Orlando Sentinel

Focus continues on developing O-line

- By Matt Murschel Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosen­tinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosen­tinel.com

The departure of veteran UCF linemen Jordan Johnson and Jake Brown leaves the Knights working to plug experience and leadership holes on the Knights’ offensive line.

Knights coach Josh Heupel and his staff worked to build depth on the line when they arrived in 2018, with the program signing 13 prospects in the past three recruiting cycles.

A dozen players have seen time on the line at one time or another, led by Cole Schneider, a two-time AllAmerica­n Athletic Conference honoree. He’s joined by several players who have earned multiple starts, including Parker Boudreaux (13 career starts), Samuel Jackson (9) and Edwards Collins (3).

UCF has produced at least one first-team AllAAC offensive lineman since 2017.

LEFT TACKLE

Tony Gray Edward Collins

LEFT GUARD

Cole Schneider Lamarius Benson

CENTER

Matt Lee

Eric Seidelman/Kyle Black

Jordan Johnson

RIGHT GUARD

Parker

Boudreaux

Lokahi Pauole

RIGHT TACKLE

Samuel

Jackson

Edward Collins

Buzz: Matt Lee seems the most likely to replace Jordan Johnson at the center position. Lee backed up Johnson but saw limited action, stepping in when Cole Schneider went down with midseason injuries. He appeared in four games for the Knights in 2019. “We’ll find out,” offensive line coach Glen Elarbee said at the start of spring football camp when asked about Lee’s chances of earning the starting job. “[It’s] between him, Eric [Seidelman] and Kyle [Black]. … Edward Collins stepped in for tackle Samuel Jackson, who went down with a midseason injury.

Collins started games for the Knights against Temple, Houston and Tulsa. … Tony Gray appeared in six games with the Knights after joining the team as a transfer from Ole Miss. He could wind up splitting time with Collins at left tackle this season. … Paul Rubelt is one of three prospects UCF signed as part of its 2020 recruiting class. The 6-foot-10, 300-pounder from Germany is a project, according to Heupel, who sees a high ceiling for the tallest player on the roster. … UCF also added Marcus Tatum, a graduate transfer from Tennessee who played in 29 games for the Volunteers. “He adds some experience,” Elarbee said of Tatum. “[He’s] a really, really mature guy and he’ll help us at tackle where he can bring a lot to it.” even more decisions being made and I think it’ll just it’ll come back to relationsh­ips.”

Golesh said the staff has targeted the right types of prospects and some really good players, but he also understand­s fans’ intense interest in the program’s recruiting efforts.

“There’s so much interest in it because there’s nothing,” he said. “There’s no live TV in the sports world going on. So there’s so much more attention on recruiting.

“But I don’t know that it’s super important to winning the recruiting day now on Twitter as it is to win the recruiting battle in December and February when it matters.”

 ?? MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL ?? Cole Schneider and Parker Boudreaux could play key roles on the UCF offensive line this upcoming season.
MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Cole Schneider and Parker Boudreaux could play key roles on the UCF offensive line this upcoming season.

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