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Here’s where outgoing transfers have landed
While UCF football has had success reeling in players from the NCAA transfer portal — such as Alabama wide receiver Javon Baker and Florida tight end Kemore Gamble — numerous Knights have decided to leave the program as well.
Since the start of the 2021-22 transfer portal cycle, which began Aug. 1, 24 UCF players have decided to look elsewhere.
Of the group, eight Knights have landed at Power Five programs and six have ended up at Group of Five schools. A handful dropped from FBS to FCS and one moved down to Division II.
Another six players are still searching for their next school or left college football.
QB Dillon Gabriel - Oklahoma: The star quarterback was headed to UCLA before a coaching change at Oklahoma led to former UCF quarterbacks coach Jeff Lebby becoming the Sooners’ offensive coordinator.
After quarterback Caleb Williams followed coach Lincoln Riley to USC, Oklahoma needed a starting quarterback. With the desire to go to a Power Five program combined with a familiar face in Lebby, Gabriel landed in Norman.
In three years at UCF, Gabriel completed 60% of his passes for 8,037 yards while tossing 70 touchdowns with just 14 interceptions. If Gabriel plays his cards right at Oklahoma, he’ll likely be in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
WR Jaylon Robinson - Ole Miss: There was thought when Robinson entered the transfer portal that he would follow Gabriel. Instead, Robinson joined coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss.
Robinson originally transferred to UCF after beginning his college career at Oklahoma. After sitting out the 2019 season due to transfer rules, he shined in his first year as a Knight by recording 100 or more receiving yards six times, the most at UCF since Brandon Marshall in 2005.
Following a knee injury that limited him this past season, Robinson spent the spring at
U CF before deciding to transfer a second time.
RB Bentavious Thompson - Oklahoma:
While Robinson didn’t follow Gabriel to Oklahoma, Thompson did.
Of all the names on this list, Thompson’s transfer case is perhaps the most curious. He was removed from the roster in August and didn’t officially enter the transfer portal until October.
It’s unclear where he spent the spring semester, but he didn’t commit to Oklahoma until last week.
Playing in 35 games in the past three seasons at UCF, Thompson likely would have been in the mix to start last season before he left the program. He’ll reunite with Lebby and Gabriel.
DL Cam Goode - Michigan: Goode had played in 33 out of 36 games over the last three seasons for the Knights and likely would have contributed heavily next year, but he entered the portal in February.
Goode visited Syracuse and Vanderbilt before transferring to Michigan.
The 6-foot-2, 315-pound defensive tackle’s 4 forced fumbles led the team, tied for second in the conference and ranked 12th in the nation last season.
WR Titus Mokiao-Atimalala - UCLA: When Mokiao-Atimalala signed with UCF, the Knights were without a head coach. He came because of his relationship with Gabriel, who also is from Hawaii.
So when Gabriel transferred, it wasn’t surprising to see Mokiao-Atimalala enter the portal as well. The two almost reunited at UCLA before Gabriel flipped to Oklahoma.
Mokiao-Atimalala’s move west makes sense for the former 4-star prospect from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, who finished high school as the state’s fourth-leading receiver in prep history with 170 receptions for 2,915 yards and 37 touchdowns.
LB Tatum Bethune - FSU: Bethune’s departure was a big loss for the Knights. Starting in all 11 games last season, he finished as the team’s leading tackler (101) and became the 43rd member of UCF’s 100-tackle club.
At FSU, the Miami native reunites with former UCF defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, who was promoted to linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator this offseason.
Bethune was the seventh highest-rated linebacker in the AAC last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
LB Eriq Gilyard - Kansas: The Jacksonville native announced in October that he would transfer once he graduated from UCF. When he took a redshirt, Gilyard was tied for third on the team in tackles after four games.
Once in the portal, Gilyard took official visits to East Carolina and Bowling Green before committing to Kansas, which plays in UCF’s future conference, the Big 12.
Gilyard likely will be an impact player for the Jayhawks after starting nine times at linebacker and totaling 59 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack in 2020 at UCF.
TE Charlie Browder - Tennessee: Browder was recruited by former UCF coaches Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh so a reunion at Tennessee made sense for the Kingsport, Tenn., native after he entered the portal in late December.
When he announced his intentions to become a Vol, Browder called the move a childhood dream fulfilled.
Spending the spring semester in Knoxville, Browder begins as a preferred walk-on, according to 247Sports, in hopes of eventually earning a scholarship with all four years of eligibility remaining.
Group of Five transfers: OL Mike Lofton South Florida
WR Kaedin Robinson - Appalachian State LB Cole Joyce - Utah State
DB Devunte Dawson - North Texas QB Parker Navarro - Ohio
RB Damarius Good - Texas State