ORLANDO — UCF has not produced a first-round NFL draft pick since 2018, but that could change April 23.
Malachi Lawrence surged up draft boards after an All-Big 12 first-team redshirt senior season and an impressive showing at the NFL scouting combine in February. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Louisville native is widely expected to be selected within the first 60 picks — with several prominent pundits forecasting him to hear his name called near the end of Round 1.
Lawrence played all five of his college seasons with the Knights, finishing 10th all-time in program history with 20 sacks.
Fort Lauderdale native Nyjalik Kelly has a shot of being selected on the draft’s third day. Shaking off a shoulder injury he sustained as a sophomore at Miami, the 6-foot-5, 256-pound Kelly started 23 of his 24 games at UCF and registered 17½ TFLs and eight sacks.
Other UCF hopefuls who are more likely to sign as undrafted free agents or earn invitations to rookie minicamps include offensive tackle Paul Rubelt, safety Phillip Dunnam and running backs Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon.
Here is a look at where Lawrence and Kelly are expected to be picked after combing through just about every prominent published mock draft available. Publication dates are in parentheses.
Where is Malachi Lawrence projected to be picked in NFL draft?
Where is Nyjalik Kelly projected to be picked in NFL draft?
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Where is UCF football’s Malachi Lawrence projected in NFL mock drafts?
Reporting by Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
