The UCF Knights hoped they would take another step with their second year in the BIG 12 this past season. Instead, the Knights missed a bowl game berth and finished the season at 4-8. After four years at UCF, head coach Gus Malzahn decided to take a position as offensive coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles. The Knights move into the future with a face from the past, as Scott Frost will become head coach of UCF once again and hope to regain the magic of his undefeated season in 2017.
The only variable is time… Believe. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/4KFR2VOdbs
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) December 14, 2024
UCF Reunites with Scott Frost
With Scott Frost back with the UCF Knights, fans will be expecting a similar type of production that they saw during the team’s undefeated season in 2017. With the way that the College Football Playoffs are formatted, it only makes sense that a good season will allow them to find a way to earn a playoff berth.
While there are always questions in a retreat coaching hire, the Knights were in a desperate need of change going forward. We’ll review the UCF season in 2024, look at some of the early decisions from coach Frost, and highlight some notable recruits for the Knights going forward.
UCF Season in Review
UCF brought in transfer quarterback KJ Jefferson from Arkansas to lead the offense in 2024. It seemed like a perfect match for Gus Malzahn’s offense, but it just did not work out.
Jefferson played five games and completed under 60 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns to four interceptions. Dylan Rizk, as a redshirt freshman, would take over for the rest of the season. He would show some ups and downs throughout the season. However, he struggled in a loss to Utah at the end of the season.
The offense ran through returning leading rusher RJ Harvey. He improved on his great 2023 season and finished with 1,800 total yards and 25 touchdowns. The offense needed to replace its leading receiver Javon Baker who had over 1,100 yards. In 2024, the Knights’ leading receiver was Kobe Hudson who finished with 724 yards. Only two wide receivers had over 20 receptions as the offense became more one-dimensional under Malzahn.
Hopes were high as the Knights started 3-0 in 2024, including a close victory against TCU in their BIG 12 opener. Then in a big home game against Colorado, UCF was embarrassed and humbled. That loss would be the beginning of a five-game losing streak, which included a last-minute loss to a top-10 Iowa State team.
The Knights would get a dominant win against Arizona to stop the slide but the very next week would lose another heartbreaker in the fourth quarter to Arizona State. The season would end in a disappointing loss to Utah where the Knights had too many turnovers to overcome.
For UCF, the hope is that Scott Frost is able to rekindle the same success he had with the Knights years ago.
Post Season Awards
UCF only had two players on the 1st and 2nd All-Big 12 Teams. However, they did have some honorable mentions.
- RJ Harvey RB 1st Team
- Lee Hunter DL 2nd Team
Honorable Mentions
- Ricky Barber DL
- Kobe Hudson WR
- Nyjalik Kelly DL
- Amari Kight OL
Invitations to College All Star Games
UCF will have three players playing in all star games to raise their stock in the NFL Draft.
- Mac McWilliams CB Shrine Bowl
- BJ Adams CB Senior Bowl
- RJ Harvey RB Senior Bowl
Coaching Staff
Scott Frost has already made some decisions about his coaching staff and a couple names should be familiar with the UCF faithful.
McKenzie Milton: QB Coach
Milton was a prolific passer at UCF until he had a gruesome leg injury that he could not overcome. He finished with over 8600 yards and 72 touchdowns from 2016 to 2018. Milton was a analyst for the Tennessee Volunteers the last two years.
Sean Beckton: WR Coach
Beckton is a hold over from Malzahn and was promoted from analyst to Wide Receiver Coach. He will take over for Tim Harris Jr who is following Gus Malzahn to Florida State. Beckton has been with the program for a long time and coached notable receivers: Brandon Marshall, Josh Robinson, Breshad Perriman, Jordan Akins
Steve Cooper: Offensive Coordinator
Cooper is an analyst for Boise State and has worked with the quarterbacks this year. In 2023, he was the offensive coordinator for Maine and the offense finished top 10 in passing yards. Cooper has had several positions with Frost at Nebraska, so there is familiarity there.
Recruiting and Transfer Portal
The coaching change and the disappointing season but the Knights in a little bit of a bind with recruiting. They currently have the 66th ranked class overall and the 16th class in the BIG 12. They only have 14 overall commits for early signing day. Two four stars and 12 three stars with two of the three stars being Junior College Transfers..
- Taevion Swint, running back, four-star recruit from Kissimmee, FL
- Tony Williams, safety, four-star recruit from Miami, FL
- Rukeem Stroud, cornerback, three-star recruit from Tampa, FL
- Caden Piening, tight end, three-star recruit from Cincinnati, OH
- Carl Jenkins Jr, wide receiver, three-star recruit from Saint Augustine, FL
- Laparka Langston, offensive tackle, three-star recruit from Senatobia, MS Transfer
- Malakhi Boone, linebacker, three-star recruit from Bushnell, FL
- Jaquez Joiner, offensive tackle, three-star recruit from Cocoa FL
- Waden Charles, wide receiver, three-star recruit from Boynton Beach FL
- RyShawn Perry, defensive lineman, three-star recruit from Covington, GA
- Santonyo Isaac, wide receiver three-star recruit from Tampa, FL
- Waymond Jordan, running back, three-star recruit from Huchinson, KS
- Andrew Stargel, IOL, three-star recruit from Roswell, GA
- Owen Simpson, kicker, three-star recruit from Birmingham, AL
UCF has not received any commitments from the transfer portal but have quite a few departures as you can see below. Chasen Johnson, Matthew Alexander, and Randy Pittman all played over 400 snaps, so they were the main contributors from last year.
UCF is in a time of transition but they do have a picture of what it should look like. There should be hope for the Knight faithful that Scott Frost can recapture the magic he once had. A bigger conference will allow for better recruiting and a reason for Frost not to leave again.
Brandon Haye
Brandon grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a health insurance data analyst. He has no children, but two fur babies - Squirt and Brownie. He and his wife, Katie, spend their time playing poker and enjoying time with their pups. Brandon is a huge Michigan Wolverine and Jacksonville Jaguars fan. He at one time was in 77 fantasy leagues and loves the game of football. Brandon started writing for The Leauge Winners in 2021.