ESPN Tabs UCF’s Keli Lawson Among Potential Breakout Stars of 2025

Among UCF’s many, many new faces on the 2025 roster, transfer linebacker Keli Lawson is expected to quickly emerge as one of the leaders of the defense. Originally from Stephens City, Virginia, Lawson signed with Virginia Tech for his first four collegiate seasons as a four-star recruit and the No. 10 overall prospect in the state (per 247Sports rankings).

It appears that Lawson has also caught national attention for his body of work at his previous school, as well as praise from Scott Frost and the rest of the coaching staff. Lawson was included this week by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg on a list of college football players who could be considered “sleepers” for one of the season’s top breakout players.

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Last season for the Hokies, Lawson appeared in 11 games with one start, piling up 40 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and an interception.

2023 was Lawson’s best collegiate season, seeing him earn an All-ACC Honorable Mention as a redshirt sophomore for the Hokies with 80 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Lawson also intercepted a pass, broke up six passes, and forced a fumble. 

Now a redshirt senior for the Knights, Lawson is still drawing intrigue for his 6’4,” 223-pound frame, with Rittenberg referring to him as a “tall, rangy linebacker” who “joins a UCF defense “under new coach Scott Frost and coordinator Alex Grinch, looking to reboot after finishing 82nd nationally in points allowed last season.”

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UCF head coach Scott Frost also commented to Rittenberg for the list and was particularly complimentary, saying “Keli is a kid who is kind of built weird for his position. He’s playing [middle] linebacker for us and he’s 6-5, can run like a freak, big kid, so I’m excited to see him play.”

At Big 12 Media Days, Lawson noted his own excitement to play for Frost after observing his coaching style in the months since he arrived in Orlando.

“He’s a player’s coach.” Lawson said of Frost. “Like he’s not one of those coaches where he’ll tell you all one thing in the media, then go back to us and then do some other stuff. Like he’s going to keep it 100 just because that’s that’s the type of man he is.”

The Knights will open the 2024 season on Thursday, August 28 against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.

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