Knights duo becoming dynamic

Robinson, O’Keefe productive at WR

UCF receivers Jaylon Robinson and Ryan O’Keefe may have taken different paths during their respective football careers, but both have gone from unknowns to household names among Knights fans.

Robinson, a three-star prospect out of Fort Worth, Texas, signed with Oklahoma as part of the Sooners’ 2018 recruiting class before eventually transferring to UCF. He sat out last season in observance of NCAA transfer rules, a move that was both helpful and difficult for him.

“It was hard for me sitting out just because I knew I could help the team in a lot of ways last year,” Robinson said. “It’s always hard not playing and watching.

“It hurts because I’m a ballplayer. I’ve always loved football.”

The Knights saw Robinson’s big-play potential during the first game he was cleared to play. In the season opener against Georgia Tech, the redshirt sophomore finished with six catches for 105 yards, including 48- and 24-yard receptions. A week later, his 64-yard touchdown reception midway through the second quarter against East Carolina highlighted a 150-yard performance.

Through four games, Robinson leads UCF with 10 plays of at least 20 yards, and he has six of the Knights’ 10 longest plays from scrimmage so far this season. He’s second on the team in receptions (28) and receiving yards (539) behind senior Marlon Williams.

“It’s been better than I thought it would be,” Robinson said. “I didn’t think I would have the stats that I have right now because of the depth [at the receiver position]. I didn’t think they would trust me yet, but they’re putting a lot more on my plate and I’m running with it.”

UCF coach Josh Heupel said Robinson has earned opportunities to make big plays.

“He’s gotten more comfortable in what we’re doing and been a better decision-maker and finding the holes in the zones here the last four weeks,” Heupel said. “His best football is still ahead of him.”

O’Keefe’s football journey also started in Texas. The three-star prospect out of Round Rock signed with the Knights as part of their 2019 recruiting class. He spent time at receiver and on the special teams unit last season, appearing in 13 games and finishing with seven catches for 74 yards.

“It’s been a blessing,” O’Keefe said. “I got to learn from Gabe [Davis] and all the really good wide receivers last year. I got to get a year under my belt to learn, grow, develop, and once I finally got to get on the field [to] ... show what I can do, I was ready and comfortable in this offense.”

O’Keefe has seen his opportunities grow during the past few weeks, culminating with a breakout performance against Memphis on Saturday. The sophomore finished with four catches for a careerhigh 175 yards, including a highlight-reel 93-yard touchdown on a screen pass at the start of the fourth quarter.

“We had made it up in our minds before that play that we were going to do something this drive, and Marlon set the perfect block and Jacob [Harris] had the perfect block and I saw the lane, so I just hit it,” O’Keefe recalled.

Heupel said it is clear O’Keefe has big-play potential.

“You can see he’s got great speed — elite speed — and if you get the ball in his hands, he’s got the opportunity to do something pretty special with it,” Heupel said.

After the game, O’Keefe heard from family and friends who wanted to congratulate him.

“The whole city was blowing my phone up,” O’Keefe said. “It was a surreal moment.”

Co-offensive coordinator Anthony Tucker calls O’Keefe one of the most improved players on the team.

“I’ve been waiting a while to see him in the open field and eat up angles and run away from people,” Tucker said. “I was excited for him.”

Added Robinson: “The dude is fast, fast, fast. I’ve been waiting for O’Keefe to break that out.

“I knew that he had that in him and now he has that confidence that hopefully he can bring more to the table and keep doing what he’s doing.”

Whether O’Keefe is the fastest player on the team, however, is left up to interpretation.

“I do believe I’m the fastest guy on this team, but it’s always going to be a friendly competition,” O’Keefe said with a smile.

Tucker said while Amari Johnson, Johnny Richardson, Harris and Robinson are fleet-footed, he might give the nod to O’Keefe.

GERRYBROOME /AP UCF wide receiver Ryan O’Keefe has seen more opportunities as the season has progressed.