UCF’s week off didn’t do much to clear the picture on its injury front.
Heading into Saturday’s home matchup with No. 2 BYU, the Knights listed 10 players as questionable or worse on Thursday, including starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III and freshman running back Taevion Swing, who has 162 yards. Another six players are probable for the game, with the group split across four defenders, one offensive player and one special teamer.
The timing could hardly be tougher for UCF, which is preparing for a top-10 showdown against a BYU team coming off its nationally-regarded win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame in Provo. The Cougars arrive in Orlando as 6.5-point favorites, and UCF is expected to be without Barnett, which sets up another start for backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins.
Jenkins is lined up to make his fifth straight start, and the Knights are counting on him to steady an offense that has already taken hits in the last two Big 12 losses at Oklahoma State and Houston. In those two games, Jenkins put up 518 passing yards, threw five touchdowns and two interceptions on 53 attempts, but the results still didn’t show up in the win column. He exited the Houston game in the third quarter, and now the senior backup is again being asked to run the show.
The challenge gets even steeper because UCF’s injury report is littered with linemen. Six different players up front are dealing with issues, including OL combo Owen Spell and Tyler Gibson, and that means Jenkins may have to operate against a BYU defense that was sharp against Notre Dame. The Cougars held the Irish to 115 rushing yards and 8-of-10 on third down last week.
Even with the injury pileup, Jenkins won’t be short on targets. Wideout Josh Derry, who has 304 yards, and tight end Dylan Wade are both expected to be available.
For UCF, the formula is pretty clear: Jenkins has to protect the ball and give the offense a chance to keep up. The Knights haven’t been able to put together a full 60-minute effort lately, and that’s a problem against a BYU team that wants to stay perfect in Big 12 play and keep its College Football Playoff push rolling.
BYU has its own absence to manage, too. Starting running back LJ Martin, who had been on pace to become the Big 12’s leading rusher, is out after suffering an ankle injury against TCU and is expected to miss an estimated 4-to-6 weeks. Preston Rex handled the load last week against Notre Dame and finished with 10 carries for 66 yards.
That leaves Saturday’s math pretty simple for UCF: it needs a big day from Jenkins and enough offense to match a Cougars team determined to keep its 3-0 Big 12 start intact. The spread is tight, the setting is home, and the Knights are hoping the week off at least gives them a shot to make this one interesting.
In Other News...
UCF Keeps Showing Enough To Believe Until The Second Half
UCF keeps giving itself a chance against ranked opponents, and then watching those chances slip away after halftime. The Knights have been competitive early in back-to-back games against Houston and Oklahoma State, with Keyone Jenkins helping the offense move the ball and keep the pressure on higher-ranked teams, but the better stretches have not been enough to sustain a full 60 minutes.
Now the challenge only gets bigger with No. 2 BYU coming to town after its upset of then-No. 2 Notre Dame. Bear Bachmeier has been a key part of that breakthrough, and it leaves UCF trying to do something it has not done in the last couple of weeks: carry its first-half momentum all the way through against an elite opponent. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Heads Into BYU Showdown With A Lineup Problem Fans Feared
UCFs injury picture got a lot murkier heading into Saturdays matchup with No. 2 BYU, and the timing could hardly be worse. The Knights are already navigating a difficult road test, and the latest availability report leaves the offense and defense both with uncertainty, including issues along the line and in the secondary.
The biggest concern is the backfield, where Taevion Swint will not be available, while Alonza Barnett III and Duane Thomas Jr. have moved into questionable territory. Lewis Carter is also out, adding another hit to the defense, and UCF is still monitoring several other key pieces, with center Jacob Maiava, cornerback DJ Bell and guard Owen Spell among those dealing with injuries as the Knights try to piece together a workable rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Dior Johnson Gives UCF The Scoring Threat Fans Have Wanted
Dior Johnson is back in Orlando and already giving UCF something it has been looking for: a proven scoring threat with real pedigree. The former blue-chip recruit returned to the program after a productive season at Tarleton State, and his presence at Big 12 Media Day alongside Johnny Dawkins and the Knights' players underscored how quickly he has become part of the conversation again.
Johnsons fit was on display in UCFs exhibition against LSU, where he led the Knights in scoring even in a loss. For a team trying to sharpen its offense and find more reliable shot creation, his return gives Dawkins a different kind of option, one that could change the way defenses have to guard UCF once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]