4 UCF Knights CFB 27 Overall Improve After Week 1 Win
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The UCF Knights put together a historic program performance against Bethune-Cookman, and four players' College Football 27 overalls have increased as a result.
X user Stephen Leonard highlighted running back Duke Watson (83 to 84), defensive back Jayden Williams (76 to 78), offensive linemen Brady Wayburn (76 to 77) and Owen Spell (73 to 74).
Watson blew the game open on the second snap of UCF's first drive. The Louisville transfer burst through a wide-open gap created by his blocks and saw nothing but green grass in his 64-yard touchdown run.
His 64-yard run was four yards shy of tying his career-long 68-yarder against Stanford on Sept. 18, 2024.
He finished the night with 110 yards and a touchdown on seven carries (15.7 yards per carry), showing the program why he led the nation in yards per carry at Louisville as a freshman. Watson averaged 8.9 yards per carry in 2024, which bested some of the best running backs in college football at the time.
Williams continued the party with a 47-yard pick-six on Bethune-Cookman's second drive in the first quarter.
Quarterback Tyler Jefferson faced pressure from linebacker Lewis Carter and sailed the pass to his intended receiver, leading to a Williams interception. His teammates formed open gaps with their blocking, and he dove into the end zone for the second score of the game.
Wayburn and Spell protected quarterback Alonza Barnett III throughout the night, preventing the Wildcats from recording a sack.
Spell was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list and helped UCF's offensive line win the Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week Award for allowing zero sacks in its blowout victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers last season.
Offensive lineman Cooper Terpstra is the only Knight to see a decrease in their ratings, going from a 70 overall to 69.
These ratings for the group, and more Knights, could see change after Week 2's matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers on the road.
Pittsburgh has a historically great run defense and has finished in the top half of the ACC for the last several years, placing second last season (95.1 yards allowed per game), third in 2024 (112.8 yards allowed per game) and eighth in 2023 (150.2 yards allowed per game).
Barnett said he is looking forward to the challenge, facing an ACC opponent that went 8-4 last season and retained quarterback Mason Heintschel, who threw for seven touchdowns in Week 1, and running back Ja’Kyrian Turner.
Saturday's game could help more Knights increase their ratings in the game and continue helping the team succeed early in the season.
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