With the 2025 season in the books, UCF head coach Scott Frost and his staff aren’t wasting any time turning the page. The Early Signing Period kicks off this week, and with the transfer portal opening on January 2, the Knights are already deep into shaping what comes next for the program.
Frost, now with a full season under his belt in his return to Orlando, knows the landscape has shifted. Last year, he was playing catch-up. This year, he’s ready to reload.
“I made a gamer metaphor that the younger people might understand,” Frost said after UCF’s season-ending loss at BYU. “When I was an assistant coach, I played Call of Duty because all the players were playing it and I was single.
When you get into the game late, all you have is the starter gun and everybody else has advanced weaponry. You don’t even want to play because you don’t feel like you’re armed enough.
I’m excited to level up and go back at it next year.”
That’s a telling analogy from a coach who inherited a roster in flux and had to lean heavily on the transfer portal just to field a competitive team. Nearly 70 newcomers arrived last offseason, but this time around, the Knights are aiming for a bit more stability. That said, in today’s college football world, retention is as important as recruitment.
“The game’s in a bad place, and agents have been shopping kids that are playing for teams with other teams for the last six weeks,” Frost said. “I hope we’ve created a good enough environment in our building that kids like being in-that we have a lot of kids that want to stay.”
With that in mind, let’s break down five key areas UCF needs to address this offseason:
Quarterback: Searching for Stability
The quarterback room is at a crossroads. Tayven Jackson was the primary starter this year, but his performance-especially on the road-left plenty of questions. He’s eligible to return, and if he does, it’ll likely be with an eye toward holding onto that starting role.
Behind him, injuries hampered the depth chart. Cam Fancher and Jacurri Brown both missed significant time, and while they could technically return with medical waivers, neither seems likely to be back. That opened the door for redshirt freshman Davi Belfort, who gained valuable reps late in the year and should be in the mix moving forward.
The Knights also have reinforcements on the way. Four-star prospect Rocco Marriott is expected to sign this week, and three-star QB Dante Carr is another intriguing addition. Still, the big question looms: Does UCF dip back into the portal for a proven starter, or roll with the young talent already in the building?
Offensive Line: Rebuilding the Trenches
Since joining the Big 12 in 2023, UCF has seen firsthand just how critical elite offensive line play is in this league. Programs like Kansas, Texas Tech, and Baylor have made it clear: size and strength up front win games.
The Knights are set to lose a significant chunk of their starting line-Paul Rubelt, Gaard Memmelaar, Jabari Brooks, Cam Kinnie, Keegan Smith, and Pat Barnett are all expected to move on. That’s a lot of experience and leadership walking out the door.
Statistically, the line was middle-of-the-road. UCF finished 11th in the Big 12 in rushing offense and allowed 20 sacks on the season. But the real concern was consistency-this group gave up nearly six tackles for loss per game, a number that has to come down if the offense is going to take a step forward.
The tragic loss of offensive coordinator Shawn Clark early in the season was a blow both on and off the field. Finding a new voice to lead the offense-and rebuild the line-is a top priority.
Running Back: Depth Needed Behind Promising Young Talent
Injuries hit the running back room hard this season. Promising freshmen Taevion Swint and Stacy Gage were sidelined early with season-ending injuries, forcing seniors Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon to carry the load.
There’s optimism that Swint and Gage will be back and ready to contribute next year, and walk-on freshman Agyeman Addae turned heads late in the season with his burst and vision. He’s a name to keep an eye on moving forward.
Still, the depth chart needs help. Whether it’s a go-to starter or a veteran presence to round out the rotation, expect UCF to be active in finding reinforcements at this position.
Linebacker: Carter Leads, Depth Needed
One of the bright spots for UCF’s defense this season was the linebacker corps. The Knights finished with a top-40 defense nationally, thanks in large part to the steady play of Keli Lawson, Cole Kozlowski, and Lewis Carter.
Carter was the heartbeat of the unit, leading the team with 92 tackles. Kozlowski added 82, while Lawson chipped in with 34. That trio brought versatility and leadership to the middle of the defense.
Carter is expected to return and will once again anchor the group, but depth remains a concern. The Knights will likely look to the transfer portal to bolster the position, though incoming freshmen Preston Hall and Matthew Occhipinti could provide a spark.
Receiver: A Young Core Begins to Take Shape
Heading into the season, the wide receiver room was a giant question mark. Few returning players had significant experience, and expectations were modest. But this group quietly became one of the more pleasant surprises on the roster.
Duane Thomas Jr. turned into a do-it-all playmaker, leading the team in receptions (53) and receiving yards (528). His versatility allowed UCF to use him creatively, including in the backfield on end-arounds and gadget plays.
Freshman Waden Charles came on strong late, finishing with 290 yards on 26 catches, and tight end Dylan Wade became a reliable target for Jackson, racking up 523 yards and five touchdowns.
If all three return, UCF has the foundation of a solid receiving corps. Add in Carl Jenkins Jr. and Day Day Farmer-who missed the season due to injury-and there’s real potential here. That said, the Knights could still use another burner to stretch the field and add speed to the rotation.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 season may not have ended the way UCF hoped, but the foundation is being laid. Frost and his staff are now in a much better position to build-not just plug holes. The next few weeks will be crucial, with signing day and the transfer portal shaping the roster for 2026.
This offseason won’t be about starting from scratch. It’s about leveling up-just like Frost said. And if the Knights can hit on a few key additions, they’ll be in a much stronger position to compete in Year 3 of Big 12 play.