Lokahi Pauole has spent the last five years bleeding black and gold for UCF football.
And like many of his teammates who are wrapping up their college careers Friday when the Knights (6-6, 3-6 Big 12) face Georgia Tech (6-6, 5-3 ACC) in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, this week has been a reflective time for the offensive lineman (ESPN, 6:30 p.m.).
“They always say there are a lot of first lasts,” Pauole said after the Knights wrapped up their final home practice before traveling to Tampa. “I’ve just been soaking it all in. I’ve just been walking myself through memory lane. I remember in June 2019, I was an 18-year-old kid, not knowing what was going on and now I’m about to move on to the next level.
“I’m excited for it and just taking it all in.”
When UCF takes the field at Raymond James Stadium, the Knights do so with most of their roster intact, a rarity today as teams are forced to deal with a growing number of players opting out of bowl games to transfer or prepare for the NFL.
“It speaks to the culture that Coach [Gus] Malzahn has built and the brotherhood that all our teammates have made that we want to play for each other and just end on the right note,” said fifth-year tight end Alec Holler.
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Added offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw: “We’ve got great players and really good kids. It’s exciting to coach them and you can see they’re excited to go win here for UCF.”
UCF will be without starting cornerback Corey Thornton, who entered the transfer portal last week and committed to Louisville. Georgia Tech will be without edge rusher Kyle Kennard (11 TFLs, 6 sacks) and safety Kenan Johnson (2 forced fumbles, interception), who entered the portal.
For Pauole, winning against the Yellow Jackets would be the perfect…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ucf-eyes-chance-wrap-season-010000467.html
Author : Orlando Sentinel
Publish date : 2023-12-22 01:00:00
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