Tylan Grable, Lokahi Pauole locked in but who will start at center, right tackle for UCF?

With less than two weeks remaining until UCF's debut Big 12 season begins, competition for starting spots is heating up — particularly along the offensive line.

Knights coach Gus Malzahn believes he is spoiled for choices, running three full groups during practices and trusting no fewer than 10 individual blockers.

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"I think we've got quality depth, especially among the 1s and 2s," Malzahn said. "That will be really vital as the season is going on. We can't have enough depth up front."

Earlier this month, UCF offensive line coach Herb Hand said he didn't have a "set five" in place — with open competition at two spots. How quickly the unit comes together, and paves holes for the nation's No. 9 running game, could go a long way toward determining if the Knights enjoy immediate success in their new surroundings.

The Knights are expected to release their depth chart early next week ahead of the Aug. 31 home date with Kent State, but here is an overview of the position group.

Tylan Grable, Lokahi Pauole anchor reshaped starting unit

Tylan Grable (6-7, 290, 5th, Gordon, Ga.)

In his debut campaign for the program, Grable started all 14 games for the Knights last season at left tackle and earned Pro Football Focus All-AAC third-team honors. He underwent surgery in January for an undisclosed, upper body injury and was sidelined for spring ball.

However, Malzahn declared Grable "full-go" on July 31, the opening day of fall camp. This will be Grable's third straight step up the college football ladder. He was an FCS All-American for Jacksonville State in 2021.

"The whole recovery process has always been good," Grable said. "The biggest thing has just been about being ready to get back out there. … It's never fun missing time. Being back on the field is all I've been waiting for."

Hand added: "In the spring, he was dialed in during every meeting and helping the other guys during spring practice. He was able to do some footwork-based stuff and improving in that guard, even as he was rehabbing through the injury."

According to PFF, Grable allowed five sacks and 16 hurries in 496 pass blocking snaps. He maintained a 72.7 overall grade and a 77.2 mark in pass protection.

Grable even logged a carry last season, gaining 5 yards on a trick play against Temple but coming up just short of the end zone.

"It was fun. Everybody was excited and wanted to see me score," Grable said. "I didn't get the job done, but being able to (run the ball) was a blessing."

Marcellus Marshall (6-5, 310, RJr., Morgantown, W. Va.)

A significant addition from the transfer portal, Marshall chose the Knights over Colorado, Minnesota and a handful of other Power Five programs. He slides over to guard after being named to the Mid-American Conference's first team as a left tackle at Kent State, UCF's opponent a week from this Thursday.

"It happens a lot faster inside, a lot more contact," Marshall said. "The ball is snapped, and you better figure out what's going on because you've got to go. … It's put your head down and go get it."

Marshall got three looks at elite competition in the opening month of the '22 season as the Golden Flashes traveled to Washington, Oklahoma and Georgia. Kent State led the conference in rushing (202.1 yards per game), and Marshall contributed a 60.6 overall grade in 869 snaps, per PFF.

Drake Metcalf (6-2, 292, RJr., Orange, Calif.) or Bula Schmidt (6-1, 294, RSr., Wahiawa, Hawaii) or Caden Kitler (6-3, 295, RFr., Dallas, Texas)

The center competition has been wide open this fall upon Metcalf's arrival from Stanford.

"All three of those guys could start in Division I football," Malzahn said. "I don't know if I've ever had as much quality and depth at the center position."

Metcalf appeared in 15 games for the Cardinal, making one start as a redshirt sophomore last fall. He was the No. 8 center recruit in the nation, per 247Sports, during his senior year at St. John Bosco High School in California.

Schmidt enrolled in January and had the benefit of a full spring camp. He's a veteran of 40 games at Fresno State, with 31 career starts and a second-team All-Mountain West Conference selection.

Kitler was the lone scholarship offensive lineman signed during Gus Malzahn's first full recruiting cycle (2022). He played both the center at tackle spots for John Paul II High School, making the all-district team.

Lokahi Pauole (6-4, 305, 5th, Kapolei, Hawaii)

There is no such question, however, at right guard where Pauole is one of the Knights' six captains and a first-team All-AAC choice.

Named to the Outland Trophy watch list, Pauole has made 34 career starts for UCF. He's one of the better pass-blocking guards in the nation, grading positively in all but one game last year for an 85.1 mark in that department, per Pro Football Focus.

Overall, Pauole earned a 69.4 grade, allowing 10 total pressures (seven hurries) and taking just one penalty across 1,062 snaps.

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Earlier this month, Pauole said he planned to donate part of his NIL earnings toward relief efforts in the wake of the Maui wildfires.

"My initial thoughts when I first saw the whole thing going around, it's just a really sad day for the Hawaiian Island," Pauole said. "Sad day for the country. It's a tourist destination, a spot where everyone loves to visit. I donated back to help out Maui's community. I took some of my NIL money and donated it back to them. I just feel like in Hawaii, we're all a family. Ohana is a real thing. Even though I'm from O'ahu, I don't have any immediate family over there in Maui, you're connected somehow."

Ed Collins (6-6, 315, 5th, Birmingham, Ala.) or Paul Rubelt (6-10, 330, RJr., Frankfurt-Oder, Germany) or Amari Kight (6-7, 318, RSr., Birmingham, Ala.)

The center competition has been a focal point of conversation, but the right tackle battle is also worth monitoring.

Collins, Rubelt and Kight each got opportunities to shine during the spring in light of Grable's absence. Collins made 13 starts during Josh Heupel's tenure as head coach, and has drawn praise for his leadership and professionalism.

Rubelt is the tallest player on the squad and has often been deployed in heavier formations to assist the run game in short-yardage situations. Kight, meanwhile, was the highest-ranked recruit of the three, earning All-American acclaim as a high schooler and carving out a reserve role at Alabama.

Adrian Medley welcomed back to fold after injury absence

• Adrian Medley (6-5, 305, RSr., Pensacola, Fla.)

• Chidoziri Maghiro (6-5, 325, 5th, Alike, Nigeria)

• Cameron Kinnie (6-3, 315, RJr., Lawrenceville, Ga.)

• Patrick Barnett (6-6, 300, RJr., Key West, Fla.)

• John Harris (6-4, 298, RSr., Hoschton, Ga.)

• Shaheem Hill (6-4, 342, RFr., Orlando, Fla.)

• Johnathan Cline (6-4, 295, Fr., Cartersville, Ga.)

• Keyon Cox (6-5, 270, Fr., Phenix City, Ala.)

• Andrew Phelan (6-3, 250, Fr., Orlando, Fla.)

• Matthew Prigmore (6-2, 290, Fr., Weston, Fla.)

Like Grable, Medley was declared fully healthy as the Knights broke camp at the end of July. He made one start during Malzahn's debut campaign, a road loss to Louisville.

Nigerian-born Maghiro, hailing from South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, has seen limited action in each of the last four seasons.

Harris offers quality depth along the interior spots, having previously made four appearances at Virginia Tech and started two full seasons as an all-conference choice at Mercer.

Cline and Cox are prospects for the future, scholarship signees for the '23 class.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football: Offensive line position group breakdown