“After the [first] game, I’m driving home and I’m like, ‘I’ve got to wait another whole week to show what I can do.’ But I just showed up on Monday, went to work, Tuesday, went to work…the whole week showed up and went to work. I can’t just take all the credit for myself, my teammates were pushing me all week.”
Jaden Nixon
Nixon indeed showed what he can do, torching North Carolina A&T’s defense on the ground time and time again. He ripped off two huge runs, scampering for 87- and 66-yard touchdowns.
His 87-yard score sits tied for the third longest rush from scrimmage in program history, tying Kevin Smith’s touchdown sprint in 2007 and Adrian Killins Jr.’s touchdown in 2016. Nixon’s rush added to an electric performance that began the game with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
“I’m really happy for Jaden. In a game like that, you never know who’s going to get the big plays, and they fell on Jaden. He did a really good job. We’ve been talking to him, as fast as he is, he just needs to run though the smoke. He did a really good job with that tonight on offense and on special teams. I’m really excited for him to have the type of game he had.”
Scott FrostNixon scored in each of the first three quarters, returning the opening kick in the first, running for the 87-yard touchdown in the second, and adding the 66-yard rush.
When the dust settled, Nixon accounted for 252 all-purpose yards and 18 points. The performance was one of 19 in which a Knight has scored 18 points or more in a game since the start of the 2016 season. The last UCF player to tally over 250 all-purpose yards was wide receiver Ryan O’Keefe, who tallied 251 in the Gasparilla Bowl against Florida on Dec. 23, 2021, chalking up 56 kick return yards, 110 rushing yards and 85 receiving yards.
About UCF AthleticsUCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.