ORLANDO – After a stout performance up front this past Saturday against TCU, UCF football’s defensive line has been named Big 12 Conference Defensive Line of the Week.
The defensive front proved to be UCFierce in the 21-13 win over TCU, tallying six of the Knights’ eight tackles for loss while accounting for three of the four sacks in the contest.
Defensive tackle Jeffson Lafontant and edge rusher Isaiah Nixon led the charge up front, each tallying 2.5 tackles for loss. Nixon recorded 1.5 sacks while Laftontant also recorded a sack. Edge Rusher Aymeric Koumba and defensive tackle Thomas Collins each record half a sack to make up the trio of quarterback takedowns. Collins also recovered a fumble on the game’s final play as TCU tried to lateral its way to a last-second miracle. In total, the defensive line accounted for 19 tackles in the conference-opening win.
Big 12’s Best in Week 4 😤 pic.twitter.com/mmdUe4Ft94
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) September 28, 2026
The Horned Frogs were only able to record 33 rushing yards against the Knights’ defense, which was the lowest mark since Nov. 2, 2024 against Arizona. With TCU rushing the ball 27 times, the 33 yards were the 14th fewest in UCF’s FBS history by an opponent who rushed the ball 25 or more times.
The defensive line of the week honor is the second time that UCF has won the honor during its time in the Big 12, the last coming after an outstanding performance against West Virginia Oct. 18, 2025.
The Knights have earned back-to-back weekly defensive honors, as Demari Henderson was named Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception performance against Georgia State.
UP NEXT
The Knights will embark on a two-game road trip, starting Oct. 3 at noon ET at No. 20 Houston on ESPN2.
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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.