UCF’s countdown to kickoff has reached No. 19, and the next name on the list is linebacker Rashad Henry.
Henry is back in Florida after beginning his college career at UMass and now gets his first chance to suit up in the state since his days at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2022. His path to Orlando included a redshirt year as a true freshman and a limited role in 2024, when he appeared in just five games before taking a bigger step forward last season.
In 2025, Henry became a much more visible part of the Minutemen’s defense. He played in all 12 games and started the final four at outside linebacker, finishing with 67 tackles, 21 solo stops, three tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
At UCF’s local media day, linebacker coach Mark D'Onofrio said Henry was "continuing to develop and get better," while noting him alongside other transfer additions in the room, including Jahleel Culbreath and Tackett Curtis. Henry will be part of a group competing for snaps with Lewis Carter, Cole Kozlowski and Jayden Jennings.
He may not bring the same level of starting experience as Carter, Culbreath or Kozlowski, and he also lacks Jennings’ familiarity with the Knights’ defense. That could limit how often he begins games, but it does not necessarily mean his role will be small. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said Tuesday that he was "building a defense that allows for as many guys as possible to play at a high level," which leaves room for Henry to carve out meaningful playing time even if he is not in the starting lineup.
That makes Henry an important depth piece for UCF in 2026. He may not be the first name called in the linebacker room, but he has the kind of profile that can still produce a solid workload - and if injuries hit, he looks like someone who can step in and handle more.
In Other News...
UCF Has Two Depth Chart Battles Fans Should Watch Closely
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On the other side of the ball, tight end Caden Piening enters a more familiar kind of battle. The 2024 commit saw limited playing time in 2025, but he is projected to compete for snaps behind returning starter Dylan Wade, giving UCF another position group worth tracking as camp and the roster picture develop. [Read more 🡒]
Former UCF Back Myles Montgomery Just Hit A Brutal NFL Roadblock
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Now the picture has changed quickly. New England waived Montgomery because of an undisclosed injury, turning what looked like a solid early opportunity into a setback that leaves his next step unclear. For a player who had started to make a case for himself with both production and testing numbers, the timing makes the road ahead a lot tougher. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Faces A Real Pass Rush Test As Edge Battle Heats Up
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The timing matters because UCF is trying to replace the kind of production that left with recent NFL departures Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly. Talley is part of that answer, but he also represents the larger question facing the defense - who among the edge rushers can consistently affect the quarterback and separate in a competition that is still very much unsettled? [Read more 🡒]