ORLANDO – Seven members of the UCF football team were named to the Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Team. Lewis Carter and Jayden Bellamy earned Second Team Defense nods while Duke Watson, Duane Thomas Jr., Dylan Wade and Preston Cushman received Fourth Team Offense recognition and Demari Henderson was named Fourth Team Defense.
Carter led the Knights in tackles during the 2025 season, tallying a career-high 92 tackles, 52 of which were solo. Tabbed as All-Big 12 Honorable Mention at season’s end, Carter caused problems for opposing offense all season long. Carter finished the campaign by recording a dozen or more tackles in three of the final four contests, chalking up 13 vs. Houston (Nov. 7), 12 at No. 6 Texas Tech (Nov. 15) and 12 at No. 11 BYU (Nov. 29). Additionally, he finished the year with four games with double-digit tackles, adding 10 in the 34-9 win over North Carolina (Sep. 20). The nod to Athlon’s preseason honor is the second this summer for Carter as he was named to Phil Steele’s Preseason Big 12 Second Team.
Bellamy started at cornerback in all 12 of UCF’s contests last season, also his first as a Knight. He earned All-Big 12 Honorable mention after leading the Black and Gold with a career-high eight pass breakups. He snagged an interception in the season opener against Jacksonville State, snagging a pass near the sideline to ice the first win of the campaign. Bellamy iced the home finale as well, tipping a ball that was intercepted to seal a come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma State. He tallied three or more tackles in six contests, including a season-high five at No. 6 Texas Tech (Nov. 15). Bellamy has collected a pair of preseason honors to this point, having also been named to Phil Steele’s Preseason Big 12 Third Team.
Thomas was UCF’s leading receiver when it came to receptions and yardage in 2025, hauling in 53 catches for 528 yards in his first season with the Black and Gold. He recorded four or more receptions in nine games, including five contests with at least five grabs. He tallied career-highs in receptions and receiving yards at Baylor (Nov. 1), going for eight catches and 77 yards. He was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention at season’s end and figures to play a big role again in 2026.
Wade finished the year just five receiving yards behind Thomas as he snagged 43 catches for 523 yards with five touchdowns in 2025. The rising senior’s productivity exploded towards the end of the season, including a remarkable performance against Oklahoma State that saw him record 145 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just four catches. His receptions, yards and touchdowns during the 2025 campaign stand as the most by a UCF tight end in a single season in the program’s FBS history. He finished the season with an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention nod.
Cushman started in all 12 of UCF’s games in 2025, seeing the most snaps on the team throughout the campaign with 753. A leader among the offensive line group, he was among the highest rated on the squad last season, according to PFF. He played a large role in UCF’s nod as Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week as the unit allowed zero sacks in the Knights’ 34-9 victory over North Carolina on Sept. 20.
Watson, the lone newcomer on the 2026 UCF squad to earn a preseason nod thus far, joins the Knights after two seasons with Louisville. He had a breakout freshman campaign in 2024, leading the nation with an average of 8.9 yards per carry and was second on the Cardinals in rushing with 597 yards and seven touchdowns. He saw action in seven games in 2025, chalking up 158 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Henderson is set to suit up for his fifth campaign as a Knight, earning Athlon Sports’ Preseason Fourth Team Defense honors. He started all 12 games in 2025 and was the team’s third-leading tackler with a career-high mark of 61, making 42 solo stops. He snagged his lone interception of the season at Kansas State (Sept. 27), snuffing out the Wildcats’ opening drive. He tallied six or more tackles in four games, including a career-best 12 against Texas Tech on Nov. 15.
SEASON TICKETS
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ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF 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.