As UCF opened preseason camp Monday, the backdrop at the Acrisure Bounce House Stadium said plenty about where the program is headed. A few hundred yards from the practice field, construction workers were putting the finishing touches on the Roth Tower expansion, and the rebuilt structure still carries the reminder of the program’s best days: 2017 National Champions.
Scott Frost is back for Year 2 of his return, and the expectations around him are naturally bigger than they were a year ago. But this version of UCF is built differently, and Frost made it clear the old measuring stick doesn’t fit the new reality.
The Knights are coming off a 5-7 season that featured a chaotic offseason, a new coaching staff and nearly 70 newcomers. That first year also came with a devastating loss, as offensive line coach Shawn Clark died suddenly three weeks into the season.
This summer has looked different. UCF brought in 57 new faces - 31 transfers, 15 high school signees and 11 walk-ons - and 22 of those transfers were upperclassmen.
“In a lot of ways, I’m more comfortable,” Frost said Monday about the difference between the start of last season’s preseason camp and this year’s. “The whole staff is more comfortable.
The team is farther ahead. Everybody understands the mission and how we’re trying to get there.
We’ve got a lot better overall character on this football team and we have more talent.”
The Knights have had their peaks. They won a program-best 25 straight games between 2017 and 2018 and put together six straight winning seasons through 2022. But since moving into the Big 12 in 2023, UCF has won just 41% of its games, going 15-22.
Frost isn’t dwelling on any of that, and he doesn’t believe the roster can afford to.
“I asked the guys in a meeting yesterday to raise their hand if they started (a game) at UCF and are still here and about 25 to 33% of the room raised their hands,” said Frost. “Talking about last year doesn’t mean much when you have that many new guys.”
That turnover is part of why senior linebacker Lewis Carter sees a different feel around the group. Carter is back after a breakout year in which he led the Knights with 92 tackles, and he said the offseason has already shown a more committed team.
“There’s a little bit more buy-in, a lot more maturity, a lot of guys that are experienced, having played a good amount of ball,” said Carter. “Guys who know a little bit more ball and are willing to work.”
One of the biggest additions is quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who arrives after a standout run at James Madison. Barnett helped lead the Dukes to the Sun Belt Conference title and a College Football Playoff berth, then won Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year after piling up nearly 3,400 yards of total offense and 38 total touchdowns last season.
Barnett missed all of spring camp, but he was on the field Monday and immediately in the middle of things.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to raise the standard of this program,” said Barnett. “I want to carry Coach Frost’s vision of the program.
Coaches talk about how to spread that in the locker room. We have the guys that not only have the attitude, but the willingness to work.”
UCF opens the season in less than a month, hosting Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. For now, the goals inside the program are set higher than 5-7, and Frost said he intends to keep pushing the ceiling upward.
“Our standard and our expectations for the players are higher and it’s going to keep getting higher because these guys are capable of meeting those standards,” Frost said. “Overall, as a team, we have a lot higher ceiling and we’re going to push the guys to that.”
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Former UCF Tackle Paul Rubelt Is Making The Most Of A Big Chance
Former UCF tackle Paul Rubelt is getting a real look in Tampa Bays training camp, and the timing has given the rookie a chance to show why he drew attention as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-10 lineman brought both size and athleticism with him from Orlando, where he started most games at left tackle last season, and The Athletic labeled him one of the more promising undrafted additions in the class.
Rubelts opportunity has grown because the Buccaneers have needed extra depth on the line, opening more reps for a player trying to carve out a spot on the final roster. For now, the former Knight is simply trying to make the most of the snaps in front of him and keep himself in the mix as Tampa Bay sorts out its offensive tackle picture. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Frost Now Faces A UCF Roster Twist He Didn't Expect
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Scott Frost acknowledged the uncertainty around the decision and what it could mean for his roster, especially with the calendar already moving and roster construction never feeling simple in the current era. The legal fight is not finished, and even with the ruling in place, the NCAAs next steps and the practical effects on player movement leave the Knights waiting for a clearer picture before they know how much this development might matter. [Read more 🡒]
UCF's Keyshawn Hall Reunion Dream May Come Down To One Obstacle
A recent court injunction has opened the door for former UCF forward Keyshawn Hall to play one more season of college basketball, and the possibility has put a familiar reunion back on the table. Hall, who previously declared for the NBA draft and spent summer league with the Miami Heat before struggling to land a roster spot, has become one of the more intriguing names on the market as programs weigh whether to bring him back into the fold.
UCF is among the schools with interest, alongside LSU, Kansas and Kentucky, but the chase may ultimately come down to whether the Knights can match the financial reality surrounding his return. Halls decision is now tied to a marketplace that could favor the biggest spenders, leaving UCF hoping the pull of a second act in Orlando is enough to keep it in the race. [Read more 🡒]