The Daytona News-Journal’s 105-man list of all-time UCF greats includes nine linebackers from the Knights’ FBS era, a group that stretches from program-defining stars to transfers who left a real mark in Orlando.
That list is not limited to players who finished their careers at UCF, and the linebackers on it reflect that. Some stayed long enough to become fixtures in Black and Gold.
Others arrived later, made their impact, and moved on. All of them earned a place on the News-Journal’s All-FBS roster.
Shaquem Griffin stands out immediately. He was one of the most influential players in UCF history, winning AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and Defensive MVP of the 2018 Peach Bowl.
His story carried even more weight because he was born with an amniotic band sequence that led to the amputation of his left hand. UCF nominated him into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024, and the school could still be tied to the Griffin family, with the Knights recruiting his nephew, Amir Smith.
Terrance Plummer was just as decorated in his own right. He made the All-AAC First Team in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014, then put together a senior year that included 99 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and recoveries, one interception and six pass breakups. The year before that, he was named Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP after UCF beat Baylor, the Knights’ only win in the all-time series.
Tito Rodriguez authored one of the biggest tackle totals in the group. In November 2001, he tied the single-game record with 23 tackles in a loss to Arkansas, then wrapped up that season with an FBS-era record 143 tackles.
Nakia Reddick made his case in the 1990s, back when UCF was still an independent program. In 1996, he posted 118 tackles and forced four fumbles.
Nate Evans brought production in the AAC years. He ranked second in the league in tackles per game at 8.6 and led UCF with 112 tackles, including 69 solo stops. He also added a sack, four pass breakups, seven hurries and a fumble recovery, which earned him Second Team All-AAC honors.
Tatum Bethune’s UCF run lasted two seasons before he transferred to Florida State in 2022, but his numbers still landed him on this list. He started 17 of 35 games and finished with 185 tackles, 13 for loss, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Johnson came to UCF from Eastern Illinois and spent his final years in Black and Gold. In 2022, he started all 14 games, led the team with 126 tackles and earned First Team All-AAC recognition from league coaches. As a fifth-year player, he became the first Knight to post back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since Plummer, and he closed his career with Second Team All-Big 12 honors as UCF settled into a Power Four conference.
Chequan Burkett rounded out the group with a strong 2017 season. He started every game at inside linebacker, earned Second Team All-AAC, and finished second on the team with 74 tackles. He also added three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and 1.5 sacks.
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