pair with Carter.
Jahleel Culbreath, a two-year starter at Old Dominion who joined the roster as an offseason transfer, figures to play significant snaps. He finished with 149 tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Wisconsin transfer Tacket Curtis has also played significant minutes over the past three seasons, making him an excellent option in the rotation. Rashad Henry, who spent the past three seasons at UMass, could also provide much-needed depth. Both were productive at their former schools, which was an emphasis for UCF coaches in the transfer market.
Returnee Jayden Jennings is back after appearing in nine games last season, totaling 15 tackles and a forced fumble. His presence, along with Phil Picciotti, provides familiarity with the coaching staff and overall leadership among the group.
What they’re saying
“Lewis had a really good season for us, and I think he’s improving this spring. There are some things we’ve talked about that we think could get his game to the next level. We were big on getting him back here, and he was committed to coming back and staying at UCF.” — UCF linebackers coach Mark D’Onofrio on the return of Lewis Carter.
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Returnees
Lewis Carter
Jayden Jennings
Phil Picciotti
Arrivals
Jahleel Culbreath (Old Dominion), redshirt senior
Tackett Curtis (Wisconsin), senior
Rashad Henry (UMass), redshirt junior
Preston Hall (Ridgepoint High), freshman
Matthew Occhipinti (Don Bosco Prep), freshman
Departures
Cole Kozlowski (eligibility): 82 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 PDU, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Keli Lawson (eligibility): 34 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 1 BLK
Kam Moore (transfer to Arkansas State): 3 tackles
TJ Bullard (transfer to Florida): 2 tackles, .5 TFL
Troy Ford Jr. (transfer to West Florida): 3 tackles, 1 PDU
Malakhi Boone (TBD)
Projected depth chart
LB1 — Lewis Carter
LB1 — Tackett Curtis
LB2 — Jayden Jennings
LB2 — Jahleel Culbreath
LB3 — Rashad Henry
LB3 — Phil Picciotti
Previous
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end
Offensive line
Interior defensive line
Edge
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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