Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, defensive lineman Big Kat Bryant, offensive lineman Sam Jackson and wide receiver Brandon Johnson have been named captains of the 2021 UCF football squad.
The selections came by team vote. It's the first time since 2015 that UCF has formally named captains prior to the season. The Knights have designated game-by-game captains the last five years.
A 6-0, 200-pound junior from Mililani, Hawaii (Mililani High School), Gabriel has been the UCF quarterback starter in each of the last 22 games for the Knights. He already has thrown for 7,223 career yards (484-of-811 passing) and 61 touchdowns. Gabriel led the nation in passing yards per game in 2020—and UCF has ranked second nationally in total offense (568.1 yards per game in 2020) in each of his seasons as the Knight starter.
A 6-5, 245-pound redshirt senior from Cordelle, Georgia (Crisp County High School), Bryant is a graduate transfer from Auburn in his first season at UCF. In 2020 he earned second-team all-Southeastern Conference honors as one of Auburn's team captains. Bryant made 56 career tackles (plus 11.5 tackles for loss and 120 sacks) in four years of play with the Tigers while current UCF head coach Gus Malzahn was the Auburn head coach.
A 6-6, 325-pound redshirt senior from Bradenton, Florida (Lakewood Ranch High School), Jackson has started 18 career games at multiple positions on the UCF offensive line. Already a UCF graduate, he plays a key role for the Knights on an offensive line that returns all six of its most experienced players from 2020.
A 6-2, 195-pound redshirt senior from Fort Lauderdale, Florida (American Heritage High School), Johnson is a graduate transfer from Tennessee in his first year at UCF. He started 15 career games for the Vols, catching 79 passes for 969 yards and a TD in 46 games in Knoxville.