UCF standout Malachi Lawrence was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday
Former UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence is now in rare company.
On Thursday, he became the fifth Knights player to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. He was taken by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 23. He joins cornerback Mike Hughes (2018), receiver Breshard Perriman (2015), quarterback Blake Bortles (2014) and quarterback Daunte Culpepper (1999) as Knights players taken in the first round.
The Cowboys can expect Lawrence to give his full effort once he arrives for training camp. Here's what he said to before the draft:
"I try to put it to the side," Lawrence said. "I know to not let my head get too big. Once I get there, that's just the start. I'm probably going to be the worst player on the team when I get there. I don't know how the NFL is."
Here's what was said about Lawrence before the draft:
The Ringer: "Lawrence is an ascending edge with a great motor and the natural ability to keep improving. He recorded 27.5 TFL and 19.5 sacks in his last three seasons at UCF. He’s quick with active hands and can get to the quarterback in different ways. He can transition to power when he doesn’t win with his first move, and he closes well. He had an impressive combine workout with outstanding numbers in the 40-yard dash and vertical jump. He also had the second-best broad jump out of all the edges at the combine. And he has above-average arm length."
NFL.com: "An NFL-caliber edge rusher with prototypical size and length, Lawrence moves with the suddenness of a smaller player. Explosive get-off and a deep bag of moves/counters fuel his pocket disruption. He can win inside or outside but his speed-to-power conversion is average. His hands are subtle but skilled to quickly unlock openings and his secondary rush. He closes with burst and has the motor to hound scrambling quarterbacks. The next level will bring better tackles and more quick-sets, which will test how well his production translates. He makes splash plays behind the line but must provide better consistency and discipline in run support. Lawrence is an ascending prospect with rush polish and pro traits that should be enticing for pressure-hungry defenses."
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of UCFRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com