Which former UCF football players are on NFL rosters as 2025 training camp begins?

UCF takes the field July 28 to prepare for the upcoming football season, but nearly two-dozen former Knights get a head start this week as NFL training camps open.

That includes six rookies who were in Orlando this time a year ago, headlined by second-round running back RJ Harvey. A handful of vets who played for Scott Frost during his first UCF head coaching tenure are still holding onto roster spots across the league.

Let's forecast how things shape up for UCF's products in the pros. Of note, this list includes all rostered rookies and veterans who appeared in at least one NFL regular-season game in 2024.

However, it excludes former Knights who finished their college careers elsewhere, such as 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune (Florida State), Bengals center Matt Lee (Miami) and, perhaps most notably, Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (Oregon).

BJ Adams, Miami Dolphins

After going undrafted, four-year starting cornerback Adams (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) became a priority free agent target of the Miami Dolphins. According to Spotrac, he received $170,000 in guaranteed money — including a $20,000 signing bonus.

Adams snagged two interceptions in his final year at UCF, taking one 63 yards to the house before halftime of a heartbreaking road loss at Iowa State. He finished the year with a 69.5 coverage grade, per Pro Football Focus, and added 14 tackles (10 solo).

Miami traded seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick, for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a fifth-rounder in '27. Storm Duck, Artie Burns and fellow rookie Jason Marshall Jr. are among those expected to contend for the vacant spots.

Jordan Akins, free agent

A minor-league baseball player prior to his UCF football tenure, Akins has carved out a respectable seven-year NFL career — suiting up for the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns. In 2024, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end tallied 40 receptions for 390 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Akins, now 33, is a free agent as training camps open. He completed a two-year, $3.9 million deal with Cleveland in March.

Javon Baker, New England Patriots

Baker endured a difficult rookie season in New England, sitting as a healthy scratch six times and recording just one catch for 12 yards. Mike Vrabel replaced Jerod Mayo as head coach, but the former fourth-round pick will likely start camp on the roster bubble.

The Patriots added Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and third-round pick Kyle Williams in the offseason. Slot receiver DeMario Douglas tied for the team lead with 66 catches and three touchdowns a year ago, the same number of scores Kayshon Boutte reeled in, and Kendrick Bourne has plenty of familiarity with returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Baker will need to impress the new staff to stick, and the same can be said of Ja'Lynn Polk — New England's 2024 second-round choice out of Washington.

Ricky Barber, Washington Commanders

Barber (6-3, 295) played 47 of his 63 career games for UCF after transferring from Western Kentucky in 2021. He tallied six TFLs and 2½ sacks in his final college campaign.

Picked up as a UDFA, he will look to stick with the Washington Commanders amid a veteran-heavy group of defensive tackles anchored by Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw.

Gabe Davis, free agent

Davis' return to the Sunshine State ended after a solitary season in Jacksonville. The Jaguars cut Davis on May 7, 14 months after handing him a three-year, $40 million contract.

Starting nine of the 10 games in which he played, Davis (6-2, 225) had career-lows in receptions (20), yards (239) and touchdowns (two). The previous four seasons, all spent in Buffalo, he averaged 41 catches, 683 yards and seven scores.

Still just 26, Davis has been linked to a number of teams in various reports — including the Bills, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs — but he has yet to find a home.

Kalia Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Davis (6-2, 310) redshirted his rookie season (2022) due to an ACL tear, and he has since played in 16 of a possible 34 games. He tallied a career-high 12 tackles last year, and he tipped and picked off Patrick Mahomes in a home game versus Kansas City for his first interception.

This is the final year of Davis' rookie contract, meaning he could become a salary-cap casualty by the end of training camp. The 49ers would save $1.1 million, according to Spotrac, if they cut the former sixth-round pick.

Tylan Grable, Buffalo Bills

Grable (6-5, 309) saw his first extensive action for the Buffalo Bills in their 2024 regular-season finale, playing 67 snaps at left tackle. The 2024 sixth-round pick is likely to return in a reserve role behind incumbent starter Dion Dawkins, a four-time Pro Bowler, while Spencer Brown mans the right side of the line.

Richie Grant, San Francisco 49ers

Grant signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers after a four-year run with the Atlanta Falcons, in which he topped the 100-tackle threshold twice.

The 6-foot, 200-pound safety lost his starting spot under Raheem Morris, limited to just 165 defensive snaps. Grant will hope a fresh start in the Bay Area will rejuvenate his career. The 49ers lost Talanoa Hufanga to Denver in free agency, added Jason Pinnock from the New York Giants and could be without Malik Mustapha (knee) and Ji'Ayir Brown (knee) for the start of camp.

Shaquill Griffin, Seattle Seahawks

Griffin (6-0, 198) returns to Seattle, where he spent his first four seasons and made his lone trip to the Pro Bowl (2019), on a one-year, $3 million deal. Six of Griffin's nine career interceptions occurred during his previous stint with the Seahawks.

Last season, with the Minnesota Vikings, Griffin played all 17 games — making three starts — and compiled 41 tackles with a pair of picks. His PFF coverage grade (61.6) ranked in the middle of the road as far as cornerbacks are concerned, 63rd of 116 qualified players at the position.

Seattle has a strong starting tandem in Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen, but Griffin should play an important depth role for a team hoping to return to the postseason after a two-year absence.

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

Chosen with the 60th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, Harvey — UCF's all-time leader in touchdowns — is expected to play a significant role as a rookie for the Denver Broncos. The 5-foot-8, 205-pound running back signed his four-year, $7.36 million contract on July 17, and BetMGM lists him as a +2200 pick for the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.

J.K. Dobbins is the presumed starter in the Broncos' backfield after rushing for a career-high 905 yards and scoring nine touchdowns for the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. However, he has suited up for just 37 of a possible 84 games since entering the league five years ago.

Trysten Hill, free agent

Chosen 58th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2019 NFL Draft, Hill (6-3, 310) has bounced around a bit over the last three years. He's spent time in Cleveland, Arizona, New England and Indianapolis.

Hill appeared in two games for the Patriots last fall but did not record any statistics. The Colts released him from the practice squad injured list Dec. 30, and he has not resurfaced on a roster since.

Kobe Hudson, Carolina Panthers

Dan Morgan has rebuilt the Carolina Panthers' receiving corps since taking over as general manager, investing a first-round pick on Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan in April. Adam Thielen, Xavier Leggette and Jalen Coker each surpassed 400 yards in 2024, Hunter Renfrow came out of retirement to join the squad and Sanford native Jimmy Horn Jr. was taken in the sixth round.

Hudson signed as an undrafted free agent after leading UCF in all major receiving categories, hauling in 47 catches for 770 yards and four touchdowns. He showcased his skills at the Hula Bowl, the Reese's Senior Bowl and the NFL scouting combine in the pre-draft process.

Per Spotrac, Hudson landed $254,000 in guaranteed money on his deal, giving him decent odds to stick in Carolina — either on the active roster or the practice squad.

Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons

A key figure on UCF's undefeated 2017 squad, Hughes (5-10, 191) enjoyed his most successful season last year, his seventh in the league. He set career-highs in starts (15), tackles (66) and TFLs (four), and he finished inside the top-30 in PFF's cornerback coverage metrics.

The Atlanta Falcons rewarded Hughes with a three-year contract extension worth $18 million. He will man the boundary opposite AJ Terrell as the Falcons attempt to knock the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off their perch as four-time defending NFC South champions.

Charley Hughlett, Philadelphia Eagles

Hughlett's 10-year run as the Cleveland Browns' long snapper ended in February. He suffered a rib injury in the 2024 preseason, reaggravated it in a game against Washington and spent the final three months on injured reserve.

Hughlett finished his Browns career ranked 15th in franchise history for games played (152).

In March, Hughlett signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles worth $1.42 million. He will replace two-time Super Bowl champion and one-time Pro Bowl selection Rick Lovato.

Brandon Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers made two major moves to its receiving corps in the offseason, acquiring DK Metcalf from Seattle and shipping George Pickens to Dallas in separate trades.

Johnson, who caught 19 balls for 284 yards and four TDs for the Denver Broncos in 2023, played three times for Pittsburgh last year and could be in line for a larger role this upcoming campaign. He's got the support of his position coach, Zach Azzanni, who he played for at Tennessee (prior to Johnson's transfer to UCF) and with the Broncos.

"I don't overlook him because this is the third place I've coached him," Azzanni told reporters last month. "I recruited him to Tennessee, I got him to Denver, he did the rest there. Helped get him here. Thank God they listened to me and brought him here, because he's a sneaky good player. I'm really excited about where he's at. He can help us. I'm able to coach him hard. He's our type of player."

Jacoby Jones, Washington Commanders

Jones (6-3, 228) emerged as a quality second option in the UCF passing game late last October, producing back-to-back games against BYU and Arizona with 100-plus receiving yards and a TD.

The Washington Commanders signed Jones after the NFL draft for $50,000 guaranteed, per Spotrac.

Terry McLaurin, assuming he resolves talks over a new contract, and Deebo Samuel comprise a formidable 1-2 receiving punch for rising star Jayden Daniels. Jones is one of three rookie wideouts listed on the Commanders' roster at the start of camp, so he will have his work cut out to secure a spot ahead of September.

Amari Kight, Seattle Seahawks

A stalwart at tackle for the Knights the past two seasons, Kight (6-6, 299) signed with the Seattle Seahawks following the 2025 NFL Draft. He received a $1,500 signing bonus, and could be a developmental option, either as a swing tackle or along the interior.

Mac McWilliams, Philadelphia Eagles

Joining Harvey as UCF's lone draft picks of the 2025 class, McWilliams joins the defending Super Bowl champions. The Pensacola native put pen to paper May 3 on a four-year deal worth just over $4.64 million.

Graded as the Knights' top defender last year by PFF, McWilliams (5-10, 191) can line up on the boundary, in the slot and provide value on both the coverage and return units for special teams. He had 32 tackles (25 solo), 6½ TFLs, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in his lone campaign at UCF, joining the previous spring from UAB via the transfer portal.

Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean had excellent rookie seasons in the Philly secondary, but perhaps McWilliams can push third-year cornerback Kelee Ringo for playing time.

Matt Prater, free agent

Prater (5-10, 201) underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee last October, an injury that limited him to four games. Set to turn 41 on Aug. 10, Prater is 15th all-time in scoring (1,808 points) in NFL history, adding 81 field goals of 50 yards or more.

Assuming he's healthy, he could get another shot at one of the sport's most volatile positions. Prater's contract with the Arizona Cardinals expired in March, and he remains a free agent.

Alex Ward, Los Angeles Rams

Entrenched as the Los Angeles Rams' starting long snapper, Ward (6-4, 241) suited up for all 17 regular-season games and both postseason contests as well. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, set to earn $1.03 million, according to OverTheCap.

Divaad Wilson, free agent

A two-year starter at safety for UCF, Wilson (6-0, 195) posted identical stat lines in his first two NFL seasons — five total tackles, with four solo stops. He played five games in 2024, twice for the Arizona Cardinals and three times with the New York Giants.

Wilson joined the Detroit Lions on June 2, but was released from the team's injured reserve list July 16 following a settlement.

Matthew Wright, Carolina Panthers

Appearing for six teams across five NFL seasons, Wright (5-11, 174) has been fairly reliable when called upon. He's made 87.3% of his field goal attempts, including a 7-for-11 success rate beyond 50 yards.

During the 2024 season, in which he suited up for the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, Wright made 15 of 16 field goals and all six PAT attempts.

Wright will compete with undrafted rookie Ryan Fitzgerald for the job in Carolina. The Panthers let Eddy Piñeiro, the NFL's third-most accurate kicker in history (88.1%), test the free agent market, and he is still unsigned.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football players in NFL training camp ahead of 2025 season