The Knightly Newsletter - Issue #80

Happy belated Father’s Day to all the #UCFathers out there! We hope your day was filled with joy, rest, and relaxation.

Let’s kick off the week!

Rayniah Jones made it to the semifinals of the Olympic Trials in the 100 meter hurdles, where she finished just .03 seconds short of making the final.

Her run started with a 2nd place finish in the first round, where she set a new personal best with a 12.64 (.09 faster than her school record from earlier this year):

In the semis, she ran a 12.68, which placed her fifth in her semifinal. The top three in each semi made the final automatically, and then the next two fastest times make it as well.

She was *that* close:

Remember folks, she’s just a freshman, and Paris 2024 is three years away, not four. Expect to hear Rayniah’s name again soon.

As the NCAA continues to drag its feet sorting out a coherent name, image and likeness policy, UCF has wasted no time in pitching itself as a destination for college athletes who want to promote their personal brands:

A lot of this is stuff UCF kind of already does, especially with regard to social media. But it is clear now that the athletics department is serious about using UCF’s position as a large public university in a major media market to its advantage. Take a look at the proposal, and then put yourself in the shoes of a 17-year-old prospect with a good following in any sport, and you tell me if this sounds appealing.

To me, the big thing is #1: 100% job placement. Most kids know going in that their future lies outside of pro sports. So why not get a jump on that while you’re in school, right? You know, like you’re supposed to, NCAA?!?

Our good friend Joe Broback has a preview of the WR/TE units around the American, and UCF is “elite,” but not quite at the top:

Pats Pulpit gives us their scouting report on New England’s wideouts, including Tre Nixon:

Richie is all set to start his new job with the Falcons. The second-round pick signed his deal on Friday.

So are we, Rayniah!

No UCF-related events today, but here’s what else is on.

That’s all for today - Catch you tomorrow! #ChargeOn