The 2022 UCF Knights offensive line is a senior-laden group that had to use the transfer portal to plug some holes. In 2021, the line struggled at times with run block explosiveness and pass block speed against upper echelon competition. With the American Athletic Conference expected to be more of a balanced league, the line will need to acclimate the new talent quickly and avoid the injury bug.

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The holdovers

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In the middle at center will be Matt Lee. Lee earned third-team All-AAC last year by Pro Football Focus after getting first-team honors from the AAC in 2020. Despite being dinged up quite a bit last year to the point where Malzahn had to pull him, he started 12 games. The Rimington Award watchlist center is only a junior, which means he should be around to continue to anchor the line.

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Lining up next to Lee is right guard Lokahi Pauole. Pauole earned the most accolades last year from the holdovers, being named second-team All-AAC by the league coaches and Phil Steele. Like Lee, Pauole is getting noticed by award committees by being named to the Outland Trophy watchlist.

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Lastly, at right tackle will be elder statemen Sam Jackson. Jackson has experience at all four guard and tackle positions, which allows Malzahn and offensive line coach Herb Hand to put Jackson where they need him. Jackson covered right tackle last year and that’s where he’ll stay.

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The newbies

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With the loss of Cole Schneider and Marcus Tatum, Gus Malzahn hit the transfer portal and brought in a pair of seniors in Tylan Grable and Ryan Swoboda. Grable, a transfer from FCS Jacksonville State earned second-team All-American honors during the spring 2021 season while with the Gamecocks. In the fall 2021 campaign, he was a unanimous pick for the ASUN conference all-league squad. Grable will be lining up at left tackle. Swoboda, a Claremont native, is a very tall 6ft10in transfer from Virginia. He largely played right tackle, but will be playing left guard for UCF.

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The depth

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UCF’s depth on the offensive line has not been their strong suit. Last year, UCF had five seniors on their two-deep roster. Only one is back in Sam Jackson and the coaching staff felt that they needed to hit the transfer portal to find new starters. At left tackle, the Knights had to start over, so with Grable starting, Edward Collins looks to have shifted from backing up Jackson at right tackle over to the left side. Paul Rubelt looks to be Jackson’s backup. Nate Brady has experience as a center as well. One player to keep an eye on is Georgia transfer Cameron Kinnie, Ethan Mort, and Chidoziri Maghiro look to also be in the line rotation.

Coach Herb Hand has worked with getting players proficient with multiple positions on the line, so players can shift around as needed due to injuries. Sam Jackson feels there has been an improvement in the team’s depth.