Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Nixon, McCrae declare for NFL draft
UCF receiver Tre Nixon and running back Greg McCrae are entering the 2021 NFL draft, passing on an extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted all athletes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nixon, a redshirt senior, announced his decision Tuesday via Twitter, posting a statement and the phrase “Proverbs 16:9.”
“I want to start off by thanking God for all he has done for me in my life. Without Him none of this is possible. I give thanks to all my teammates and coaches over the years for pushing me and keeping me accountable. Thank you Coach Heupel and Coach Wyatt for believing in me and helping me grow into a better man and football player,” Nixon wrote.
Nixon missed most of this season after dislocating his collarbone in the first half the team’s season opener against Georgia Tech Sept. 16. He returned for the Cincinnati game Nov. 21 and played the final three games of the 2020 season.
He finished with 19 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns.
“To the medical staff and strength staff: I appreciate every one of you. 2020 has been a crazy one for sure, and I can’t thank you guys enough for helping me get back out there with my teammates,” Nixon wrote. “My family: Thank you for the unconditional love and support throughout my life and college career. Without you guys, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
“Knight Nation: Thank you for all the memories. These past few years have been nothing short of amazing. I will cherish my time here for a lifetime.”
McCrae, a former walk-on who contributed to UCF’s back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in 2017 and 2018, owns the UCF career record for yards per call with an average of 6.55.
He has 28 career rushing touchdowns, which ranks fourth in UCF history, and 2,543 career rushing yards, which ranks fifth. His seven career games with at least 100 rushing yards ranks seventh in UCF history.
“The lessons I have learned here will come with me wherever I go and I will strive to represent this illustrious institution in everything I do in my future endeavors,” McCrae wrote in a Twitter post also thanking his coaches, teammates, family, UCF community and God for his time with the Knights.
Nixon spent two seasons at Ole Miss before transferring to UCF in 2018. He started 13 games as a redshirt sophomore that season, finishing third on the team with 40 catches for 562 yards and four touchdowns.
The following season, Nixon set career highs in receptions (49), receiving yards (830) and touchdowns (7).
He was expected to move into the No. 1 receiver spot in 2020 with the early departure of Gabe Davis but saw that move derailed with the injury against the Yellow Jackets. “I was in a dark place,” Nixon said about the Dec. 17 injury. “I was thinking, ‘Why me? Why during my senior season?’
“That told me how powerful the mind can be. At that point on, I attacked what I ate, my sleeping schedule, the rehab … I attacked it how I would a game. I feel like God’s will put me back on the field and it’s a blessing. God has a plan for everybody and that’s the route I ended up taking.”
At the time, Nixon wasn’t sure if he would utilize the one-time waiver from the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility.
He becomes the second Knights receiver to leave the program for the NFL, joining Marlon Williams, who chose to opt-out after the loss to Cincinnati.
The move leaves UCF with Jacob Harris — who said he was undecided on whether he’ll return in 2021 — along with Jaylon Robinson, Ryan O’Keefe and Ja’Cyais Credle as receivers with starting experience.