UCF heads into Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. matchup with Arizona State still juggling a battered skill group, and the latest Big 12 availability report only sharpened the picture. The Knights will be without running back Duke Watson, while wide receiver Waden Charles is doubtful and tight end Caden Piening is questionable.
Watson is the biggest loss. He has been UCF’s primary runner this season, and his day ended early last Saturday in Lawrence after just two carries.
ESPN2 later showed him on the broadcast in street clothes and a walking boot. With Watson out, Taevion Swint is positioned for a bigger workload after returning from a two-game absence of his own.
There is also some good news in the backfield. Landen Chambers was dealing with an injury against Kansas, but his absence from Wednesday’s report points to him being available against the Sun Devils.
The passing game could also be short-handed. If Charles cannot go, it would be his first missed game of the season and would open the door for Tyren Hornes, who made his first career start last Saturday. Piening’s status matters too after he caught the game-tying touchdown against Kansas; if he sits, Dylan Wade and Grayson Brousseau should see their snap counts climb.
Quarterback Keyone Jenkins is listed as questionable, though the presence of Alonza Barnett III changes the conversation a bit. The issue is less about the starter and more about the backup role. If Jenkins is unable to play, freshman Rocco Marriott would likely be next in line after briefly seeing the field in Kansas.
UCF’s defense will again be missing all three defensive backs who sat out last week: Demari Henderson, DJ Bell and Kahmel Johnson. Henderson is set to miss his third game of the season, Bell his third and Johnson his second. Caleb Flagg filled in for Henderson and finished with four tackles last weekend, while Jailen Duffie and Rukeem Stroud also logged snaps in the secondary.
There is, however, some potential help on the way in the defensive backfield. Antione Jackson and Ty Bartrum were both listed as probable, and Bartrum carried that same designation last week before playing. Barring a setback, both should be available.
Linebacker Lewis Carter is also trending toward a return after missing the first six games of conference play. Coach Scott Frost said Monday, “You know, I didn’t think it was going to be this long a deal, but every injury responds different, and he’s been a huge part of our team we haven’t had. But I think there’s a really good chance he gets some time this week,” Frost said.
If Carter is back, UCF’s linebacker room gets a lot deeper. Cole Kozlowski was able to play during Carter’s absence after receiving a temporary injunction, and with Carter, Kozlowski, Tackett Curtis, Jahleel Culbreath and Jayden Jennings all in the mix, the Knights could roll with a five-man rotation. Jennings is also listed as probable.
Up front, UCF will be without offensive lineman Tyler Gibson for a fifth straight game. Gibson is the backup right tackle behind Preston Cushman.
Center Jacob Maiava is back on the report as questionable after missing last week with a new injury, which marked his third missed game of the season. EDGE Bruno Dall is probable, though he has only appeared in one game since being available for the Oklahoma State matchup.
Arizona State is dealing with its own issues on defense. Cornerback Rodney Bimage Jr. was ruled out on Wednesday and was not on Thursday’s report, backing up Kenny Dillingham’s comment that he would “probably be out for the year” after the Sun Devils’ win over Colorado. Bimage has 26 tackles, 19 of them solo, along with 1.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Freshman Daquwan Dunn is expected to step into Bimage’s starting spot. Dunn has 13 tackles, 11 solo, and two pass breakups.
The Sun Devils also listed two offensive linemen. Freshman Filiva’a Lokotui, one of the backup right tackles on the depth chart, is probable, while starter Wade Helton is questionable after missing the last three games. Helton has played in three games this season.
Arizona State’s skill group has a few names in flux as well. Running back Jason Brown Jr. opened the week as probable but was downgraded to questionable on Thursday. If he cannot play, the Sun Devils still have Cardae Mack, Kyson Brown and Marquis Gillis in the rotation.
Two wide receivers who have not recorded a catch this season also appeared on the report. Uriah Neloms moved from probable on Wednesday to questionable on Thursday, while Harry Hassmann was ruled out.
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UCF Faces One Huge Lineup Question In Bowl-Clinching Spot
With bowl eligibility hanging in the balance, UCF heads into its Nov. 14 Big 12 matchup with Arizona State carrying more than the usual late-season weight. The Knights are back home for a game that could help lock in a postseason berth, and the return of quarterback Alonza Barnett III from injury gives the offense a much-needed lift as the stakes rise.
The bigger question is how the rest of the lineup will hold up around him, especially with several key injury situations still in play. Arizona State arrives with quarterback Cutter Boley and receiver Reed Harris, and with both teams entering the matchup with similar records, the margin for error is slim for a UCF group that needs a clean night to take care of business. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Unbeaten Start Faces A New Test In Georgia Southern
Johnny Dawkins has spent the early part of UCFs unbeaten start stressing the same theme: the Knights are winning because they are buying into team basketball, not because one player is trying to carry the load. That message held after UCF moved to 3-0 with a win over South Alabama, a game in which Dior Johnson and Carmelo Pacheco both supplied big scoring nights and gave the Knights another example of how dangerous they can be when multiple pieces are clicking.
Georgia Southern brings a different kind of challenge into the matchup after pushing Mercer to overtime before falling on the road. Dallas Gardner was the headline there, scoring 28 points and knocking down the free throws that forced the extra session, and that kind of fight should have UCFs attention. For a team still trying to establish itself early, this is the sort of test that can show whether the Knights depth and balance travel when the game gets tighter. [Read more 🡒]