(Photo Credit: UCF Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
OC Cameron Kinne, OG Keegan Smith, OT Paul Rubelt, DE Nyjalik Kelly, DE Malachi Lawrence, NB Braeden Marshall, and KR Christian Peterson.
Key Players Departing:
QB KJ Jefferson, QB Dylan Rizk, RB RJ Harvey, WR Kobe Hudson, WR Jacoby Jones, TE Randy Pittman Jr., OG Jabari Brooks, OG Adrian Medley, OT Amari Kight, DE Daylan Dotson, DT Matthew Alexander, NT Ricky Barber, NT Lee Hunter, LB Xe’ree Alexander, LB Ethan Barr, LB Deshawn Pace, CB Brandon Adams, CB Mac McWilliams, NB Sheldon Arnold II, FS Ladarius Tennison, SS Quadric Bullard, KR/PR Xavier Townsend, PK Grant Reddick, and PT Mitch McCarthy.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: DE Sincere Edwards (Pittsburgh transfer), OL Carter Miller (UL-Monroe transfer), RB Taevion Swint (Kissimmee, Florida), and DS Tony Williams (Miami, Florida).
3 Star Recruits: CB Rukeem Stroud (Tampa, Florida), TE Caaden Piening (Cincinnati, Ohio), WR Marcus Burke (Florida transfer), LB Lewis Carter (Oklahoma transfer), CB Jayden Bellamy (Syracuse transfer), and TE Dylan Wade (Maryland transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 NEW HAMPSHIRE W 57-3
G02 SAM HOUSTON W 45-14
G03 @ TCU W 35-34
G04 COLORADO L 21-48
G05 @ Florida L 13-24
G06 CINCINNATI L 13-19
G07 @ #9 Iowa State L 35-39
G08 #11 BYU L 24-37
G09 ARIZONA W 56-12
G10 @ Arizona State L 31-35
G11 @ West Virginia L 21-31
G12 UTAH L 14-28
Team Info:
2024 Record: 4-8 (14th in Big XII)
Home: 3-4
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 2-7
Non-AAC: 2-1
Head Coach: Scott Frost
UCF: 19-7
Bowls: 1-1
Career: 16-31
(Photo Credit: UCF Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jacurri Brown (35-67, 398 yards, 56.3%, 5.9 avg., 1 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing: Jacurri Brown (53 car., 401 yards, 7.6 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Myles Montgomery (3 rec., 66 yards, 22.0 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: Jacurri Brown (4)
Sacks: Nyjalik Kelly (5.5)
Tackles: Nyjalik Kelly (53)
Tackles For Loss: Nyjalik Kelly (10)
Interceptions: Braeden Marshall (1)
Pass Deflections: Antione Jackson/Braeden Marshall (3)
Forced Fumbles: Nyjalik Kelly (3)
Kick Returns: Christian Peterson (6 ret, 77 yards, 12.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kickers: None
Punters: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 2 Tayven Jackson (RS JR/TR)
RB: 22 Myles Montgomery (RS SR/TR)
WR: 3 Marcus Burke (RS SR/TR)
WR: 9 DJ Black (RS SR/TR)
WR: 7 Duane Thomas Jr. (JR/TR)
TE: 0 Dylan Wade (JR/TR)
LT: 73 Jakiah Leftwich (RS SR/TR)
LG: 64 Gaard Memmelaar (RS SR/TR)
OC: 52 Carter Miller (RS JR/TR)
RG: 77 Keegan Smith (RS SR/TR)
RT: 69 Paul Rubelt (RS SR)
KR: 26 Christian Peterson (SO)
PK: 00 Noe Ruelas (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Sincere Edwards (SO/TR)
NT: 13 Horace Lockett (RS JR/TR)
DT: 55 John Walker (JR)
DE: 11 Nyjalik Kelly (RS SR/TR)
LB: 20 Lewis Carter (JR/TR)
LB: 0 Keli Lawson (RS SR/TR)
NB: 15 Jyaire Brown (RS JR/TR)
CB: 29 Jayden Bellamy (RS JR/TR)
CB: 5 DJ Bell (RS JR/TR)
FS: 2 Phillip Dunnam (SR/TR)
SS: 8 Demari Henderson (JR)
PR: 7 Duane Thomas Jr. (JR/TR)
PT: 32 Michael Carter (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/28 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS | First meeting.
09/06 NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES | First meeting.
09/20 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | First meeting.
09/27 @ Kansas State Wildcats | UCF trails the series 0-2. The Knights lost (31-44) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (13-17) the inaugural meeting in 2010.
10/04 KANSAS JAYHAWKS | UCF lost (22-51) the only prior meeting in 2023.
10/11 @ Cincinnati Bearcats | The series is tied 5-5. The Knights are 5-5 since 2015, and their last series win (28-26) was in 2023.
10/18 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS | UCF trails the series 0-4. The Knights lost (21-31) last season’s meeting, and they lost (28-41) the prior meeting in 2023.
11/01 @ Baylor Bears | The series is tied 1-1. The Knights lost (35-36) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (52-42) the inaugural meeting in 2014.
11/07 HOUSTON COUGARS | UCF leads the series 8-3. The Knights are 3-2 since 2015, and their last series loss (24-31) was in 2016.
11/15 @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | UCF lost (23-24) the only prior meeting in 2023.
11/22 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS | UCF won (45-3) the only prior meeting in 2023.
11/29 @ BYU Cougars | UCF trails the series 1-3. The Knights lost (24-37) last season’s meeting, and they lost (23-49) the prior meeting in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 1-8
Non-B12: 2-1
Overall: 3-9 (15th in Big XII)
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