As the NFL regular season hits the home stretch in Week 16, several former UCF Knights are still making their presence felt-or, in some cases, working their way back into action-as their teams jockey for playoff position or look to finish strong. Here’s a rundown of where those UCF alums stand heading into the weekend slate of games from December 20-22.
Mike Hughes - CB, Atlanta Falcons
It’s a tough break for Hughes, who’s been ruled out this week due to an ankle injury he picked up during Atlanta’s upset win over the Buccaneers. The veteran corner had been carving out a meaningful role in the Falcons’ secondary, so his absence will be felt as Atlanta heads west to face the Arizona Cardinals.
Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. ET on FOX.
Gabe Davis - WR, Buffalo Bills
Davis was a healthy scratch last week as the Bills pulled off a dramatic comeback win over the Patriots to keep their AFC East hopes alive. It’s been a quiet return to Buffalo for the big-play wideout, who has just seven catches for 88 yards on the season. With the Bills heading to Cleveland for a noon kickoff on CBS, it remains to be seen if Davis will get the nod this week against a struggling Browns squad.
Tylan Grable - OL, Buffalo Bills
Grable is still waiting for his first NFL snap after being activated from Injured Reserve three weeks ago. With the Bills already eyeing the postseason and looking to preserve their starting offensive line, there’s a window for Grable to finally get on the field. His size and athleticism have intrigued the coaching staff, and the final stretch of the season could be his opportunity to show what he can do in live action.
Matt Prater - K, Buffalo Bills
Prater didn’t get any field goal attempts last week, but he was perfect on extra points, going 5-for-5 in Buffalo’s 35-31 win over New England. The veteran kicker also matched his season-high kickoff average at 63 yards, with two of them resulting in touchbacks. Even when he’s not called on for long-range kicks, Prater continues to be a steady, reliable presence for the Bills’ special teams unit.
RJ Harvey - RB, Denver Broncos
Harvey is heating up at just the right time. The rookie back found the end zone for the third straight week and racked up 65 rushing yards as Denver improved to 12-2.
His blend of vision, burst, and contact balance has added a new dimension to the Broncos’ offense. With Denver hosting a surging Jaguars team on Sunday at 3:05 p.m.
ET on FOX, Harvey will look to keep his touchdown streak alive and help his team keep rolling.
Charley Hughlett - LS, Philadelphia Eagles
After missing nine weeks with an abdominal injury, Hughlett returned to the field last week and resumed his duties as the Eagles’ long snapper. His return brings stability to Philly’s special teams unit as the team gears up for a divisional clash against the Commanders in Landover, Maryland.
That game kicks off Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on FOX.
Mac McWilliams - DB, Philadelphia Eagles
McWilliams remains on the Eagles’ active roster, but he hasn’t seen the field since Week 8. He’s currently buried on the depth chart, and unless injuries open a door, his role will likely remain limited down the stretch.
Kalia Davis - DT, San Francisco 49ers
Davis continues to make his presence known in the Niners’ defensive front. Last week, he logged his second pass breakup of the season and assisted on a tackle in San Francisco’s 37-24 win over the Titans.
The 49ers head to Indianapolis for a Monday Night Football showdown with the Colts, kicking off at 7:15 p.m. ET.
Davis’ ability to disrupt passing lanes and create interior pressure has quietly become a nice asset for one of the league’s most complete defenses.
As the playoff picture sharpens and teams look to fine-tune their rosters, these former UCF Knights are either contributing in key roles or waiting for their shot. Whether it’s a rookie like RJ Harvey making an impact or a veteran like Matt Prater doing what he does best, UCF’s NFL pipeline continues to show up on Sundays-and now, Saturdays and Mondays too.