For the first time since 2018, a UCF Knight is off the board in the first round of the NFL Draft.
With the 23rd pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence. Lawrence was the fifth Big 12 player and fourth defensive end to hear his name called on the stage in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. He is the fifth UCF first rounder in history, joining an exclusive group consisting of Daunte Culpepper (1999), Blake Bortles (2014), Breshad Perriman (2015), and Mike Hughes (2018).
Lawrence
spent all five of his collegiate seasons at UCF, suiting up for the Knights through several key transitions, including the American Conference to Big 12 move in 2023, as well as the Gus Malzahn to Scott Frost head coaching change in 2025.
Lawrence’s ascension lined up with the Knights’ admittance into the Big 12. After seldom playing time in 2021 and 2022, the defensive end elevated his stock in 2023 with 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, securing All-Big 12 honorable mention despite operating primarily in a reserve role. The Louisville, KY native moved into a starting gig in 2024, racking up five sacks and six tackles for loss.
The longtime Knight saved his best ball for 2025, where he attained First Team All-Big 12 honors behind a season featuring 28 tackles, seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and a pair of forced fumbles. Ranked 10th on UCF’s all-time sacks list, he was one of four FBS players to notch at least five sacks every season from 2023-25 — showing consistency over a prolonged period of time.
Lawrence was one of two UCF invites to the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and his performance at Lucas Oil Stadium benefited his draft positioning. His elite speed was on full display with a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, and he excelled in the explosiveness categories with a 40-inch vertical and a 10-foot-10-inch broad jump.
The 6’4”, 253 defensive end offers impressive explosiveness and good bend off the edge, and these characteristics allowed him to warrant a first round draft selection. Lawrence joins a Cowboys group that tied for seventh-last in sacks last year with 35 — needing to fill a Micah Parsons-sized vacancy on defense. Dallas heavily addressed the edge rusher position this offseason, bringing in Rashan Gary from the Packers in the free agency in addition to drafting Lawrence.
Lawrence’s selection extends UCF’s NFL Draft streak to three-straight seasons. The Knights are now 3-for-3 on producing a day one or two draft pick following seasons led by head coach Scott Frost.
