UCF’s Scott Frost Wants Edge Rushers To Step up in Fall Camp

Scott Frost is searching for the UCF Knights' next dynamic pass-rushing duo after Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly took their talents to the NFL.

The senior duo totaled 74 tackles (50 solo) and seven sacks last season. They led UCF to its lone Defensive Line of the Week honor in October against West Virginia, sacking the quarterbacks eight times, with Lawrence and Kelly accounting for three.

Their names graced postseason recognition, too. Lawrence earned All-Big 12 First Team, and his teammate achieved All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

They sought their NFL dreams after successful final campaigns. The Dallas Cowboys helped the All-Big 12 First Teamer make program history as the highest-selected defensive player, drafting him 23rd overall. Kelly went undrafted but was signed by the Green Bay Packers and impressed during the summer, leading to a contract worth over $250,000.

With two promising edge rushers gone from the program, Frost must find their successors quickly. He highlighted Isaiah Nixon and Sincere Edwards as the two Knights who played the "Robin role" to their predecessors' "Batman."

Nixon was a consistent contributor, playing 11 games. He tallied a career-high in tackles (24) and recorded his lone sack of the season in UCF's final home game against Oklahoma State.

After seeing his teammates go to the next level, Nixon is motivated to become the defense's lynchpin. His snap count has increased every year, as he's coming off a career-best 311 snaps (22 more than in 2024).

"I've been waiting for this moment my whole life, to be honest with you," Nixon told reporters on April 21. "These past three years being behind Malachi, Nyjalik, this gives me an opportunity to like soak all this in and just go out there and just play hard my last year."

For Edwards, it's all about bouncing back from a season-ending injury. He went out for the year with a Lisfranc fracture before the West Virginia matchup, halting all the momentum he had toward a career year.

The former Pittsburgh Panther tallied 17 tackles and three sacks in his freshman year and was on pace to surpass those totals after six games at UCF. He ended the season with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

UCF's EDGE position is more than just Nixon and Edwards. Frost mentioned returner Aymeric Koumba and transfers Bruno Dall, LA Jesse Harrold and Ken Talley.

He values those extra bodies and the talent they provide at rushing the quarterback, and fall camp is the most ideal time to develop the group as a safety net in case of injuries.

"We've got to make sure that those guys are ready to go and that we don't have a drop-off there," Frost said after Day 1 of fall camp.