UCF football transfer tracker: Knights get commitment from Cincinnati safety
UCF landed its second commitment from the transfer portal as Cincinnati defensive back Bryon Threats has pledged to the Knights.
Threats completed his third season, appearing in 36 games with 31 starts over his career with the Bearcats. He totaled 123 tackles with 7 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 9 passes defended and a forced fumble.
The senior has one year of eligibility left.
Vitals: 5-10, 195-pounds
Resume: Threats, a 3-star product from Dublin (Ohio) Coffman High, signed with Cincinnati’s 2021 recruiting class. He started 11 games at safety this past season, amassing 57 tackles with 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 6 passes defended.
Role: The Ohio native was part of a Cincinnati secondary ranked fourth in the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing 225.8 yards per game through the air. Threats entered the portal on Dec. 4.
Outlook: Threats joins a UCF secondary that led the league in pass defense (205.8) and returns an assortment of experience and talent in 2024, including Ja’Cari Henderson, Demari Henderson and Nikai Martinez.
OL Jabari Brooks
Vitals: 6-3, 335-pounds
Resume: Brooks played offensive and defensive line at Washington County (Sandersville, Ga.) High before signing with Samford’s 2020 recruiting class. He appeared in 37 games during his career before entering the transfer pon ortal Dec. 1.
Role: Brooks began his career at left guard before switching to center in 2022. He split time last season at guard and center spot. During his career, he’s combined on 2,513 offensive snaps (1,242 at left guard, 1,271 at center)
Outlook: The offensive line was a point of emphasis for the Knights in the transfer market, especially with the departures of starters Bula Schmidt (graduation), Lokahi Pauole (graduation), Ed Collins (graduation) and Drake Metcalf (transfer).
WR Amari Johnson
Vitals: 5-10, 160-pounds
Resume: Johnson was a three-star product out of Miami Carol City when he signed with UCF as part of its 2019 recruiting class.
Role: The Miami native appeared in 30 games (2 starts) over four seasons with the Knights, splitting time between receiver and special teams where he was used as a punt returner in 2020-22. He missed most of last season after suffering ligament damage in his right ankle. Johnson finished with 28 catches for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Outlook: Johnson’s role was diminished this season with the redshirt senior appearing in just 3 games on special teams. He becomes the third receiver to enter the portal, joining Jaylon Griffin and Tyler Griffin. With Kobe Hudson and Javon Baker’s future uncertain, the receiver could be a position of need as the Knights move forward in the transfer market.
Here are the rest of the moves:
CB Corey Thornton
Vitals: 6-1, 190-pounds
Resume: Thornton was a three-star prospect out of Booker T. Washington High where he helped guide the Tornadoes to a state title in 2019. He was one of five defensive backs to sign with UCF in its 2020 recruiting class. The Florida native started all 10 games at corner for the Knights his freshman season. Thornton earned All-AAC honors in his sophomore and junior years.
Role: He was integral to a UCF secondary that finished first in the Big 12 in passing defense, allowing an average of 206 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Outlook: Thornton is by far the biggest name in the transfer portal for the Knights. He was a four-year starter anchoring a secondary that returned Nikai Martinez, Brandon Adams, Ja.Cari Henderson, Quadric Bullard and Demari Henderson.
LB Isaiah Paul
Vitals: 6-2, 232-pounds
Resume: The redshirt senior appeared in one game during his only season with the Knights after arriving as a transfer from Incarnate Word.
Role: Paul, a three-star product out of Brennan (San Antonio) High, had 138 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception during his five seasons with the Cardinals.
Outlook: Linebacker is a position of concern for UCF especially with the departures of starters Jason Johnson (graduated) and Walter Yates III (graduated). The coaching staff will need to address the issue of depth at the spot.
EDGE Kervins Choute
Vitals: 6-3, 251-pounds
Resume: The redshirt junior appeared in 14 games over three seasons at UCF. He recorded 13 tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Role: Choute, a three-star product out of Deerfield Beach, signed as part of the Knights’ 2020 recruiting class. He appeared in 5 games his freshman year before moving to the scout team in 2021.
Outlook: The emergence of defensive linemen Malachi Lawrence, Matthew Alexander and John Walker spell good things for the Knights up front.
LB Keenan Cupit
Vitals: 6-2, 255-pounds
Resume: Cupit was a three-star prospect from Jefferson Forest (Forest, Va.) High where he played linebacker and running back. He was one of two linebackers to sign as part of UCF’s 2020 recruiting class. He redshirted his freshman year and was used primarily on the scout team in 2021 before appearing in 5 games in 2022. Cupit earned Dean’s List honors in 2020.
Role: He was used primarily on kickoff and punt return coverage in 2022.
Outlook: While linebacker is definitely a position of concern for the Knights this offseason, Cupit wasn’t expected to play much of a role in the rotation.
WR Jaylon Griffin
Vitals: 6-3, 185-pounds
Resume: Griffin attended Huntsville (Texas) High before continuing his football career at Kilgore Junior College where he caught 2 passes for 26 yards in 2019. The Rangers didn’t play football in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Griffin transferred to UCF in 2021. He had a career-high 3 catches for 50 yards with a touchdown in the Knights’ win over Villanova.
Role: The Texas native was primarily the backup to the wideout spot while splitting some time as slot receiver. He also saw some action on kickoff returns for the Knights.
Outlook: Griffin saw limited action as wideouts Javon Baker, Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend emerged as go-to options in the offense.
WR Tyler Griffin
Vitals: 6-5, 205-pounds
Resume: Griffin was a three-star prospect from New Southeast Bulloch (Brooklet, Ga.) High, where he was a two-sports star for the Yellow Jackets. He signed as part of the 2022 recruiting class, where he was the seventh-highest-ranked signee.
Role: The Georgia native redshirted his freshman season and was used primarily on special teams.
Outlook: With the status of Baker and Hudson still in the air, Griffin would have provided the Knights with some much-needed depth at the receiver spot.
RB Jordan McDonald
Vitals: 6-1, 220-pounds
Resume: McDonald, a three-star prospect out of Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) High, signed with UCF as part of its 2022 recruiting class. He appeared in 13 games as a true freshman, rushing for 43 yards on 11 carries and was part of the Knights’ running back rotation early this season. He had a career-high 12 carries and 40 yards against Villanova on Sept. 16.
Role: The Georgia native was featured early in short-yardage situations specifically used in the Wildcat formation. Most of his carries came during UCF’s non-conference schedule and he wasn’t a factor in the rest of the Knights’ games with Harvey and Richardson getting most of the carries.
Outlook: With Richardson having exhausted his eligibility and Harvey’s future uncertain, what was once a bounty of talent at running back has suddenly become thin. Depth will be a concern for the Knights heading into next season.
OL Drake Metcalf
Vitals: 6-2, 292-pounds
Resume: Metcalf, a three-star product from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), signed with Stanford as part of its 2020 recruiting class. He appeared in 15 games during three seasons with the Cardinal before transferring to UCF.
Role: The redshirt junior earned the starting nod in fall camp, beating out Caden Kitler and Bula Schmidt. But after starting against Kent State, Boise State and Villanova, Metcalf split time with Kitler and Schmidt.
Outlook: With Tylan Grable, Lokahi Pauole and Schmidt exhausting their eligibility, Metcalf was one of five players with starting experience expected in 2024. Either way, UCF was expected to hit the transfer market to add more depth to the offensive line.
CB Fred Davis II
Vitals: 6-1, 190 pounds
Resume: Davis, a 4-star from Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville), signed with Clemson for its 2020 recruiting class. He appeared in 27 games in three seasons, including starting the first four games of the 2021 season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He accounted for 34 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 4 pass breakups with the Tigers. Davis transferred to UCF last December and appeared in three games with the Knights, failing to register a tackle.
Role: The Jacksonville native wasn’t part of the rotation the Knights used for their secondary, appearing mainly on special teams in less than a handful of games. According to Pro Football Focus, he took part in eight total snaps but wasn’t much of a factor.
Outlook: Davis showed promise while at Clemson but could never earn much playing time at UCF.
Check back for more updates because this is a developing story.
Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
