Auburn football news: Big Kat Bryant joining Gus Malzahn at UCF

An absolute roller-coaster of a recruiting cycle for former Auburn football stud Big Kat Bryant has finally concluded with one of the most fireworks-producing moves he could have made.

Like Will Bryant, Travis Williams, Tre’ Williams, and Kam Martin before him, Bryant will be making his way to Orlando to join his former head coach Gus Malzahn with the UCF Knights after de-committing from Tennessee:

The announcement continues a trend of Tigers personnel from the Gus Malzahn era joining his new venture in the Group of Five. The AAC will be a much more forgiving schedule than the SEC, but the Knights will still generate a national audience.

Part of that reason will be the Malzahn interest, but the Knights have–according to Bleacher Report–one of the top big-play threats in college football, Dillon Gabriel, to bring eyes to the American:

"The junior from Hawaii led a wildly successful offensive attack for UCF the past two years under Josh Heupel, and he led the nation, averaging 357 yards per game through the air in 2020. The Knights didn’t have the type of season they wanted, but it wasn’t because of Gabriel.At times, if anything, he did too much, running away from pressure, extending plays with his feet and throwing for 3,570 yards, 32 touchdowns and just four interceptions."

Bryant will be fortifying a defense that was lit up by Memphis (50 points), BYU (49 points), and USF (46 points) and gave up 34+ to Tulsa, Tulane, and Cincinnati. UCF as a whole was a disappointment overall going 6-4 on the season.

Just like on the Plains, 6-4 isn’t “solid” in Orlando.

Malzahn likely knows that, though. He has a legitimate chance to end up in the top 10, within range of the College Football Playoff. It may take an undefeated season from the Knights to truly achieve that, with big-time national spotlight games against Louisville and Boise State on the non-conference early-season schedule. In the AAC, though, he can achieve lofty goals with less resistance.

Bryant knows this too. With lesser linemen in his way, he can accumulate more highlights, shine brighter, and improve his NFL prospects for the 2022 draft.

Fly War Eagle wishes Bryant luck after finally finding a landing spot for the 2021 season. We wish Auburn football more luck, though.

War Eagle!