The UCF Knights’ 2021 season started off promising but slowly fell apart after surprising back-to-back losses to Louisville and Navy. They finished third in the American Athletic Conference but ended the year with a win in the Gasparilla Bowl against Florida. Here are the scouting reports for the UCF prospects we might hear called during the 2022 NFL Draft.
UCF 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
UCF‘s scouting reports include some defensive prospects and a deep wide receiver option who could hear his name called late in the draft.
Big Kat Bryant, DE
Positives: Explosive pass rusher who plays with a violent attitude. Consistently gets leverage on opponents, keeps his feet moving, and rarely gets knocked off his feet. Explosive at the point, fires off the snap with a quick first step, and uses his hands to protect himself. Remains disciplined with assignments and does more than just pin his ears back and rush up the field.
Negatives: Struggles to get off blocks and gets handled by a single opponent. Plays like an ordinary athlete, lacks a closing burst, and isn’t effective making plays in pursuit.
Analysis: Bryant was a hard-charging defender who impacted games in a variety of ways last season. He’s marginally athletic and lacks great upside. Yet, his ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage on a consistent basis will get him looks as a situational pass rusher.
Brandon Johnson, WR
Positives: Nice-sized receiver with sure hands and a nose for the end zone. Comes back to the ball, uses the sidelines well, and boxes out opponents with his frame to protect the ball. Tracks the pass in the air, looks passes into his hands, and displays a sense of timing. Sells routes and possesses good eye/hand coordination. Caught 11 touchdowns last season.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and lacks a burst. Unnecessarily lets the ball get inside him on occasion.
Analysis: Johnson is a small possession receiver with long arms, big hands, and the ability to line up as a fifth wideout on Sundays.
Cole Schneider, G
Positives: Strong, small-area lineman who blocks with a nasty attitude. Displays a terrific head for the position, shows great awareness, and works well with linemates. Sets with a wide base, bends his knees, and fires off the snap into blocks. Strong, turns defenders off the line, and opens up holes for the running game. Better-than-average skill pulling across the line of scrimmage and blocking in motion.
Negatives: Lacks agility and struggles to finish blocks. Possesses average size and speed.
Analysis: Schneider is a hard-working offensive lineman who gets the most from his ability and displays a lot of strength. He lacks the agility necessary for a zone blocker and the sheer bulk to line up in a power-gap system. Still, Schneider does offer possibilities as an inexpensive backup.
Kalia Davis, DL
Positives: Explosive defensive tackle who is built low to the ground. Bends his knees, consistently gets leverage on opponents, and rarely gets knocked off his feet. Displays a terrific first step off the snap, keeps his feet moving, and works his hands throughout the action. Easily moves about the field, quickly changes direction, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Fires through gaps to penetrate the line of scrimmage, nicely redirects to the action, and alters his angle of attack.
Negatives: Lacks bulk and gets easily tied up at the point or completely blocked from the action. Handled by a single opponent. Played in just five games last season before being lost with injury. Marginally productive throughout his college career.
Analysis: Davis has flashed ability, yet he showed plenty of inconsistency in his game and does not have a lot of experience at the college level. He’s a potential 3-technique tackle or one-gap lineman in a four-man front who should receive practice-squad consideration this fall.