The ninth in a position-by-position preview of the UCF football team heading into fall camp:
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TODAY: CORNERBACKS
What to expect
New cornerbacks coach David Overstreet II inherits a veteran unit that returns a pair of starters in Jayden Bellamy and Antione Jackson. Bellamy was the highest-graded cornerback on the roster (77.8) last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The redshirt junior ranked fourth in the Big 12 among cornerbacks in passes defended (8). Jackson, meanwhile, ranked seventh on the team in tackles (39) and second behind Bellamy on pass breakups with five.
D.J. Bell played a large role as a reserve last season, appearing in 11 games, mostly at wide corner, where he recorded 17 tackles and four pass breakups.
Transfer Jailen Duffie made 20 career starts in three seasons at North Dakota State, finishing with 42 tackles, 5 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Duffie was the second-highest graded cornerback on a team that finished 12-1.
True freshmen Elijah Keys and Amarion Queen will provide some much-needed depth, as will redshirt freshman Rukheen Stroud, who returns after spending last season with the Knights.
What they’re saying
“My biggest thing is they care how much you know until they know how much you care. I really want to show my players I actually truly care about them. Not just a number. I don’t care about No. 7. I care about Antione Jackson. When you have that investment in your players, you can coach a player to the depth of your relationship. So, the deeper the relationship is, the more you coach that player.” — UCF cornerbacks coach David Overstreet II on his coaching philosophy.
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Returnees
Jayden Bellamy
Antione Jackson
DJ Bell
Rukeem Stroud
Arrivals
Jailen Duffie (North Dakota State), redshirt junior
Elijah Keys (Duncan U. Fletcher High), freshman
Amarion Queen (Martin County High), freshman
Departures
Jyaire Brown (transfer to Southern Miss): 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 BRKUP
Ja’Cari Henderson (transfer to Appalachian State): 3 tackles
Chase Jarrett (transfer to Colgate)
Terrell Jackson (TBD)
Isaiah Reed (eligibility): 1 tackle
Projected depth chart
CB1 — Jayden Bellamy
CB1 — Antione Jackson
CB2 — DJ Bell
CB2 — Jailen Duffie
Previous
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end
Offensive line
Interior defensive line
Edge
Linebacker
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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