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Knights aim to transform LB Armstrong to star

When flipping through a dictionary and looking up the term, “football player,” a photo of UCF linebacker Bryson Armstrong might appear under the listing. Or at least one should pop up, according to defensive coordinator Travis Williams.

“He’s a guy that’s the definition of a football player,” Williams said. “He’s making a lot of plays for us. I’m super proud of him and super happy that we got him.”

Armstrong earned a spot on the weekly American Athletic Conference Honor Roll for the second time this season, after recording a team-high 11 tackles, his first sack and 2 tackles for loss.

The Kennesaw State transfer opened the season playing in a hybrid linebacker-safety position that UCF calls a “Knight,” which is a reference to the team’s mascot. After multiple weeks of moving Armstrong around on defense, Williams believes he’s figured out what works best.

“He was going back and forth, but now he has a home at linebacker,” Williams said.

Armstrong, who was named the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and 20 before heading to UCF, loves the move.

“I’m starting to feel a bit more comfortable out there,” Armstrong said. “I’m having fun at that linebacker spot. I’m starting to learn the defense more and more each week. It feels good to be out there.”

Armstrong has helped UCF’s improve tremendously from last season. The Knights rank 42nd in total defense after finishing 123rd in the country a year ago. Williams addressed what’s different.

“The guys are playing with an edge,” Williams said. “You talk about a knife being dull, a knife can’t cut if its dull. I’m super proud of the guys just going about their business with an edge. That’s the main thing we talk about.”

That messaging is received well by the Knights.

“I love Coach T-Will,” Armstrong said. “[I’m] just so blessed to be able to play for him. He brings the energy every day.”

UCF’s defense has held opponents to less than 300 yards in three straight games for the first time since 2014. Armstrong said it’s just a matter of playing for one another while having fun.

“We rally around each other,” he said.

“When we see more of our buddies make plays, I get more excited for those guys than when I make a play, so just we really just play together.

“I don’t know what our identity is but just the culture of this team in general is is just something special.”

PHELAN M. EBENHACK | AP Transfer Bryson Armstrong has found at home at linebacker with UCF, helping transform a defense that was ranked 123rd nationally a year ago.