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UCF receiver Duane Thomas Jr. embracing a larger leadership role
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- UCF receiver Duane Thomas Jr. embracing a larger leadership role
While UCF wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. often finds himself in the spotlight on the football field, off the gridiron, the man nicknamed "Speedy" prefers to stay out of the limelight.
However, the senior from Miami Gardens knows it is important for him to step up and take a larger leadership role, especially as one of the nine returning starters from the Knights this season.
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"I used to be a guy who would stand back and let everybody do them, but now, I feel I have to be a more vocal leader," Thomas said recently.
Thomas, 21, is back after a breakout season in which he led UCF in catches (53) and receiving yards (528), while also helping out on kickoff returns. His performance was a welcome surprise for the Knights, who returned zero production from the receivers' unit the previous season.
Still, Thomas, who spent his first two seasons at Charlotte, wasn't satisfied with his performance.
"Last year was last year, but personally, I wasn't as good as I could have been," he explained. "I rushed a lot of routes. I was kind of an underneath guy, but I'm working on being a lot more detailed, getting over the top and reading defenses."
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Thomas was the second-highest graded receiver (69.0) on the team last season, behind tight end Dylan Wade (78.0), according to Pro Football Focus. He was the Knights' primary slot receiver and led the team in yards after catch with 354.
His presence, coupled with that of sophomore wideout Waden Charles (26 catches, 290 yards) and Wade (43 catches, 523 yards, 5 TDs), gives new starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III a range of targets to choose from this season.
But with the addition of transfers Josh Derry and Jonathan Bibbs, along with four-star freshman Tyren Hornes, Thomas feels obligated to have a larger voice in the receivers' room.
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"I've got guys who transferred in who don't know the system, and I've got guys who just got to college and it's their first spring practice, so I've got to be a lot more vocal," said Thomas.
Yet, Thomas sees it as a two-way street.
"Being a leader will help me, and while I could get on them and encourage them, they can also get on me. Tell me to run better or have a better release. That's the biggest thing we're improving on as a room," Thomas said.
His renewed effort to be more front-and-center for his teammates has led Thomas to take over hosting duties for the program's popular UCFast Cast podcast, alongside teammate Charles. The duo replaces running backs Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon, who hosted last season.
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"I wasn't a big camera guy. I had to step up here (to the podium) last year a couple times, so I really had to build up to that," Thomas said. "But UCFast Cast has been pretty fun. Wayden is my guy. We're both from down South, so it was a no-brainer being with him.
"It's been helping me stand in front of these cameras and speak and be more vocal, which has helped me go talk to those guys (teammates) and have more confidence out there."
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com . Sign up for the Sentinel's Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
