No UCF football players were taken in this weekend’s NFL draft, snapping a six-year streak for the school.
Although zero Knights heard their names called for the first time since 2016, multiple players from Gus Malzahn’s program are expected to sign as undrafted free agents with NFL organizations.
Keep up with the latest below:
OL Ryan Swoboda | Detroit Lions
Vitals: 6-10, 325
Outlook: Considered a priority free agent entering the draft, it didn’t take long for Swoboda to sign with a team. The first Knight to sign as an undrafted free agent on Saturday night, the lengthy Swoboda heads to Detriot with 39 career college starts under his belt.
OL Sam Jackson | Jacksonville Jaguars
Vitals: 6-6, 325
Outlook: The versatile offensive lineman played at guard and tackle for UCF which makes him valuable at the next level. Jackson gets to stay in-state with the Jaguars and signed a deal that included $58,000 guaranteed, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson.
DB Divaad Wilson | Jacksonville Jaguars
Vitals: 6-0, 195
Outlook: Jackson isn’t the only former Knight joining the Jaguars. Wilson is headed there, too, after starting 23 games in the last two years at UCF following a transfer from Georgia.
LS Alex Ward | Los Angeles Rams
Vitals: 6-4, 240
Outlook: After serving as the lone long snapper at the NFL Scouting Combine and participating in the Senior Bowl, there was a chance Ward might have been drafted but that didn’t happen. Nonetheless, Ward heads to a Los Angeles team that entered the weekend without a long snapper on its roster.
DT Anthony Montalvo | Miami Dolphins
Vitals: 6-3, 290
Outlook: Originally a walk-on player from Tampa, Montalvo’s effort never wavered in college. He worked his way to a scholarship at UCF, a starting position on defense and now the NFL. Montalvo made 36 career starts with the Knights.
Email Jason Beede at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
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