UCF’s Seyvon Lowry
Veteran defensive end leads surging UCF in INTs
leads the Knights in interceptions with two in the first four games, and his teammates say it couldn’t happen to a more popular player.
It has been a running joke this week around the football facilities at UCF that Seyvon Lowry should perhaps change positions.
The suggestion was made that maybe he should be dropped into pass coverage as a defensive back. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end, after all, does lead the Knights in interceptions with two in the first four games.
It’s all in good-natured fun, of course, and Lowry’s coaches and teammates love to laugh with Lowry, one of the most popular players on the Knights’ roster.
“Seyvon’s one of my favorite guys. He’s a special kid. He pours his heart out on the field all the time,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “If we can finish the season with Seyvon catching as many interceptions as McKenzie [Milton] has thrown, then we have a good chance to win some games.”
It’s obvious how much Lowry’s success pumps up the rest of his defensive teammates. It seemed like there wasn’t a hand on the sideline that didn’t tap Lowry’s helmet in congratulations after his interception against Memphis.
“I was thinking, just don’t get
“I’m happy as heck for that kid. He’s one of my favorite guys on the team and he deserves everything he gets. Actually, you don’t deserve, you earn it and he earns everything he gets. He’s awesome.” UCF defensive coach Erik Chinander on Seyvon Lowry
a penalty … get as much yards as you can,” Lowry said of the interception, which he returned 14 yards and set up another UCF touchdown during a 40-13 rout of the American Athletic Conference foe.
He then pulled off another interception last week during the Knights’ 51-23 blowout of Cincinnati, making him the team leader.
“Seyvon’s like a DB out there,” linebacker Shaquem Griffin said, laughing. “I remember last year he made so many plays on the ball . ... It’s kind of crazy how he gets around the ball so much. He looks like a DB. He’s got a good surge on the ball, he’s got a smooth backpedal and he picked it off.
“Just to see a guy like that, being able to put his hands on the ball so much and being able to have two picks back-to-back [games]. … It shows that the hard work he’s putting in … and the way he’s reading his keys, it pays off for him.”
Lowry, a senior, played sparingly a year ago, but he has worked his way into the defensive line rotation this season. He had 13 tackles last season. This year, though he has just two tackles in four games, he’s been far more active.
Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander echoed the Knights’ enthusiasm over Lowry’s success.
“I’m happy as heck for that kid. He’s one of my favorite guys on the team and he deserves everything he gets,” Chinander said. “Actually, you don’t deserve, you earn it and he earns everything he gets. He’s awesome.”