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TRO Temporarily Grants Two Former Knights Additional Eligibility
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- TRO Temporarily Grants Two Former Knights Additional Eligibility
(IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Connect)
Many members of the graduating high school class of 2022 are seeking a return to college sports with the recent five-year rule being implemented by the NCAA.
We have recently seen multiple current and former UCF athletes attempt to gain an additional year of eligibility, with linebacker Cole Kozlowski leading the charge.
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Kozlowski was even added to the active roster, and has begun practicing with the team again.
But, on Thursday, a temporary restraining order (TRO) in Dallas named two additional Knights that are now in line to return to college - Phillip Dunnam and Riley Kugel.
Staying on the gridiron, Dunnam was one player listed on the TRO, as he has expressed his interest to play college football again throughout the offseason.
Following the ruling, Dunnam joined the transfer portal.
While the full result of the injunction remains to be seen, finding a spot for Dunnam should not be difficult, as he was one of the Knights' most dynamic defenders last season.
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Dunnam's performance last season ranked him within the top-six safeties in the Big 12, grading in as an 86.3 according to PFSN College. He ranked tenth-best in passer rating when targeted, surrendering just a 60.5 mark when the ball came his way.
Upon the season's conclusion, Dunnam was named a Second-Team All-Big 12 Safety by the same publication.
Dunnam set a career-high in total tackles, recording 44 solo and 16 assist tackles, while also marking his third-consecutive season with three interceptions.
Kugel, on the other hand, has been in the transfer portal since early August, and this TRO gives him a better shot of being able to play again.
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Last season, Kugel averaged a team-high 14.4 points per game, displaying the ability to score from all three levels.
He burst onto the scene for the Knights against Vanderbilt early in non-conference play. Kugel scored 25 points, shooting 4-of-5 from 3-point range. This was the second game of a seven-game streak of Kugel scoring 12 or more points.
After suffering an ankle injury on Feb. 17 against TCU , Kugel missed two games before emphatically returning against the Baylor Bears. The 6-foot-5 combo guard scored a career-high 26 points against the Bears, adding five assists and five rebounds.
Despite the 87-86 loss, Kugel fueled the Knights' comeback effort, scoring 14 second-half points to counter the team's double-digit halftime deficit.
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Head coach Johnny Dawkins gave props to his leading scorer following the loss, praising him for staying ready despite limited reps.
"Well, he's talented young player and of course, he's one of our best players and so, you know, I think you're always better when your best players are able to play out there on the floor for you and so it's good to have him back," Dawkins said. "And I I thought he gave us, you know, everything that he had. I thought he, you know, he gave us everything considering he's been out for quite a while. He's missed several games and had very limited practices. And so, I thought for what he went through and, you know, it was impressive because a lot of players couldn't have done what he did tonight based on the limited reps he's taken since the injury."
Kugel followed up his career-high outburst with an efficient 18-point night against Oklahoma State, shooting 7-of-14 from the field.
While it remains unlikely that either of these two players will return to UCF, don't count out the possibility.
Especially for Kugel, who's season doesn't start for some time.
