UCF will be without its leading rusher when it takes on Arizona State on Saturday, with Duke Watson ruled out in the Big 12’s first player availability report of the week.
Watson was among several Knights listed out Wednesday. He left Saturday’s game against Kansas in the first quarter and was carted to the locker room before later reappearing on the sideline in street clothes with a boot on his right foot. Coach Scott Frost said Monday he wasn’t sure what Watson’s status would be.
The junior has been UCF’s top ground threat, piling up 596 yards on 94 carries with three touchdowns after transferring in from Louisville over the offseason. With Watson sidelined, the Knights are expected to lean on Landen Chambers, who has 225 rushing yards, and Taevion Swint, who has 181, against an Arizona State defense allowing 124 rushing yards per game.
UCF’s injury list didn’t stop there. Offensive lineman Tyler Gibson, cornerbacks DJ Bell and Kahmel Johnson, safety Demari Henderson and tight end Dylan Burk were also ruled out.
Starting receiver Waden Charles was listed as doubtful. Charles is tied for second on the team with 25 catches and ranks third with 285 receiving yards. A source said he suffered an undisclosed injury in the 33-32 win over Kansas.
Backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins, tight end Caden Piening and offensive lineman Jacob Maiava were listed as questionable.
There was some good news on the defensive side: linebacker Lewis Carter, who has missed the last six games, was listed as probable. Cornerback Antione Jackson, linebacker Jayden Jennings and edge rusher Bruno Dall were also listed as probable.
In Other News...
Paulius Murauskas Is Changing Arizona State's Ceiling Faster Than Expected
Paulius Murauskas has wasted little time making Arizona State look more dangerous than expected. The Sun Devils have already seen the transfer forward deliver a 22-point, 11-rebound performance in a win, and the early returns have matched the buzz that followed him into the program, where he was picked as the preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
His impact has gone beyond scoring, too. Murauskas was named to the Big 12 Starting Five of the Week, and head coach Randy Bennett has pointed to his leadership and knack for drawing fouls as part of what is lifting the teams ceiling. For Arizona State, the encouraging part is not just that Murauskas has been productive, but that he seems to be settling in fast enough to change the shape of the season before it has really settled in. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Just Made The Kind Of Early Statement Fans Needed
Arizona State got the kind of road win that can steady a fan base early in the season, knocking off Mountain West preseason favorite UNLV 65-58 in Las Vegas. The Sun Devils leaned on a balanced effort to do it, with Morson scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds, while Ruby Whitehorn added a double-double that included 10 rebounds.
Heloisa Carrera and McKinna Brackens also chipped in with a combined 19 points, giving Arizona State enough support to survive a tough environment and stay unbeaten at 3-0. The next test comes back home against Penn State, where the Sun Devils will try to turn this early statement into something even more convincing. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona States Early Turnaround Starts With Two Veterans Fans Need To Notice
Before Arizona State had even played a game under Randy Bennett, the new coach had already sent a message about who would help set the tone. Senior forward Paulius Murauskas was voted team captain, and he backed up that trust with a career-high 33 points against Northern Colorado, a reminder that the Sun Devils early progress is being driven by players who arrived with experience and expectations. With Bennett leaning on transfers in the starting lineup, the roster is beginning to look more stable than it did at the start of the transition.
Bryce Ford has been part of that same foundation. The senior guard stayed with the program after the coaching change and has given Arizona State important production as Bennett works to build depth and reshape the rotation. For a team trying to move quickly from uncertainty to identity, the value of veterans like Murauskas and Ford goes beyond box scores, even if there is still plenty to sort out as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]