Malachi Lawrence finally got the moment that had been building through the first month of his NFL career.
The former UCF EDGE, now a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys, recorded his first sack on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bringing down backup quarterback Jalon Daniels in the backfield. For a player who had already been pressuring quarterbacks at a strong clip, it was the milestone finish that matched the production.
Lawrence has been near the top of his class in overall pass-rushing grade and win rate, and Dallas has clearly put him in spots where he can use that burst and technique. Against Tampa Bay, it all showed up in his best outing yet. Along with the sack, he finished with a pass defensed and two tackles, including a later play when he got a hand on a Daniels pass.
What makes Lawrence so disruptive is the range in his pass-rushing toolbox. At UCF, he showed he could win in different ways, using speed off the edge and then a swim move to work back inside. That same versatility has carried over to the NFL, where he has been able to get into the backfield and make quarterbacks uneasy.
For a Dallas defense trying to help an explosive offense take a step forward after last season’s struggles, Lawrence and fellow first-round pick Caleb Downs have been part of the early solution. Lawrence’s climb at UCF over four seasons was a major factor in the Cowboys making him a draft riser.
Cowboys co-owner, executive vice president, CEO, and director of player personnel Stephen Jones pointed to Lawrence’s decision to stay in Orlando all four years as something that stood out.
"The character was just outstanding. I really look up to these men who stay with the schools who gave them their first opportunity," Jones said. "He had opportunities probably to take more money and go to a bigger school, but he felt like UCF had given him the opportunity and he wanted to give back."
Lawrence, meanwhile, has made it clear he sees UCF as part of his path to the NFL.
"It's a standard now to be set I'd say," Lawrence said. "You can go to UCF and be a first round pick."
With UCF defenders like Horace Lockett and Sincere Edwards also off to strong starts, the program could keep sending NFL-caliber linemen into the league.
Lawrence will get another chance to build on Sunday’s breakthrough next week against a Green Bay Packers offensive line that has struggled early this season.
In Other News...
Riley Kugel's UCF Return Suddenly Looks Very Real
Riley Kugels path back to UCF has suddenly opened in a real way after a legal ruling in Indiana left him eligible to keep playing college basketball, at least for now. The guard was the Knights leading scorer last season, and his status matters immediately for a program that would benefit from having one of its most proven offensive pieces back in the fold.
The NCAA tried to stay the injunction, but that request was denied, leaving Kugel in position to return to UCF for another season barring a major change. He has also spent time in the NBA Summer League with the Los Angeles Clippers, so his situation carries a little extra weight for the Knights, who now have a clearer sense that a key scorer may be back in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Suddenly Has No Margin Left In The Big 12
Midway through the 2026 Big 12 race, the conference picture is starting to sort itself out, and Central Florida is stuck on the wrong side of it. Arizona, Oklahoma State and Utah have played themselves into the conversation for the championship game, while UCF and Kansas State are trying to keep their seasons from sliding away entirely. The Knights struggles have been part of a wider conference story, but for a team trying to stay relevant in the league, every week now carries a little more weight.
The timing has made things even tougher, because the margin for error is gone and the schedule is only getting less forgiving. UCF has already spent most of the season looking for answers, and the latest setback against Oklahoma State only reinforced how hard it has been to find traction. With Houston visiting Oklahoma State and BYU set for Notre Dame on the near-term slate around the league, the Knights are left watching other teams shape the Big 12 race while they try to stop their own season from slipping further out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
UCF's Big 12 Media Day Group Says Plenty About This Reload
UCFs trip to Big 12 Media Day in Kansas City says plenty about where this program is headed after a busy offseason. Johnny Dawkins is bringing a group built to reflect both continuity and turnover, with the Knights coming off a 20-10 season and an NCAA Tournament berth but now trying to replace key pieces from that run while integrating a fresh wave of transfers into the rotation.
The roster reset has put a premium on the players who can help set the tone quickly, especially in the backcourt and on the defensive end. John Bol remains an important two-way presence, while Cayden Vasko and Dior Johnson are among the newcomers expected to matter right away as UCF tries to show that last season was the start of something sustainable rather than a one-year spike. [Read more 🡒]