ORLANDO — Scott Frost’s second season went pretty well the first time around at UCF.
The Knights shocked the college football world in 2017, running the table with a 13-0 record, defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl and claiming a national championship as awarded by the Colley Matrix computer-rating system.
Almost a decade later, that magical run feels like a lifetime ago for Frost. But he is happy with the program’s progress and hopeful for improvement upon last year’s 5-7 record.
“It’s hard to catch lightning in a bottle. You’ve got to have a little luck, a lot of preparation and the right people,” Frost said. “We have the right people, though. I think the character and talent on this team is going to give us a chance. We’ll see how far that carries us.”
UCF wrapped up its 15th and final spring practice session, the lone one fully open for fans and media, on May 2. Here are five takeaways from how the Knights looked over the last five weeks.
1. UCF coaches not concerned with Alonza Barnett III’s absence
Frost’s plan, at the outset, was to have starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III debut in practice sometime in April and work with his new teammates. Instead, the redshirt senior dual-threat rested and healed up after an extended season in which he led James Madison to the Sun Belt title and a trip to the College Football Playoff.
Quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton provided practicality May 2 when he spoke of protecting UCF’s investment in Barnett. Frost echoed the importance of ensuring Barnett’s availability for August and, eventually, the home opener versus Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 3.
“We got to a point near the end of spring where he probably could have gone out there and done stuff,” Frost said. “We’re just taking a real cautious approach with him. I watched him throw routes and throw to spots, do a lot of things that makes me really confident about where he is, even with the understanding of our offense.”
UCF rotated quarterbacks on a nearly game-by-game basis last year. Cam Fancher sustained a back injury against Jacksonville State and then broken ribs at Cincinnati. Tayven Jackson gutted through shoulder and ankle problems to make 10 starts. Jacurri Brown sprained his shoulder joint diving for a fumble at Kansas State and missed the rest of the year.
Frost hopes for a similar outcome Miami had by resting its QB, Carson Beck, for the entire spring. Beck rehabbed a torn UCL in his throwing elbow but steered the Hurricanes to a spot in the national championship game.
2. Alonza Barnett III was not the only UCF football starter missing
It’s hard to get a real feel for the Knights coming out of spring, largely down to how many projected starters were sidelined for some or all of the 15 practices.
Barnett garnered the most attention, but UCF also held out defensive end Sincere Edwards (foot) and Horace Lockett (pectoral) as they recover from surgery. Starting cornerbacks Jayden Bellamy and Antione Jackson missed time, as did edge rusher Bruno Dall, defensive tackle RJ Jackson (toe) and offensive lineman Preston Cushman (ankle).
One of six returning starters for UCF’s defense, Jackson will miss a portion of organized team activities this summer, Frost said.
“I think everybody else is trending to having a full summer of conditioning and preparation to get ready for the season,” Frost said.
3. Josh Derry, Taevion Swint could play big roles in UCF offense
Quarterback might have topped UCF’s needs in the transfer portal, but skill-position playmakers were not far behind on the list. And Frost believes he has a couple important pieces in wide receiver Josh Derry and running back Duke Watson.
Derry earned FCS All-American acclaim at Monmouth, and he made plays at all levels of the field throughout spring camp irrespective of who was throwing the ball. The 5-foot-9, 182-pound senior took 13 of his 76 catches into the end zone last fall, accumulating 1,123 receiving yards.
“Josh Derry was awesome all spring,” Frost said. “He’s played a lot of football, and he’s been really productive at a lower level. You never know how that’s going to translate until you see him on the field with our guys. Right from the beginning, he was consistent. He learned the offense fast. He understands how to move and get open in space and against tight coverage. … The trend is going up on him.”
Watson led the nation in yards per carry (8.9) two seasons ago as a freshman at Louisville. Frost expects him to top the running back depth chart, along with redshirt freshman Taevion Swint, fully healed after a preseason meniscus tear cost him all of 2025.
“There’s a top-end speed there, combined with the ability to run and get some tough yards and make quick cuts,” Frost said of Swint. “He’s got a chance to be a pretty complete guy.”
4. UCF QB2 battle will continue deep into fall training camp
With Barnett absent, UCF’s other four scholarship quarterbacks had an opportunity to share expanded reps. The backup job is up for grabs and will likely remain so for the duration of training camp come August.
Senior Keyone Jenkins played 33 games for Florida International, completing 61% of his throws for 6,713 yards with 42 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Kaleb Annett spent the last two years at Boise State, the first of which coincided with Knights offensive coordinator Steve Cooper, but did not see the field.
Freshmen Rocco Marriott and Dante Carr round out the room, mostly working as the third- and fourth-string quarterbacks during the open portions of practice.
“I think that competition will continue, but I think all those guys showed a lot of really good things this spring,” Frost said.
5. UCF begins assembling 2027 recruiting class, but loses QB
UCF’s coaches hit the road this week to catch up on recruiting. The Knights landed three in-state commitments over the past month, laying the foundation for the 2027 class.
Wide receiver Jamal Robinson Jr. (Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy), defensive lineman Noah Robinson (Ocala Vanguard) and running back Connail Jackson (Sarasota Cardinal Mooney) joined the class within a 10-day span, the latter two announcing shortly after UCF’s open practice May 2.
Robinson Jr. (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) led Mater Academy with 21 catches, 391 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Robinson (6-4, 260) earned all-county honors from the Ocala Star-Banner. Jackson ran wild for FHSAA Class 2A state-champion Cardinal Mooney, gaining 2,452 yards and scoring 39 touchdowns.
However, the Knights will have to seek another signal-caller. Port Charlotte’s Logan Flaherty backed off his commitment April 21. He is scheduled to take an official visit to Rutgers at the end of the month.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF football closes spring camp: 5 takeaways from last 5 weeks
Reporting by Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
