UCF TE Dylan Wade Questionable Against No. 20 Houston
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The UCF Knights’ offense could take a huge hit on Saturday as tight end Dylan Wade is questionable for Saturday’s road matchup against the No. 20 Houston Cougars.
Wade sustained an upper body injury in last week’s Big 12 home opener against the TCU Horned Frogs. The occurrence happened in the fourth quarter, and he walked off the field without additional help.
He is a valuable receiving option in UCF’s passing game. Wade finished second on the team in receptions (53) and yards (523), trailing behind wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. last season.
The Orlando native led all receivers with five touchdowns. His junior season totals were all career highs, and made Knights history as single-season bests for a tight end since 1996.
He earned recognition from multiple media outlets as a top returning tight end in the Big 12.
Wade is off to a slow start after four games with 53 yards on eight receptions. The senior had 155 yards and one touchdown on 15 receptions in the same sample size last season.
A revamped receiving corps had played a role in his limited targets, with seven Knights over 50 yards and four with touchdowns.
Losing Wade for this matchup limits UCF’s ability to run 12-personnel (two tight end sets). Two tight ends adds an additional blocker or receiver, leading to more efficient offense.
Wade has a great running mate in Caden Piening, who is having a breakout season.
Piening has 60 yards and one touchdown on four receptions this season. An impressive spring and fall camp led to coach Scott Frost naming him the second starting tight end on the depth chart.
The redshirt freshman will have to step up in his senior’s absence, and his performance could be a glimpse at what UCF’s offense will look like with Piening as the No. 1 tight end in the future.
Thomas and wide receiver Jonathan Bibbs are the two other Knights on the injury report.
The Knights’ leading receiver from last season is dealing with a hamstring injury that has sidelined the entire year. He is a Swiss Army knife, opening Frost’s playbook for a jet sweep.
Bibbs is listed as probable, and missed last week with an undisclosed injury. The Louisiana-Monroe transfer has been involved in the passing game, hauling in four receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown.
UCF’s defense took a significant hit last week, ruling out linebacker Lewis Carter, and it’s happening for the offense this week. Injuries are piling up during a tough three week stretch for the Knights.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos