ORLANDO – Eleven UCF football upperclassmen were named to the 2026 Shriners Children’s 1,000 Watch List announced by the Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl. The watchlist identifies the nation’s top NFL draft eligible players ahead of the 2026 college football season.
The group of Knights named to the watch list are quarterback Alonza Barnett III, defensive back Ty Bartrum, defensive back Jayden Bellamy, linebacker Lewis Carter, defensive tackle Thomas Collins, offensive lineman Preston Cushman, wide receiver Josh Derry, defensive back Demari Henderson, defensive tackle RJ Jackson Jr., defensive tackle Horace Lockett and tight end Dylan Wade.
The Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl, a postseason all-star game for NFL Draft eligible players, releases an annual watch list of 1,000 players prior to the college football season kicking off. Each year, approximately 1,000 all-star game eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft, or attend a rookie mini-camp. The watch list serves as the bowl’s look into its scouting process to see who could be a part of the 2027 Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl and 2027 NFL Draft class.
UCF sits tied for fourth in the Big 12 Conference in players listed on the Shriners Children 1,000 Watch List. Texas Tech led the way with 27, followed by Colorado and TCU with 12. The Knights have 11 names listed along with Arizona State, Baylor, BYU and Kansas. Arizona and Utah each had 10 representatives while Cincinnati and Houston had nine, Kansas State had eight, West Virginia had six, Oklahoma State had five and Iowa State had four.
The Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl is a best-in-class all-star event that will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on February 4, 2027. Players are coached by NFL coaches, in an NFL facility and will have access to NFL-level resources, facilities, player-friendly schedules and opportunities at the highest level.
Edge rusher Malachi Lawrence represented the Black and Gold at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl before going on to become UCF’s highest defensive selection in the NFL Draft as he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 23rd overall pick. Lawrence was the fifth first-round NFL Draft pick in program history.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2026 campaign are on sale and can be purchased here! Be sure to be a part of all the action as the Knights play their 20th season in Acrisure Bounce House.
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.