The University of Central Florida first fielded a varsity football team in 1979, and ascended to Division I–A, now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), in 1996. The Knights entered an Automatic Qualifying conference in 2013, and won the program's first major bowl game. In 1987, Ted Wilson became the first Knight to be selected in an NFL draft when he was selected in the tenth round by the Washington Redskins. As of 2026, (53) UCF Knights have been drafted into the National Football League, including five first round selections. The highest a UCF player has been drafted is third overall in 2014, when quarterback Blake Bortles was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Key B Back K Kicker NT Nose tackle C Center LB Linebacker FB Fullback DB Defensive back P Punter HB Halfback DE Defensive end QB Quarterback WR Wide receiver DT Defensive tackle RB Running back G Guard E End T Offensive tackle TE Tight end
Selected to an all-star game (Pro Bowl) Won a league championship (Super Bowl) Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame
Selections
Draft year Round Overall Player name NFL team Position Notes1987 10 274 "UCF Knights Football." UCFKnights.com Retrieved on May 28, 2015. Washington Redskins WR — 12 330 New England Patriots RB —1988 3 65 Buffalo Bills WR — 5 136 Football Database 1988 NFL draft Denver Broncos DB —1991 9 225 Cleveland Browns DB — 9 240 Houston Oilers WR —1992 3 66 Seattle Seahawks LB —1993 3 71 Washington Redskins LB —1995 3 72 Philadelphia Eagles DE —1996 5 142 Carolina Panthers RB —1999 1 11 * Minnesota Vikings QB Pro Bowl (2000, 2003, 2004) 4 96 Indianapolis Colts DB —2000 7 242 Green Bay Packers WR —2002 2 64 St. Louis Rams DB —2003 4 120 * New England Patriots DB Pro Bowl (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)Super Bowl Champion (XXXVIII, XXXIX) 5 167 Oakland Raiders WR — 7 250 Baltimore Ravens C — 7 259 Cincinnati Bengals DE —2004 7 232 Carolina Panthers TE —2006 4 119 * Denver Broncos WR Pro Bowl (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015)2007 3 79 Jacksonville Jaguars WR —2008 3 64 Detroit Lions RB — 4 135 * Green Bay Packers G Pro Bowl (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016)Super Bowl Champion (XLV) 7 239 Kansas City Chiefs TE —2009 5 168 Pittsburgh Steelers DB —2010 2 41 Buffalo Bills DT —2011 3 85 Baltimore Ravens OT Super Bowl Champion (XLVII) 7 211 San Francisco 49ers LB —2012 3 66 Minnesota Vikings DB —2013 6 181 * Oakland Raiders RB Pro Bowl (2015) 7 243 Atlanta Falcons DB —2014 1 3 Jacksonville Jaguars QB — 7 222 Jacksonville Jaguars RB —2015 1 26 Baltimore Ravens WR — 4 109 Indianapolis Colts DB —2017 3 90 * Seattle Seahawks DB Pro Bowl (2019)2018130 Minnesota Vikings DB —391 New Orleans Saints WR —398 Houston Texans TE —5141 Seattle Seahawks LB —2019258Trysten HillDallas Cowboys DT —20204128Gabe DavisBuffalo Bills WR —2021240Richie GrantAtlanta Falcons DB —371Aaron RobinsonNew York Giants DB —4141Jacob HarrisLos Angeles Rams WR —6223Tay GowanArizona Cardinals DB —7242Tre NixonNew England Patriots WR —20226220Kalia DavisSan Francisco 49ers DT —2024 4 110Javon Baker New England Patriots WR — 6 204Tylan Grable Buffalo Bills T —2025 2 60RJ Harvey Denver Broncos RB — 5 145Mac McWilliams Philadelphia Eagles CB —2026 1 23Malachi Lawrence Dallas Cowboys DE —
References