Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 73-6vs Bethune-Cookman | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | |
| Wk 2 | L 7-12@ Pittsburgh | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 0 | 14 | Season-high 20 yds |
| Total | 3 | 35 | 12.5 | 0 | 15 |
DW
Dylan Wade
Senior tight end for UCF. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 240 lb · Orlando, FL · Jones
CFB Index 73 · #13 of 156 TEsMedium-low confidenceReturning to UCF for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
35
receiving yards · 2026
3 catches · 11.7 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 rec, 20 yds, at Pittsburgh
Swing playSwung UCF from 28% to 58% to win.Oklahoma State at UCF · 17-14
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 tight end for UCF. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Maryland in 2023.
- Transferred from Maryland to UCF in 2025.
Buzz vs Tape
Fans hotter than the country
His own fans read him warmer than the wider college football conversation does — a gap of 38 points in belief.
38own fans
0national conversation
Sweet Victory. The football team won its first game of the season against Jacksonville State 17-10. This marked the program’s 300th win. Anthony Venneri made a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter. Dylan Wade caught a 39-yard pass from…
Dylan Wade
Shows up in the passing game from any alignment. Two head coaches in four seasons, at two different programs. The receipt: 20 rec yds, 2 receptions against Pittsburgh — Week 2, 2026.
35 REC YDS · 3 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
The week the volume broke through — put up 145 yds vs Oklahoma State.Oklahoma State · W 17-142025
20233 games
- Signed with Maryland3-star out of Jones
202510 games
The role got bigger.
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coaches2023–2024
UCF
Coaching transition mid-career: Gus Malzahn → Scott Frost. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Maryland8-5HC: Mike Locksley · Pass-leaning
2024Maryland4-8HC: Mike Locksley · Pass-leaning
2025UCF5-7HC: Scott Frost · Balanced
2026UCF1-1HC: Scott Frost · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the TE cohort
Box-score percentiles
Medium-low confidenceAscending
Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 1.5 REC/g, 17.5 YDS/g, 12.5 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Scott Frost
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #6 of 19 Big 12 TEs
How the All-Big 12 estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 73–6
1 rec · 15 yds
Dominant 67-point win at home against Bethune-Cookman.
With T. Swint — 48 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD · A. Barnett — 158 yds · 1 TD · 1 INT · QBR 46.9 · 9 rush yds (5 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
UCF
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Tight end · UCF
Returning around him
- 25% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 1 UCF player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -3 net (32 in / 35 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
UCF · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #66 · 2026 recruiting class #66
DNA match
Player DNA
Complete TE
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
TE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Lance Mason’s 2025 season.
76%match
All-Big Ten
Matches Lance on
TD rate
Yards / reception
EPA / play (adj)
Differs from Lance on
Reception volume (higher)
Class year (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Desirrio Riles's junior season at East Carolina (2025).
75%match
Matches Desirrio on
Total EPA (college ability)
Height
EPA / play (adj)
Differs from Desirrio on
Reception volume (higher)
TD rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Dylan Wade
The tight end room · UCF
- Dylan Wade523 receiving yards · 2025
- #83Dylan Burk55 receiving yards · 2025
- #88Grayson Brousseau45 receiving yards · 2025
- #84Thomas Wadsworth27 receiving yards · 2025
- #87Brooks Hallno box-score line yet
2 more on the roster · UCF team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology