(RB RJ Harvey – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB RJ Harvey, RB/KR Johhny Richardson,, WR Kobe Hudson, OG Adrian Medley, OT Amari Kight, DE Malachi Lawrence, DT John Walker, NT Lee Hunter, CB Brandon Adams, FS Demari Henderson, KR/PR Xavier Townsend, PK Colton Boomer, and PT Mitch McCarthy.
Key Players Departing:
QB John Rhys Plumlee, WR Javon Baker (Patriots R4), TE Alec Holler, OC Bula Schmidt, OG Lokahi Pauole, OT Tylan Grable (Bills R6), DE Josh Celiscar (Texas A&M transfer), DE Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, LB Jason Johnson, LB Walter Yates III, CB Corey Thornton, SS Nikai Matinez (Michigan State transfer), SS Quadric Bullard, and RS Jireh Wilson.
(EDGE Nyjalik Kelly – USA Today Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Start Recruits: EDGE Nyjalik Kelly (Miami, FL transfer), RB Peny Boone (Louisville transfer), WR Kylan Fox (Loganville, Georgia), OL Waltclaire Flynn Jr. (Loganville, Georgia), and LB Qua Birdsong (Lagrange, Georgia),
3 Starr Recruits: QB KJ Jefferson (Arkansas transfer), RB Myles Montgomery (Cincinnati transfer), WR Bredell Richardson (Tampa, Florida), DS Jacob Gude (Fairburn, Georgia), and CB Jaylen Heyward (Rockledge, Florida).
2023 Results:
G01 KENT STATE W 56-6
G02 @ Boise State W 18-16
G03 VILLANOVA W 48-14
G04 @ Kansas State L 31-44
G05 BAYLOR L 35-36
G06 @ Kansas L 22-51
G07 @ #6 Oklahoma L 29-31
G08 WEST VIRGINIA L 28-41
G09 @ Cincinnati W 28-26
G10 #15 OKLAHOMA STATE W 45-3
G11 @ Texas Tech L 23-24
G12 HOUSTON W 27-13
BOWL vs. Georgia Tech L 17-30
Team Info:
2023 Record: 6-7 (9th in Big XII)
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-1
AAC: 3-6
Non-AAC: 3-1
Head Coach: Gus Malzahn
Central Florida: 24-16
Career: 101-54
Bowls: 3-7
(WR Kobe Hudson – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Dylan Rizk (4-5, 28 yards, 80.0%, 5.6 avg., 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: RJ Harvey (226 car., 1416 yards, 6.3 avg., 16 TD)
Receiving: Kobe Hudson (44rec., 900 yards, 20.5 avg., 8 TD)
TDs Scored: RJ Harvey (17)
Sacks: Malachi Lawrence (8.5)
Tackles: Lee Hunter (69)
Tackles For Loss: Lee Hunter (11)
Interceptions: Demari Henderson (3)
Pass Deflections: Brondon Adams (4)
Forced Fumbles: Demari Henderson (2)
Kick Returns: Xavier Townsend (6 ret, 177 yards, 29.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Xavier Townsend (15 ret., 142 yards, 9.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kickers: Colton Boomer (13-21 fg/fga., 62%, 48-50 xp-xpa., 87 pts.)
Punters: Mitch McCarthy (36 punts, 1485 yards, 41.3 avg., 9 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 KJ Jefferson (RS SR/TR)
RB: 7 RJ Harvey (RS SR/TR)
WR: 3 Xavier Townsend (JR)
WR: 2 Kobe Hudson (RS SR/TR)
WR: 80 Trent Whittmore (RS SR/TR)
TE: 5 Randy Pittman Jr. (SO)
LT: 78 Amari Kight (RS SR/TR)
LG: 76 Adrian Medley (RS SR)
OC: 52 Caden Kitler (RS SO)
RG: 72 Marcellus Marshall (SR/TR)
RT: 69 Paul Rubelt (RS SR/TR)
KR: 0 Johnny Richardson (RS SR)
PK: 35 Colton Boomer (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 51 Malachi Lawrence (RS JR)
DT: 5 Ricky Barber (RS SR/TR)
NT: 2 Lee Hunter (RS JR/TR)
DE: 0 Nyjalik Kelly (RS JR/TR)
LB: 32 Ehtan Barr (RS SR/TR)
LB: 14 Josiah Pierre (RS SR/TR)
NB: 3 Deshawn Pace (RS SR/TR)
CB: 0 Brandon Adams (SR)
CB: 0 Tre’Quon Fegans (RS SO/TR)
FS: 8 Demari Henderson (JR)
SS: 0 Sheldon Arnold II (SR/TR)
PR: 3 Xavier Townsend (JR)
PT: 40 Mitch McCarthy (JR)
(DE Malachi Lawrence – UCF Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/29 NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDCATS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | First meeting between schools.
09/14 @ TCU Horned Frogs | First meeting between schools.
09/28 COLORADO BUFFALOS | First meeting between schools.
10/05 @ Florida Gators | UCF trails the series 1-2. The Knights won (29-17) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/12 CINCINNATI BEARCATS | UCF leads the series 5-4. The Knights won (28-26) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (21-56) was in 2021.
10/19 @ Iowa State Cyclones | First meeting between schools.
10/26 BYU COUGARS | UCF trails the series 1-2. The Knights lost (23-49) the last meeting between schools in 2020, and their only series win (31-24) was at the prior meeting in 2014.
11/02 ARIZONA WILDCATS | First meeting between schools.
11/09 @ Arizona State Sun Devils | UCF lost (13-46) the only prior meeting between schools in 2002.
11/23 @ West Virginia Mountaineers | UCF trails the series 0-3. Last season’s 28-41 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2004.
11/29 UTAH UTES | First meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 6-3
Non-B12: 3-0
Overall: 9-3 (4th in Big XII)
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