Randy Charlton’s football path has been anything but straight, and the former UCF defensive end revisited that winding route during an appearance on Sons of UCF with Adam Eaton.
Charlton came out of Miami Southridge High School as a three-star recruit and had to navigate a few turns before landing in Orlando. He first committed to Indiana, backed off that decision, then committed to Florida International before de-committing again. The next stop stuck: after a conversation with former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Randy Shannon, Charlton committed to UCF in 2018.
Once he got to campus, Charlton made an immediate impact. He didn’t redshirt as a freshman and instead got into 13 games, including one start. He said the veterans in the room helped him get comfortable fast.
"I had a great leadership group inside that room from Joey to Tito Titus," Charlton told Eaton. "We had great guys in that room that they would wake us up in the middle of the night, 'Hey, we're going to go work out. We're just going to get some extra work in.'"
One of the defining moments of his UCF run came on a strip sack of Joe Burrow, a play that still stands out for the wrong reason in the aftermath. Charlton said he was simply headed toward his sideline to celebrate with teammates when he was flagged anyway.
"I know for a fact it's a high-energy game," Charlton said. "I'm not gonna celebrate by him or go towards them. I'm gonna go towards my sideline to where my teammates at.
Charlton stayed productive over the next two seasons at UCF, appearing in 20 more games. But his time with the Knights ended before a fourth season, after the program dismissed him following an incident with campus police.
He finished his college career at Mississippi State, where he became a steady presence up front. Charlton started 22 of 25 games for the Bulldogs before turning pro.
That pro journey has included several stops. Charlton entered the 2023 NFL Draft and went undrafted, then signed with the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad before being released. He later spent time with the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League, also on the practice squad, and was released there as well.
After taking a two-year break, Charlton returned to action with the Orlando Pirates in the Indoor Football League. He then signed with the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League on April 29.
The NFL door has stayed open enough to keep him chasing it. Charlton said he has had "a couple workouts" and "a couple phone calls," and he’s still leaning on his agent while keeping the larger goal in sight.
"(I) had a couple workouts, had a couple phone calls, my agent, still doing his job, doing a great job," Charlton said. "What's keeping me going is just the love of the game. I'm still young."
In Other News...
UCF Sent A Clear Message With Its Big 12 Media Day Picks
UCFs selection of four players for Big 12 football media day in Frisco says plenty about where the program sees its leadership core heading into the season. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III, offensive lineman Preston Cushman, defensive back Jayden Bellamy and linebacker Lewis Carter will represent the Knights, a group that mixes a promising new face at quarterback with two defenders expected to carry major responsibilities and a veteran lineman who stands as the lone returning starter up front.
Barnetts presence is especially notable because the transfer from James Madison has not yet taken a snap for UCF, but the staff clearly values the voice he brings to the locker room. On the other side of the ball, Bellamy and Carter are positioned to be central figures for a defense looking to define itself, while Cushmans return gives the offensive line at least one familiar anchor as the Knights head into the Big 12 spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Just Got Big 12 Validation In A Crucial Strength
UCFs special teams room is drawing some of the kind of attention that usually goes to offense or defense, and Pete Alamar is a big reason why. The Knights have already shown they can lean on that phase of the game, with Jaden Nixon, Antione Jackson and Noe Ruelas all turning in notable moments last season, and now Alamar is getting recognized around the Big 12 as one of the leagues top coordinators. For a program trying to keep stacking small edges, that kind of validation matters because it suggests UCFs kicking and return work is becoming a real weapon, not just a hidden bonus.
Pete Alamar also has real decisions ahead before the season settles in. The kicking job is still unsettled with Texas transfer Will Stone and Noah McGough both in the mix, while the return game is open enough that freshman Kaj Baker, redshirt freshman Taevion Swint and Louisville transfer Duke Watson are all being evaluated for opportunities. Watson is also part of the punt-return conversation, which only adds to the competition as UCF tries to replace last years production without losing the edge that made this unit stand out. [Read more 🡒]
UCF's Pass Rush Future Now Rests With One Rising Assistant
Mike Dawson has already become one of the more important pieces of UCFs defensive identity, even if his title does not always get him the headline attention. The Knights defensive run game coordinator was recently singled out by Matrix Analytical as the Big 12s third-best EDGE coach, a nod that fits with the way his room has developed over time and the pipeline he helped build. Two former UCF EDGE players, Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly, are now in the NFL, giving the program a little more proof that the work done on campus can translate beyond it.
Now the attention shifts to what comes next, because UCF is trying to piece together its EDGE rotation for 2026 with a mix of returners and new transfers under Dawsons guidance. The group is changing, but the expectation around the room is not, and the early signs of how quickly the newcomers settle in could say plenty about how steady the Knights pass rush looks when the next season arrives. [Read more 🡒]