UCF may be getting a familiar face back in the middle of its defense.
Linebacker Cole Kozlowski was granted a temporary injunction Friday in his lawsuit against the NCAA, a ruling from Florida Ninth Circuit Court Judge John D. Beemer that gives him another year of eligibility and opens the door for a return to the Knights in 2026.
The fifth-year linebacker from New Jersey was one of UCF’s most productive defenders last season, finishing as the team’s second-leading tackler. At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Kozlowski posted 82 tackles in 2025 and earned third-team All-Big 12 honors. Before arriving in Orlando, he spent four seasons at Colgate, where he picked up first-team All-Patriot League recognition in 2024.
His college career was already headed in an uncertain direction after he went undrafted in April’s NFL Draft. Then the legal landscape shifted again.
A previous ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeny had given all Class of 2022 athletes an extra year of eligibility, which created the possibility of Kozlowski returning to UCF.
But that decision was later stayed after a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in late August.
Friday’s temporary injunction gives him another path back, though the NCAA is expected to appeal.
For now, the Knights are acting like they may have him available.
“I don’t know the final outcome on that yet, but it looks good right now,” UCF coach Scott Frost said on Monday. “There’s another hearing, from what I’ve been told.
He’s eligible to play now and we’ll certainly get him involved in practice and see where he fits in. Any reinforcements help right now with the number of guys we’ve got nicked up.”
That matters for a defense dealing with injuries to linebackers Lewis Carter and Jayden Jennings.
Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said Kozlowski has stayed involved while the case played out, even spending time with the scout team.
“He’s played some scout team tight end for us and some of those things in previous weeks, because you just can’t waste reps,” Grinch said. “(Linebackers) Coach (Mark) D’Onofrio has been working with him to turn him back into a linebacker in hopes we get him in the game at some point.
“We hope it’s sooner rather than later.”
Grinch found out about the latest ruling while the team was in Houston this past weekend for its game against the Cougars.
“Somebody said Cole’s eligible and our initial reaction was to get him on a plane to Houston,” Grinch said jokingly. “That obviously was not realistic.”
There’s still no timetable for when Kozlowski might actually suit up again. That decision will hinge on whether he’s ready physically and mentally.
Even so, he’s already made an impression on the people around him. New teammates like Tackett Curtis and Jahleel Culbreath have seen him take on a steadying role in meetings and practice.
“Cole’s been a great help,” said Culbreath. “He’s been in all the meetings and he’s been in practice helping us out.
He’s like a player-coach. He was also a scout team player for us, giving us the best looks he could, which helped us out a lot.
“He’s been around the team and the guys. He’s built that brotherhood with the new guys that came in, so we’re excited to get him back.”
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