Conference USA Football

HEIGHT: 6'8"

WEIGHT: 313

HAND: 10½"

ARM: 35⅜"

WINGSPAN: 83½"

---

40-YARD DASH: N/A

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: N/A

BROAD: N/A

---

POSITIVES

— Looks the part of an NFL OT with a well-proportioned, lean 6'8" frame with very good length.

— Functional mover with adequate quickness and agility.

— Has some pop in his hands to stun and halt rushers when he connects.

— Will strain and work to generate torque and steer defenders away from the ball on angle-drive blocks.

---

NEGATIVES

— Winds up when striking in pass protection, causing him to be tardy with his timing.

— Struggles to protect his frame and sit down against speed to power.

— Rudimentary run-blocking skill with a habit of leaning into contact and relying purely on size to wall off defenders.

— Operates in a gimmicky pass offense with minimal true pass sets and subsequently struggled to protect at the Senior Bowl

---

2023 STATISTICS

— 13 starts at left tackle

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NOTES

— 0-star recruit from the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Standout basketball player in high school in Kentucky, finishing second in the state in blocks per game as a junior (3.4) and was named all-region as a senior

— 26 career starts at left tackle

— Accepted his invite to the Senior Bowl

---

OVERALL

Ethan Driskell is a two-year starter at left tackle inside Marshall's balanced, quick-hitting, RPO/play-action heavy, zone-based scheme with some gap concepts sprinkled in. Driskell has a tall, well-proportioned and lean frame with room for additional mass, very good arm length, adequate athletic ability and power.

Driskell wins using his size and strain to wall off defenders in the run game on angle-drive blocks. However, he is a heavy leaner who struggles to finish with authority, partly based on the scheme he operated in that seemed to prioritize tempo over all else.

In pass protection, Driskell operated in a RPO- and play-action-heavy system with extensive screens and quick passes that allowed him to set aggressively the majority of the time and rely on his size to cover up rushers. On true pass sets, he is a wind-up striker who's looking to deliver jolt with his inside hand and delivers solid stopping power when he connects, but he struggles mightily to mirror, recovery and stay in front of countermoves.

Overall, Driskell has a towering frame and well-proportioned build with very good length. He works hard to stay attached to blocks and can blot out defenders once latched, which makes him worth bringing to camp. However, his subpar technical refinement and recovery skills will make it difficult for him to elevate beyond a backup.

---

GRADE: 5.4 (Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential — UDFA)

OVERALL RANK: 252

POSITION RANK: OT19

PRO COMPARISON: Tommy Doyle

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 233 lbs

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 32½"

WINGSPAN: 80⅜"

---

40-YARD DASH: 4.63

3-CONE: 7.25

SHUTTLE: 4.40

VERTICAL: 34.5"

BROAD: 9'11"

---

POSITIVES

— Good instincts against the run to consistently put himself in a position to make tackles on the play side.

— Shows a solid shoulder-dip move to slip blocks.

— Takes efficient angles and has good speed against outside runs for good sideline-to-sideline range.

— Good eye discipline in zone coverage. Anticipates routes well to put himself in a position to cover threats coming into his area.

— Good at reading the quarterback's eyes and has the hand-eye coordination to get pass breakups.

---

NEGATIVES

— Lean frame with skinny legs. Needs to add some sand in his pants to help hold his ground when taking on blocks against offensive linemen.

— Not very physical and has bad pad level at the point of attack, leading to him getting stuck on blocks.

— Doesn't sink his hips and break down when tackling in space, making him susceptible to getting juked out by shifter ball-carriers.

— Has subpar lateral movement skills, which can be an issue in man coverage against running backs.

---

2023 STATISTICS

— 12 G, 140 TOT, 15.5 TFL, 4.5 SK, 7 PD, 2 FR, 1 FF

---

NOTES

— 3-star JUCO recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Independence Community College transfer

— No major injuries

---

OVERALL

The first thing that stands out about Tyrice Knight is his high football IQ. Pre-snap, he takes command of the defense by making calls and getting the rest of the defense set. Post-snap, he's quick to key and diagnose run plays, trusts what he sees and is consistently around the ball.

Against zone runs, Knight knows when to trigger downhill to help get unblocked tackles near the line of scrimmage. While his open-field tackling needs some work, he's effective in the box with good pad level and wraps up to make sure tackles.

In zone coverage, the former Miner's instincts show up as well. He's good at locating threats coming into his area and anticipating throws to help get pass breakups.

Knight's biggest issue is that he struggles to take on blocks. He put up 21 reps on the bench press at the NFL combine, which was tied for the most among linebackers, but that hasn't translated to functional or play strength on the field. He needs to add some extra size and strength, especially in his lower half, to help avoid getting pushed out of the gap and stuck on blocks.

Overall, the UTEP product is an intriguing Day 3 prospect with the potential to develop into a quality starter with some time in the weight room. Right now, he'd be best as a "Will" linebacker in even fronts.

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GRADE: 6.3 (High-Level Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 136

POSITION RANK: LB7

PRO COMPARISON: Elandon Roberts

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

Former Florida Gators quarterback Jalen Kitna will join Trent Dilfer and the UAB Blazers in 2024 after reaching a plea deal in his child pornography case, according to ESPN's Alex Scarborough.

"I acknowledge that I made naive decisions that I deeply regret and have since learned from," Kitna said in a statement to ESPN. "As a result, I took responsibility by pleading no-contest to second-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges related to those decisions."

He added: "However, I firmly believe that UAB is the perfect fit for me. I consider myself fortunate to be in Birmingham, surrounded by an incredible support system, having found a church family, and being able to take advantage of the numerous resources offered by the university."

Dilfer also said in a statement to ESPN that the program did "extensive due diligence" when reviewing Kitna's application and interest in suiting up for the football program:

"Initial headlines can be hard to get past, even if they don't hold up to the scrutiny of the legal process over time. UAB and the Department of Athletics have performed extensive due diligence, and I have personally looked at the facts of this case and the thorough investigation, and I've had candid conversations with Jalen and his parents. I firmly believe Jalen learned valuable lessons and will carry himself well and show great character as a member of our community. Otherwise, he would not be at UAB."

Kitna was dismissed from Florida's football program after being arrested on five felony child pornography charges in November 2022. He was accused of sharing images of young girls being sexually abused on social media and investigators also found photos of underage girls in the shower on his phone.

As part of a plea deal, Kitna pleaded guilty in July to two counts of disorderly conduct. In exchange, he had his child pornography charges dropped and did not have to register as a sex offender.

Kitna was also ordered to serve six months' probation as part of the plea deal. He entered the transfer portal in July after agreeing to the deal.

Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, initially committed to Florida as a three-star prospect out of high school. He was the team's backup before being dismissed and threw for 181 yards and one touchdown during his time in Florida.

In his first season as head coach of the Blazers in 2023, Dilfer led the program to a 4-8 record.

Southern Mississippi running back Frank Gore Jr. officially declared that he's forgoing his final season with the Golden Eagles and entering the 2024 NFL Draft, per Sam Sklar of the Hattiesburg American.

Gore Jr. is the son of five-time Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore. Gore amassed 16,000 rush yards in 16 NFL seasons, the third-highest total in league history.

The Southern Mississippi standout has recorded at least 1,300 yards from scrimmage in each of the past two years.

"Southern Mississippi football has fulfilled a dream of mine and made it an experience I'd do again and again," Gore Jr. said in a statement posted on his Instagram account. "Southern Miss has brought me lifelong friendships, valuable relationships with coaches who have become mentors, and lessons in becoming a better man overall."

After an impressive 2022 campaign that saw the Golden Eagles make their first appearance in a bowl game since 2019, head coach Will Hall's team struggled to find a similar recipe for success this year. Southern Mississippi finished with the second-worst conference record amongst Sun Belt teams, while recording a 3-9 mark overall.

Still, Gore Jr. has remained a bright spot on the roster. After rushing for an NCAA bowl-record 329 yards against Rice in 2022, Hall wasn't shy about praising the dynamic running back.

"He's a special guy," he said after the game, per ESPN. "He's really learned how to be a leader. He's really learned how to handle the responsibility of being Frank Gore Jr., and he has embraced that, and he's embraced the whole deal of to whom much is given, much is required."

Pro Football Focus has Gore Jr. ranked as the 14th-best running back in the 2024 draft class.

Rice quarterback JT Daniels is retiring from football on the advice of doctors, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Daniels' history of concussions was cited as the need for him to step away from the sport for good. He hadn't suited up for the Owls since a 36-31 loss to. SMU on Nov. 4, a game that saw him exit with a concussion.

The sixth-year senior threw for 2,443 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine games with Rice.

Daniels had quite the collegiate journey.

The California native was the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in 247Sports' composite rankings, trailing only Trevor Lawrence.

After a promising freshman season at USC, he suffered a torn ACL in 2019, which opened the door for Kedon Slovis to take over as the Trojans' starter.

Daniels transferred to Georgia ahead of the 2020 season, with the Bulldogs looking to replace three-year starter Jake Fromm. He had 1,231 passing yards and 10 touchdowns to two interceptions in four games, seemingly setting the stage for a big 2021 campaign.

Instead, injuries once again got in the way for Daniels, who watched on as Stetson Bennett guided Georgia to a national title.

From there, the 23-year-old transferred to West Virginia, where he was the starter to open 2022 before getting benched for Garrett Greene midway through the year.

The high-water mark of Daniels' Rice tenure came in a 43-41 double-overtime victory over Houston, the Owls' first win against the Cougars since 2010. He went 28-of-42 for 401 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

With his playing career now over, Thamel reported Daniels is looking to transition into coaching.

Louisiana Tech suspended linebacker Brevin Randle indefinitely for stomping on the neck of UTEP offensive lineman Steven Hubbard in his team's 24-10 win Friday.

Louisiana Tech athletic director Eric Wood announced Saturday that Randle is now suspended.

"Our University, athletic department, and football program believe in culture, class, and competitive excellence and in no way was that displayed in the moment," Wood said.

BREAKING: Louisiana Tech has suspended LB Brevin Randle indefinitely after stepping on a UTEP lineman last night.

Statement from AD Eric Wood below: pic.twitter.com/nGXOGu71Hm

— Matt Belinson (@BelinsonMatt) September 30, 2023

Bret Bloomquist of the El Paso Times was among those to draw attention to the sequence, which was initially missed and not penalized by the game officials, whose attention was diverted to a scrum for the ball.

Randle was returning to his feet away from the pile. After getting up, he stomped his right foot down onto Hubbard around the neck area.

Here's the clip of LA Tech LB Brevin Randle stepping on the helmet of downed UTEP LT Steven Hubbard during Friday night's game at the Sun Bowl.

Randle has been suspended indefinitely by the program. https://t.co/RIaydgwZi9 pic.twitter.com/fIr1aGfks2

— Sam Guzman (@SamGuzmanTV) September 30, 2023

UTEP head coach Dana Dimel said the the referees communicated to him at halftime they were made aware of the stomp.

"The referee, who I really admire, came over at halftime and very gentlemanly said that he missed it," he said, per Bloomquist. "That's part of the game. He (the official) was a class act, I really appreciated that."

Randle is in his first year with Louisiana Tech after transferring in from Stephen F. Austin, where he played for four seasons. He has appeared in each of the Bulldogs' six games and has 46 tackles and two sacks.

HEIGHT: 6'4½"

WEIGHT: 337

HAND: 9⅛"

ARM: 34 ⅜"

WINGSPAN: 84 ¼"

---

40-YARD DASH: 5.36

3-CONE: 8.16

SHUTTLE: 4.94

VERTICAL: 25"

BROAD: 8'4"

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POSITIVES

– Great size for an NFL defensive tackle.

– Space-eater who is impossible to move one-on-one and can create stalemates against double teams. Also, solid at turning his hips into the second blocker to get skinny and split the double.

– Plenty of upper-body strength to get extension and is decent at shedding blocks. Flashed the ability to escape with a swim move, too.

– Has the strength to develop a push-pull move as a pass-rusher down the line.

– Gets his hands up to bat passes at the line of scrimmage when he doesn't hit home as a rusher.

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NEGATIVES

– Slow off the ball and has a habit of false stepping with his first step, which really limits his ability to win as a bull-rusher. Also, stops his feet on first contact and has high pad level.

– Not quick-twitched or agile enough to execute finesse moves or be effective as the looper in line games.

– Doesn't use his hands as a pass-rusher and needs to learn how to work the hands after initial contact.

– Will struggle to get a leverage advantage as a run defender with his height, and he stands up out of his stance, which could be a bigger issue against double teams in the NFL.

– An older prospect with limited college production.

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NOTES

– Born May 24, 1999

– Northern Alabama transfer

– Not ranked in the 2017 recruiting class, per 247Sports composite rankings

– No major injuries

– 15 starts in two seasons at WKU

– 16 starts in three seasons at UNA

– WKU stats (two seasons): 62 total tackles (27 solo), six TFL, four sacks, three PD, one FF

– UNA stats (three seasons): 81 total tackles (37 solo), nine TFL, two sacks, four PD

– 2022 Honors: Conference USA Honorable Mention

---

OVERALL

With great size and impressive strength, Brodric Martin can be a space-eating defensive tackle in the NFL. His best fit is as a 0- to 1-technique nose in a system that asks him to two-gap. He's nearly impossible to move one-on-one and can hold his own against double teams.

However, expecting Martin to stand out by making a ton of plays against the run or as a pass-rusher is unrealistic. He lacks the athleticism to make tackles outside of a phone booth when running backs cut, even if he does get off blocks, and his pass-rush arsenal is almost non-existent.

Still, he's a solid two-down player who can factor into the defensive line rotation on first and second downs.

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GRADE: 5.7 (Backup or Draftable/Rounds 6-7)

OVERALL RANK: 223

POSITION RANK: DL24

PRO COMPARISON: Al Woods

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

Former West Virginia quarterback JT Daniels is transferring to Rice, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The Owls will be the fourth school of Daniels' college career. He began his journey at USC before moving to Georgia after two years. He was a member of the Bulldogs in 2021 when they won the College Football Playoff national title.

The 6'3" signal-caller then joined the Mountaineers for 2022 and threw for 2,107 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Rice is coming off its fifth straight losing season under head coach Mike Bloomgren, though the school did earn its first bowl berth since 2014. The Owls fell 38-24 to Southern Miss in the LendingTree Bowl.

Bloomgren is clearly counting on Daniels to inject some life into a passing game that averaged 232.9 yards per game. The unit will be losing leading receiver Bradley Rozner and Isaiah Esdale, who combined for 1,420 yards, but retain Luke McCaffrey. The Nebraska transfer had 58 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns in his first full year as a wideout.

Thamel noted Bloomgren and Daniels have some history. Bloomgren tried to recruit Daniels out of high school was he was Stanford's offensive coordinator and then again when Daniels entered the transfer portal.

You'd expect Daniels to open the 2023 season as the starting quarterback. TJ McMahon, the incumbent, finished with 2,102 yards, 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 10 appearances in 2022.

Assuming Daniels gets the nod, he'll have a stiff test right out of the gate. Rice opens next year on the road against Texas.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham named former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer its new head football coach on Wednesday.

The move comes as little surprise, as ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Tuesday night that UAB and Dilfer were "expected to come to terms in the upcoming days."

It would be Dilfer's first coaching job at the collegiate level after spending the past four years leading the Lipscomb Academy high school team.

Lipscomb is aiming to win its second straight Tennessee state championship Thursday, and John Brice of Football Scoop reported Dilfer has maintained a "laser focus" on that. However, he added the Blazers are "optimistic" about their chances of reaching an agreement after the title game.

The school's record across the longtime quarterback's coaching tenure stands at 38-8.

Dilfer was a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1994 NFL draft. He also made stops with the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers during a 13-year pro career.

He earned a Pro Bowl selection with the Bucs in 1997 and captured a Super Bowl title with the Ravens in 2000 with plenty of help from one of the greatest defenses in NFL history.

As well as coaching, the 50-year-old California native has worked as a football analyst for the NFL Network, ESPN and Fox Sports following his playing days. He's also mentored top quarterback prospects with the Elite 11 camp.

If hired by UAB, Dilfer will be tasked with continuing the progress started by Bill Clark, who guided the program to a 49-26 record across six years before retiring ahead of the 2022 season.

The Blazers have posted a 6-6 mark this year under interim head coach Bryant Vincent. They'll face Miami (Ohio) in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 16 looking to clinch their sixth straight winning season.

FIU Athletics announced the death of junior linebacker Luke Knox on Thursday. He was 22.

We are saddened by the sudden passing of Luke Knox, a member of the FIU Football program.

We send our thoughts and prayers to Luke’s family, friends and teammates during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/07tHUiBByj

— FIU Athletics (@FIUAthletics) August 18, 2022

Panthers head coach Mike MacIntyre released a statement on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/0N1Gh24FSU

— Coach Mike MacIntyre (@CoachMikeMac) August 18, 2022

Knox transferred to Florida International ahead of the 2022 college football season after spending his first four college seasons at Ole Miss. He's the younger brother of Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox.

No further information about Knox's death was immediately released.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott offered condolences before Thursday's practice:

We’re heartbroken to hear of the sudden passing of Luke Knox.

Sending all of our thoughts, prayers and support to @Dawson_Knox and the Knox family during this difficult time. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mpkTQYnbve

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 18, 2022

Knox joined the Rebels as part of their 2018 recruiting class.

The Tennessee native recorded 11 total tackles, two passes defended and a fumble recovery across his first three seasons before switching to tight end during spring practices in 2021.

He reunited with MacIntyre, Ole Miss' defensive coordinator in 2019 and a fellow alumnus of Tennessee's Brentwood Academy, by transferring to FIU.

Back at linebacker, he was competing for a starting role on the Panthers defense ahead of the team's season-opening game against Bryant on Sept. 1.

Knox, a business major, earned an Athletic Director's Honor Roll distinction at Ole Miss in 2020.