Scott Frost didn’t sound like a coach trying to sell a dream in Frisco. He sounded like a man who’s already settled into the rhythm of the job.
As Big 12 Football Media Days opened Tuesday morning in Frisco, Texas, ahead of the 2026 college football season, Frost was there with several UCF players - Alonza Barnett III, Lewis Carter, Jayden Bellamy and Preston Cushman among them - to talk about where the Knights are headed. In his exclusive one-on-one Q&A with Andrew Cherico of Knights247, Frost’s message was simple: the second time around feels smoother.
“Everything feels a lot easier this year. It's year two; I know the ropes, I know the guys, excited about the team. We're all in a good place, and it's fun being here.”
That comfort level showed up again when he was asked about the timing of media day landing in the middle of vacation week. Frost didn’t hide his annoyance.
“Yeah, that's my only complaint, man. We're all on vacation, we don't get much time off, and this falls right in the middle of vacation, so we have to come off vacation, do this, and go back, but it's good to get it over with.”
The rest of Frost’s comments centered on the Knights’ growth and the best trends he’s seen coming out of spring as the team moves toward summer and fall camp. The full discussion included his thoughts on expectations, Alonza Barnett III, and where UCF stands heading into the new campaign.
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UCF No. 55 Reveal Puts Center Battle And Future Depth In Focus
Spring practice has already given UCF a better feel for what it may have in Jacob Maiava, a true center who is pushing into the mix for a starting job. The Knights like the athletic profile he brings, and his background only adds to the intrigue, with a family tree that has produced high-level football talent. For a team trying to sort out the middle of its offensive line, Maiava is the kind of player whose development can shape both the present and the depth chart beyond it.
Noah Mercer brings a different kind of upside to the 2026 roster, arriving as a defensive tackle with the kind of high school rsum that suggests there is more to come. He was a standout on defense at Key West and also showed off his athleticism in track and field, making him another name worth tracking as UCF builds out its future front. Between a center battle on one side of the ball and a promising interior defender on the other, the Knights have a couple of new pieces that could matter sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Former UCF Duo Just Got A Tough First NBA Audition
Riley Kugel and Themus Fulks took their first step into the NBA Summer League spotlight with the Los Angeles Clippers in Las Vegas, a small but notable milestone for two former UCF standouts now trying to carve out a path at the next level. Kugel arrived in Orlando as a highly regarded transfer and Fulks left with Third-Team All-Big 12 recognition, so both brought real college credentials with them into a setting where every possession is a tryout.
Their debut, though, came with the kind of limited run that often defines the first night of Summer League for young guards. The Clippers are back at it against the Utah Jazz, and with the team coming off a rough offensive showing, there should be a better chance for both ex-Knights to get a longer look and show whether their UCF production can translate when the minutes start to open up. [Read more 🡒]
Alonza Barnett Just Raised The Stakes For UCFs Offense
Alonza Barnett III arrived at UCF with the kind of rsum that naturally gets attention, even before he takes a snap in a Knights uniform. A transfer quarterback with College Football Playoff experience, Barnett has already drawn praise from Scott Frost for both his leadership and the dual-threat element he brings to the offense, giving UCF a different look as it tries to sharpen its attack.
The intrigue only grows from there, because Barnett has yet to get on the field for the Knights, leaving the staff to talk more about what he can add than what he has already shown in Orlando. Still, the national buzz is real, with On3's Brett McMurphy slotting him No. 7 among Big 12 quarterbacks, a sign that UCF may have brought in a player whose ceiling could change the conversation around the offense once he is ready. [Read more 🡒]