ORLANDO – The #BuiltByUCF brand continues to grow as there were 27 former UCF football players on NFL rosters when the 2019 preseason began this summer. With a number of veterans and plenty of rookies making their way into camps, UCF is once again well represented in the National Football League.
At the start of the 2019 season, there are some familiar faces in new places. Josh Robinson signed on with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Breshad Perriman joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Latavius Murray is now a New Orleans Saint, and Blake Bortles traveled west to be a part of the Los Angeles Rams organization.
Six players in all from last season’s conference championship team found their way into camps this summer, led by second round draft pick Trysten Hill with the Dallas Cowboys. Wyatt Miller is playing with the Jets, Rashard Causey is with the Broncos, Matthew Wright is a member of his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, and Taj McGowan and Michael Colubiale are with the Jaguars.
Twenty former Knights played in week one of the preseason schedule over the weekend. Robinson returned a couple of kicks, Jordan Akins and Tre’Quan Smith had a pair of catches each, Wright nailed a 42-yard field goal and Shaquem Griffin forced a fumble, to name a few events from early preseason action.
New shade of Black & Gold but same @Mattyice717 ❄️‼️
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) August 10, 2019
Right down the middle from 42yds out for the @steelers 🙌 #BuiltByUCF pic.twitter.com/FHkIfP0B7w
NFL Preseason Week 1
Jordan Akins (Texans) – 2 catches for 24 yards vs. Packers
Blake Bortles (Rams) – Started, 3-for-8 passing for 50 yards, 1 rush for 3 yards vs. Raiders
AJ Bouye (Jags) – Did not play
Jeremy Boykins (Seahawks) – 1 tackle vs. Broncos
Rashard Causey (Broncos) – Did not play
Michael Colubiale (Jags) – Did not play
Jordan Franks (Bengals) – 1 catch for 2 yards vs. Chiefs
Clayton Geathers (Colts) – Did not play
Shaquem Griffin (Seahawks) – Forced Fumble, 1 tackle vs. Broncos
Shaquill Griffin (Seahawks) – Started, 2 tackles, 1 pass break-up vs. Broncos
Trysten Hill (Cowboys) – Played vs. 49ers
Mike Hughes (Vikings) – Played vs. Saints
Charley Hughlett (Browns) – Played vs. Redskins
Kemal Ishmael (Falcons) – 1 tackle vs. Dolphins
DJ Killings (Raiders) – 3 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss vs. Rams
Jordan McCray (Bears) – Played vs. Panthers
Justin McCray (Packers) – Played vs. Texans
Taj McGowan (Jags) – Did not play
Wyatt Miller (Jets) – Played vs. Giants
Latavius Murray (Saints) – 3 rushes for 14 yards, 3 catches for 22 yards vs. Vikings
TJ Mutcherson (Seahawks) – Did not play
Breshad Perriman (Bucs) – 1 catch for 11 yards vs. Steelers
Jamiyus Pittman (Dolphins) – 1 tackle-for-loss vs. Falcons
Matt Prater (Lions) – Did not play
Josh Robinson (Jags) – 1 punt return for 2 yards, 1 kick return for 21 yards, 2 tackles vs. Ravens
Tre'Quan Smith (Saints) – 2 catches for 16 yards vs. Vikings
Matthew Wright (Steelers) – Made 42-yard field goal, 2 extra points vs. Bucs