Lewis Carter is carrying last season’s ending with him into fall camp, and he’s not trying to hide it. The UCF senior linebacker said the collapse in Utah still stings, when a winning season was there for the taking before then-No. 11 BYU blew the doors off in the second half and crushed the Knights’ bowl hopes.
That loss is part of what’s driving Carter now. He said he wants to help UCF turn those close calls into wins, and he likes what he sees around him as camp opens.
"A lot of guys that have been through the ups, been through the downs, and a lot of guys that are putting in the work and ready to go," Carter said after Day 1 of fall camp.
Carter is also changing the way he prepares. The veteran linebacker said he’s pushing himself to be as professional as possible, which means digging deeper into his notes and spending more time on film. He wants to be sharp for his own game, but also because he sees himself as someone who has to keep the rest of the defense in line.
Scott Frost made Carter the defense’s leader last season, and that role looks set to continue this year. After spending his junior season in Frost and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s system, Carter already knows the scheme and the coaches’ expectations. That familiarity should help him communicate more smoothly with newcomers Tackett Curtis, Jahleel Culbreath and Phil Picciotti.
The bigger picture for UCF’s defense still comes back to takeaways and toughness. Grinch has made turnover production a priority, but the Knights struggled to create extra possessions for the offense, especially in conference play.
They forced eight turnovers in nine games, with half of them coming in the Space Game loss to Houston. Former defensive back Phillip Dunnam, who could explore a return to college football, had a career-high three interceptions, and the Knights also added a fumble recovery to finish the total.
Stopping the run was the other problem that kept showing up. UCF was out-rushed in every road game except the Cincinnati matchup, where quarterback Cam Fancher ran for a season-high 108 yards.
In Other News...
UCFs Backup Quarterback Battle Is Already Taking Shape
The early shape of UCFs quarterback room is starting to come into focus as Scott Frost begins sorting out the depth chart behind clear starter Alonza Barnett III. Boise State transfer Kaleb Annett is getting the second-team reps for now, putting him in the lead position in a group that also includes the experienced Keyone Jenkins and promising freshman Rocco Marriott.
Frost has made it sound like the Knights feel good about the room overall, pointing to the talent and professionalism inside it. Even so, the backup job is one of the more important battles on the roster, and the mix of a transfer, a veteran and a young arm gives UCF more than one way this could play out as camp moves along. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Camp Injuries Could Reshape A Few Early Depth Chart Battles
Fall camp has opened with Scott Frost saying UCF is mostly in good shape physically, but a few early injury notes are worth tracking as the Knights start sorting out jobs across the roster. Defensive tackle Jackson Jr. is still working back from a toe issue that began in spring practice, while edge rusher Bruno Dall is dealing with a strained hamstring. Even with those bumps, the staff sounds comfortable enough with the overall health of the team to keep camp moving without major disruption.
The secondary got another brief scare when defensive back Jailen Duffie recently picked up a toe injury during plyometric jumps, adding one more name to a list that could affect some of the early depth chart battles. Frost has described the setback as short-term, and UCF believes it has enough depth to absorb a few absences while players get back up to speed. Still, in a camp where every rep matters, even minor injuries can have a way of nudging the competition in a different direction. [Read more 🡒]