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Five Biggest Questions for UCF Football in 2019: Who are the Transfers?

The Knights were able to add some much needed depth through the transfer portal this off-season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: APR 13 UCF Spring Game Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The transfer portal was good to UCF this off-season. Meet the new Knights that are coming to Orlando looking for a fresh start:

Brandon Wimbush, QB

Florida State v Notre Dame Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Class: Redshirt Senior

Previous School: Notre Dame

Eligibility: Immediately

High School 247 Rating: ★★★★

Wimbush comes to UCF with experience behind center that UCF desperately needs. With McKenzie Milton’s future uncertain after a gruesome knee injury and Darriel Mack Jr. suffering a broken ankle in the off-season, it looks like the starting competition has come down to Wimbush and true freshman Dillon Gabriel.

Wimbush was 13-3 as a starter for Notre Dame where he racked up 2,606 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air as well as 1,156 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. There’s no doubt he can change the game with his feet but the biggest knock against him is his inaccuracy. He’ll likely be the starter for UCF, at least for the beginning of the season.


Malik Barrow, DE

NCAA Football: Ohio State at Maryland Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Class: Redshirt Junior

Previous School: Ohio State

Eligibility: Immediately

High School 247 Rating: ★★★★

Barrow is an interesting get for UCF, considering he hasn’t played much football since high school. He suffered a torn ACL his senior year of high school, redshirted his freshman year at Ohio State, tore his other ACL two games into his redshirt freshman season with the Buckeyes, and then never saw the field again.

The now-redshirt junior graduated from Ohio State, making him immediately eligible as a graduate transfer for UCF. If he can stay healthy, the hope is he can provide some much-needed depth on the defensive line. There’s no doubt that the upside can be huge with Barrow.


Jordan Hayes, S

Duke v Virginia Tech Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images

Class: Redshirt Senior

Previous School: Duke

Eligibility: Immediately

High School 247 Rating: ★★★

Hayes is going to bring a lot of experience to a very strong secondary for UCF. The grad transfer played in 30 games with 13 starts for Duke, where he totaled 97 tackles and 8 pass breakups. While Richie Grant and Antwan Collier will be the technical starters, there’s no doubt that Hayes is going to play a big role in 2019.


Brandon Wilson, DT

Penn State v Indiana Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Class: Redshirt Senior

Previous School: Indiana

Eligibility: Immediately

High School 247 Rating: ★★★

Both tackle spots are up for grabs on the defensive line for the Knights, which will allow Wilson to control his own destiny. The graduate transfer played in 26 games throughout his career at Indiana but never quite made it to the top of the depth chart. Starter or not, he will provide much-needed depth and competition at the tackle spot.


Devin Nixon, WR

Western Kentucky v Alabama Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Class: Redshirt Senior

Previous School: Western Kentucky

Eligibility: Immediately

High School 247 Rating: ★★

Devin Nixon is the older brother of starting wideout and Ole Miss transfer Tre Nixon. Expect most of his playing time to come on special teams, as UCF is very deep at receiver.


Tony Gray, OL

NCAA Football: Mississippi at Kentucky Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Previous School: Ole Miss

Eligibility: 2020

High School 247 Rating: ★★★

There is hope that Tony Gray will be granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA. Either way he’s been making a huge impact so far in his short time at UCF. If he is eligible to play immediately, there’s a good chance he could be the other starting tackle along with Jake Brown. Gray played four games for Ole Miss last season.


Jaylon Robinson, WR

Class: Sophomore

Previous School: Oklahoma

Eligibility: 2020

High School 247 Rating: ★★★

Although Jaylon Robinson wont see any action in 2019, his talent will still be beneficial on the scout team this season. With Marlon Williams, Gabe Davis and Tre Nixon being seniors in 2020, Robinson can help lead the next wave of #UCFast receivers with three years of playing time left after redshirting this season.


Rico Kearney, LB

NCAA Football: William & Mary at Virginia Tech Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Class: Sophomore

Previous School: Virginia Tech

Eligibility: 2020

High School 247 Rating: ★★★

Kearney is a very talented player who comes to UCF as a walk-on. There is potential that he will be eligible to play in 2019 but as of now he will redshirt due to transfer rules. The linebacker had 35 tackles for Virginia Tech last season.


Cam Goode, DT

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Previous School: Virginia Tech

Eligibility: 2020

High School 247 Rating: ★★★

Cam Goode is another Virginia Tech transfer, except he left the Hokies before the start of his freshman season in 2018. It was unclear if he will play for UCF in 2019 but the hope is that he will be eligible. If he is able to play, expect him to be one of the frontrunners at defensive tackle. With potentially four years of eligibility, Goode has a good (pun intended) chance of leaving a huge impact at UCF.