ORLANDO – A pair of edge rushers from UCF football’s 2025 roster are heading to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine as Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly are set to make their way to Indianapolis later this month.
The edge rushing duo combined for 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks this season. The pair are two of just 10 defensive linemen invited from the Big 12 Conference. Both were recognized by the conference for their remarkable 2025 campaigns, as Lawrence was named to the All-Big 12 First Team while Kelly earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.
Lawrence finished his collegiate career exclusively as a Knight, spending five seasons with the Black and Gold. He compiled 20 sacks over the course of his career, good enough for a No. 10 finish on UCF’s all-time sacks leaderboard. The 2025 slate saw him record season career-highs in tackles (28), tackles for loss (11), pass breakups (3) and forced fumbles (2) while earning single game career-highs in tackles (7) and tackles for loss (3). He was one of just four players in the FBS who recorded five or more sacks over the past three seasons. In addition to his All-Big 12 First Team tab, Lawrence was named an honorable mention for Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
