UCF defensive backs Xavier Williams, Jason Duclona enter NCAA Transfer Portal

The UCF Knights are losing two defensive backs to the Transfer Portal. Both Xavier Williams and Jason Duclona have entered the portal.

Williams is a former quarterback who converted to defensive back. He also came to UCF as a transfer from Charlotte. He took a redshirt in 2021 at Charlotte before playing in six games with one start in 2022. He came to UCF ahead of the 2023 season.

Williams, as a quarterback at Charlotte, completed 50.7 percent of passes for 420 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns. However, he did not record stats when he played for UCF.

Xavier Williams played high school football at Colquitt County (Georgia), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1,675 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

As for Duclona, he came to UCF as a freshman in 2023, taking a redshirt for the season and not recording any stats. His brother, Jonas Duclona, currently plays for the Wisconsin Badgers.

For his part, Jason Duclona played his high school football at Estero (Florida), where he was a three-star recruit for the Knights. he was the No. 778 overall recruit in the Class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

The 2023 season was UCF’s first in the Big 12. Among the four new teams to the Big 12, the Knights were the only one to make it to a bowl game, which they lost to finish the season at 6-7. For head coach Gus Malzahn, it was the first losing season he had as a head coach.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

The UCF Knights and the Transfer Portal

Now in their second season in the Big 12 and their fourth under Gus Malzahn, the UCF Knights have been active in the Transfer Portal.

UCF is currently ranked 12th in the On3 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. The Knights’ 2024 transfer class has seen 20 players leave the program with 16 new players entering the program. That number includes Xavier Williams and Jason Duclona, the most recent entrants to the portal from UCF.

Among those who have left UCF and committed to a new school, four have landed at power conference schools. That includes a couple of key defensive players, Josh Celiscar and Corey Thornton.

UCF has brought in several players that the Knights expect to make an impact this season too. The most notable among those transfers is quarterback KJ Jefferson, the former starting quarterback at Arkansas. Other big names for the Knights include Ladarius Tennison and Antoine Jackson joining the team’s secondary.

In total, UCF has added 10 players who are coming to Orlando from power conference programs.