UCF got a needed defensive lift on Saturday, and it came from a familiar name finally getting back on the field.
Fifth-year linebacker Cole Kozlowski, who won his eligibility case and was cleared for the rest of the season, made his first appearance of the year in the Knights’ 42-28 loss to Oklahoma State. It was a quiet debut on the stat sheet - just one tackle - but it still mattered for a UCF defense trying to piece itself together.
The timing of Kozlowski’s return could not be much better. Standout linebacker Lewis Carter remains out with an injury, and Kozlowski gives defensive coordinator Alex Grinch another proven option next to transfer linebacker Tackett Curtis. As he gets more work in practice and adjusts back to the speed of college football, his snap count is expected to rise.
Kozlowski’s path to this point has been a long one. After playing on both sides of the ball in high school, he chose defense at the next level and spent his first three seasons at Colgate.
The 6-foot-2 linebacker played in nine games as a freshman, then kept building year by year. In 2023, he led the Raiders in passes broken up with five and added 60 tackles.
As a junior, he took another leap, finishing with 133 tackles and assisted tackles to lead both Colgate and the Patriot League, while also ranking second in the league with 66 solo tackles.
That production earned him a move to Power 4 football, and he transferred to UCF, where he quickly became a steady voice on defense. Last season, Kozlowski piled up 82 tackles, added two sacks and three pass deflections, and emerged as one of Grinch’s vocal leaders.
While preparing for the NFL Draft, where he eventually went undrafted, Kozlowski was one of three Knights to take part in the inaugural American Bowl.
Now, after the eligibility fight, he gets another shot in the same program where he made his Big 12 breakthrough. With No. 8 BYU up next, UCF could use Kozlowski as close to full strength as possible against the Cougars’ strong rushing attack.
In Other News...
UCF Hits A Crucial Midseason Crossroads After Brutal Stretch
UCF is heading into its bye week with the season at a true midpoint crossroads, sitting at 3-3 after a rugged run that included losses to ranked opponents. The timing could hardly be better for Scott Frosts group, which has spent the first half of the year trying to hold together through a wave of injuries while still staying in range for the second half of the schedule.
The break is giving the Knights a much-needed chance to recover, reset and map out the final six games, but the health picture remains a major storyline. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III is still without a return date, and the injury list has already stretched across the lineup with multiple starters missing time, leaving UCF hoping the bye week can do more than just rest tired bodies. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Showed UCF What Makes This 2026 Matchup Dangerous
BYUs win over Iowa State offered a useful glimpse at why UCFs 2026 schedule could carry real bite. The Cougars handled one of the AP Top 25 teams on the Knights future slate, and the game also underscored a broader point for anyone scanning ahead: several of UCFs opponents are already showing the kind of form that can turn next season into a week-to-week grind.
Pittsburghs loss to North Carolina snapped a season-opening winning streak, while Houstons win over Kansas State added another reminder that the Knights may have to navigate multiple teams with legitimate momentum. For UCF, the takeaway is less about any single result and more about the mix of styles and confidence waiting down the road, with these recent performances hinting at a schedule that could test the Knights early and often. [Read more 🡒]
Keyone Jenkins Just Raised UCFs Biggest Offensive Question
Keyone Jenkins has been trending up for UCF, and the latest step came in the form of another composed afternoon against Oklahoma State. The Knights starting quarterback completed 30 of 42 passes for 265 yards with one interception, building on the steady progression that has marked his run and adding to a recent stretch that already included a program-record completion percentage in an earlier game.
What has made Jenkins growth so notable is the way UCF has begun shaping the offense around him, leaning into his strengths while asking him to handle more responsibility in the passing game. The staff has already adjusted its play calling to fit what he does best, but the bigger question now is how far that approach can go as the Knights try to keep expanding what he is asked to do. [Read more 🡒]