PFF Ranks UCF's Carter, Kozlowski Among Big 12's Top Linebackers

What Happened

Per Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Focus has graded UCF linebackers Lewis Carter and Cole Kozlowski among the top 10 returning linebackers in the Big 12 heading into the 2026 season. The report, published through Roundtable Sports, credits the pairing with giving the Knights notable continuity at the position as they return to anchor new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch's scheme. No official school statement accompanies the grading; the story is based on PFF's published data as relayed by the outlet.

Why It Matters

• A top-10 PFF grade at linebacker signals UCF returns experienced run-and-coverage answers at the second level rather than replacing production from scratch.
• Continuity at linebacker matters more in a first-year scheme install, since Grinch's aggressive calls lean on players who already know where help is coming from.
• Preseason grades shape how the Big 12 is discussed entering camp, even before a snap decides whether that continuity translates to actual stops.

Josh's Receipt

THE PATE STATE READ

THE PATE STATE READ: Give PFF's methodology its due — grading returning production is a real exercise, not a popularity contest, and Carter and Kozlowski earned this by playing well enough last season to show up on tape. The task in front of them now is different: executing a new coordinator's system, not just repeating old assignments. That's a bigger swing than a ranking captures. This is a solid data point about roster continuity. It is not yet evidence the scheme works. Size it accordingly — it moves UCF's defensive conversation a spot, not the earth.(Josh has not yet commented.)

What's Next

• Fall camp reports on how Carter and Kozlowski look executing Grinch's new defensive calls
• UCF's 2026 season opener as the first live test of whether the PFF grading translates to results