ORLANDO – The UCF football team's 2020 season is still nine days away, but the NFL season starts tonight as the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, including #BuiltByUCF Knight Jordan Akins, square off in Thursday Night Football.
Akins is one of 13 former UCF players on active NFL rosters to start the season.
A.J. Bouye, who spent the last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the Denver Broncos this offseason. Bouye went to the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2017.
Gabriel Davis is the lone Knights rookie on an active roster this season after getting selected in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills.
Charley Hughlett is set to begin his ninth season in the NFL and seventh consecutive as the Cleveland Browns' long snapper.
Bruce Miller is back in the NFL this season. The San Francisco 49er from 2011-15 is now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Breshad Perriman is now a member of his fourth team in his last four seasons as he gets set for 2020 with the New York Jets. The former first-round draft pick had the best season of his career in 2019, catching 36 passes for 645 yards and six touchdowns with the Buccaneers.
Shaquill Griffin, a first-time pro bowler in 2019, returns for his fourth season with the Seattle Seahawks this fall.
Trysten Hill, who was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, looks to make more of an impact in his second professional season. The defensive tackle was recently named a starter for the Dallas Cowboys.
Mike Hughes returns for his third season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 after ending last year on the injured reserve with a neck injury. Hughes has 67 tackles, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in his two seasons in the league.
After spending last season with the Cleveland Browns, Justin McCray joins the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, looking to make an impact on the offensive line.
Another former Pro Bowler, Latavius Murray is back for his second season in New Orleans after rushing for 637 yards and five touchdowns while sharing the backfield with Alvin Kamara.
Matt Prater is ready for his 15th season in the NFL and seventh with the Detroit Lions in 2020. The two-time pro-bowler and second-team All-Pro in 2013 still holds the NFL record for longest field goal, at 64 yards.
Now in his third season with the Saints, Tre'Quan Smith looks to build on his early-career success in 2020. The former third-round pick has caught five touchdown passes in each of his first two pro seasons.
There are also three former UCF players on NFL practice squads. Shaquem Griffin is with the Seahawks, Adrian Killins Jr. is with the Eagles, and Nate Evans is with the Jaguars. D.J. Killings is also on the Las Vegas Raiders' roster as an opt-out reserve player.