Malachi Lawrence’s rookie season in Madden 27 comes with some serious respect attached. The Dallas Cowboys first-round pick checked in at 79 overall, which ties him for the fourth-best rookie rating in the game and puts him in a group that includes Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane, New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Akheem Mesidor.
That company matters, especially with Delane and Reese both landing as top-10 picks. Lawrence, the UCF Knights alum, is right there among the game’s most highly regarded newcomers after a draft process that took a sharp turn thanks to a strong combine showing. He had been viewed by scouts as a Day 2 prospect, but Dallas grabbed him 23rd overall, making him the highest-selected defensive player in Knights history.
The Cowboys also got a player who stayed put. Lawrence spent all five years in Orlando, a trait that drew attention in a college football landscape where loyalty can feel rare. He preferred forming relationships and sharpening his game at one school instead of bouncing around.
During his time at UCF, Lawrence leaned heavily on Tre’Mon Morris-Brash. He said that watching him at practice helped shape the pass-rush tools he eventually brought into his own game.
"Just learning from him, he was very flexible, and like he would go do different moves, and so just watching him at practice and then recreating him," Lawrence told reporters at his introductory press conference. "I say that's how my arsenal kind of started growing."
That growth showed up on the field. The 22-year-old became a major piece on the defensive line, breaking out in 2023 with 27 tackles and 7.5 sacks. His 2024 numbers dipped a bit - two fewer sacks and 12 fewer tackles - but he still added a forced fumble, finished second on the team in sacks and ranked 11th in the Big 12.
Then came 2025, the season that really pushed him into the spotlight. Lawrence posted career highs with 28 tackles and 11 tackles for loss, and he added seven sacks. That performance earned him All-Big 12 First Team honors and an honorable mention for Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
For Lawrence, the Cowboys’ first-round call was also a chance to keep the UCF name in front of NFL decision-makers. He said he wants his success to help open more doors for the program.
"I want to just put on a good name for UCF," Lawrence said. "So like when coaches and scouts are going back there, they'll be like, 'Let's go check out UCF. I heard they have a talented defensive or offensive guy.'"
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Dior Johnsons UCF Return Could Change Everything For This Backcourt
Dior Johnson is back in the UCF basketball picture, and the timing matters for a backcourt that could use a proven scoring threat. After a productive season at Tarleton State, where he averaged 24 points per game, Johnson returns with a very different rsum than the one he brought to Orlando the first time around, when his role was far more limited.
What makes this move especially interesting is the way Johnson is framing it. He is talking less about piling up points and more about helping the Knights win, which fits the sense that this second stint could carry real weight for a team looking for offense and stability on the perimeter. The talent is obvious, but the bigger question is how quickly that production translates into the kind of impact UCF needs from its backcourt. [Read more 🡒]
UCF's Former Backcourt Stars Just Gave Knights Fans Real Hope
A pair of former UCF backcourt standouts got a chance to show what they can do in the Clippers 2026 Summer League, and both made the most of limited opportunities. Riley Kugel and Themus Fulks each flashed the skills that made them such important pieces for the Knights, with Kugel bringing scoring punch and Fulks leaning into his playmaking in the finale.
Kugel finished with six points, two rebounds and a steal, while Fulks added seven points and five assists as the summer league run wrapped up. For UCF fans, it was a familiar reminder of why Kugel was the teams top scorer and why Fulks earned Third-Team All-Big 12 honors, even if their next steps remain the part everyone is still waiting to see. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Fans Wont Love How These Big 12 Matchups Have Gone
The Big 12 move was supposed to be the next step for UCF, but the early returns have been rough. Since leaving the American Athletic Conference for the league in 2023, the Knights have spent three seasons trying to find their footing against a schedule that has exposed how steep the climb can be, and the overall conference mark tells the story of a program still chasing consistency.
A look at the matchup history only sharpens the frustration. Some former AAC rivals have already tilted back the other way, while other Big 12 opponents have continued to be stubborn problems, from Houston and Cincinnati to Kansas, Baylor and others on the slate. There are still a few bright spots in the record book, including that memorable Baylor upset years ago, but for UCF the bigger question is whether these familiar names can start producing a different kind of result in this league. [Read more 🡒]