UCF adds FCS first-team All-American defensive back
After signing 14 prospects during the early signing period in mid-December, Gus Malzahn landed a big addition from the NCAA transfer portal on Friday.
Austin Peay graduate transfer defensive back Koby Perry announced his decision to attend UCF on social media following one year at the FCS level with the Governors.
“I want to thank Coach Malzahn and the UCF staff for believing in me and giving me a chance to be a part of such a wonderful university and I can’t wait to get to work with you all,” Perry wrote on Twitter.
Perry was named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year after recording 85 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 3 pass breakups in just nine games this fall.
He became the first Austin Peay State football player to be named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year in 43 years.
Perry also earned first-team FCS All-American honors from the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association.
He also was a finalist for the STATS FCS Buck Buchannan Award, which is given annually to the top defensive player in the FCS.
Perry spent time at Troy but did not play in 2019 before joining Austin Peay. The Governors finished 6-5 this season.
Before Austin Peay, Perry led Dodge City (Kan.) Community College with 81 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. He also had 1 interception, broke up 2 passes while forcing 1 fumble and recovering 2 more.
As a freshman in 2017, he recorded 67 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 pass break up, 1 fumble recovery and 3 blocked punts.
Prior to committing to UCF, Perry received offers from Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Kent State, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Charlotte, Toledo, UConn and Liberty, the latter of which he took an official visit.
Malzahn said the Knights will use the portal to help fill in holes of need. Typically, players from the portal bring college football experience compared to high school seniors.
“Every day, every hour, every minute there’s a new guy in,”
Malzahn said about the transfer portal. “I really feel like the teams that can manage their rosters the best are going to have the advantage.”
Not being in a hurry is key when managing the roster with the transfer portal in mind.
“I’m probably more patient than a lot of other teams. But that’s by
design,” Malzahn said. “I just want to make sure it’s right. More than anything, get the right type of people here. That’s going to be really important as we build this thing.”