Malachi Lawrence, a proud UCF alum, has spotlighted Horace Lockett and Isaiah Nixon as the next big defensive stars for the UCF Knights. These two are set to make waves in the upcoming season, and Lawrence is confident they'll be the talk of the town.
Starting with Horace Lockett, Lawrence praises his former teammate’s ability to disrupt the pocket. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6 and weighing 355 pounds, Lockett combines size with surprising speed, making him a formidable pass rusher.
Last season, his momentum was halted by a torn pectoral muscle against Kansas State, but not before he made a significant impact. In just four games, Lockett racked up 13 tackles, including eight solo, three tackles for loss, a sack, and two pass breakups.
With one year of eligibility left, his return promises to bring back the size and strength the Knights sorely missed.
On the other side of the line, Isaiah Nixon is ready to step up and shine. Lawrence is particularly excited about Nixon's speed and agility, traits that make him a nightmare for offensive lines.
Nixon, a St. Petersburg native, has shown consistent improvement throughout his time at UCF.
Last season, he recorded a career-high 24 tackles, including 11 solo, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. His standout performance came against North Carolina A&T, where he notched six tackles.
With Lockett’s return and Nixon’s continued growth, the Knights’ defensive line is poised for a breakout season. Scouts are already taking notice, and these two are expected to lead UCF’s charge back to dominance.
Their past accolades, including Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week honors against West Virginia, are just the beginning. As they aim to put the college football world on notice, the future looks bright for UCF with Lockett and Nixon anchoring the defense.