10 players given chance to impress
Richie Grant, Marlon Williams and Otis Anderson are among a group of former UCF players participating in the program’s pro day Thursday at Nicholson Fieldhouse.
With the NFL choosing not to host a scouting combine this year due to concerns with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the league is instead choosing to rely on colleges’ pro days to handle the staging of in-person workouts heading into the NFL Draft on April 29-May 1.
All eyes will be on a group of 10 draft-eligible players looking for an opportunity to impress scouts and make their individual cases to all 32 NFL teams.
“I got a chance to meet the guys who are going through Pro Day,” new UCF football coach Gus Malzahn said. “I knew a lot of them or knew of them, coached against some of them and recruited a few of them. That was really special.”
The Knights have made a strong showing in the draft with at least one player selected in each of the last four years.
Grant improved his draft stock with a strong performance in last month’s Senior Bowl, wowing scouts with his ball skills and versatility. He led the team in tackles (72), interceptions (3) and passes defended (9) last season and is looking to join Clayton Geathers (2015) as the latest Knights safety drafted.
Defensive backs Tay Gowan, Aaron Robinson and Nevelle Clarke are joining Grant with hopes of making an impact on scouts.
Gowan missed all the 2020 season after choosing to opt out due to the pandemic. In 2019, his only season at UCF, he registered 31 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defended. Robinson, meanwhile, finished with 98 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles in three seasons with the Knights.
Williams is looking to become the 12th receiver in school history drafted, joining names such as Gabe Davis (2020), Tre’Quan Smith (2018), Breshard Perriman (2015) and Brandon Marshall (2006). He was the team’s leading receiver last season, hauling in 71 passes for 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Receivers Tre Nixon (1,652 yards) and Jacob Harris (987 yards) also had strong 2020 campaigns.
Anderson finished a stellar career at UCF with 3,207 yards from scrimmage, including 2,182 rushing yards. He’s joined by fellow tailback Greg McCrae, who finished with 2,617 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns during four seasons with the Knights.
Scheduled list of participants: RB Otis Anderson; DB Tay Gowan; DB Richie Grant; WR Jacob Harris; RB Greg McCrae; WR Tre Nixon; DB Aaron Robinson; WR Marlon Williams; K Dylan Barnas; and DB Nevelle Clarke.