UCF’s 2026 roster countdown takes a slight detour with a familiar name back in the mix: linebacker Cole Kozlowski.
Kozlowski arrived in Orlando after a huge 2024 season at Colgate, where he piled up 133 tackles, the second-most in the FCS. He said during 2025 fall camp that he was "anxious" to prove himself with the Knights, and he also said he "clicked right off the bat" with UCF linebacker coach Mark D'Onofrio. That connection made sense, too, since both are from New Jersey - D'Onofrio from Hoboken and Kozlowski from Spring Lake.
His first season with UCF followed a steady climb. Kozlowski opened the year coming off the bench, then worked his way into the starting lineup for the final eight games. He finished with nine starts, appeared in all 12 games, and made a strong case for himself along the way.
The production backed it up. Kozlowski was named an All-Big 12 Third Teamer and received honorable mention for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after finishing with 82 tackles, just behind Lewis Carter on the team.
Of those stops, 48 were solo. He also posted 7.5 tackles for loss, tied for second on the Knights with EDGE Nyjalik Kelly and trailing only EDGE Malachi Lawrence.
On top of that, he added two sacks, a forced fumble and three pass breakups.
Whether he gets the chance to build on that in 2026 depends on the US Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the preliminary injunction that would allow him to play. If that happens, there’s still a conditioning hurdle to clear. Kozlowski has been away from official college football action since the end of last season, and D'Onofrio made it clear at local media day that there would be work to do.
"He would have some work to do in terms of getting in shape, getting his body right, doing all those kind of things," D'Onofrio said. "You know, the guys that I have in the room right now, they've been with me since January. They've been in OTAs, they've been in spring ball, they've been in training camp, they've been the ones training in the weight room and conditioning, all that stuff."
Even so, Kozlowski has already shown he can earn his way into the lineup after starting behind others. He didn’t open the 2025 season as a starter either, then pushed his way into a bigger role later.
If Judge Charlotte Sweeney’s injunction stands, he could be in line for another midseason climb. And if he can’t quite close that gap, he still gives UCF a dependable option in the linebacker room.
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