The quarterback picture at UCF just got a little clearer - and a little riskier. With Davi Belfort hitting the transfer portal, the Knights are now down to three scholarship quarterbacks heading into 2026: transfer pickup Alonza Barnett III, who’s expected to take the reins as QB1, and a pair of true freshmen, Rocco Marriott and Dante Carr.
That leaves head coach Scott Frost and his staff with a critical decision: ride with the trio they’ve got, or dip back into the portal in search of another arm - ideally one with live-game experience and a steady hand.
At first glance, standing pat might not be as reckless as it sounds.
For one, fewer quarterbacks means more meaningful reps for the young guys. With Barnett leading the room, Marriott and Carr would get a heavier share of practice snaps, which is gold for development.
Quarterback growth is all about repetition - reading coverages, refining footwork, building chemistry with receivers. With less competition for time, both freshmen could accelerate their learning curve and gain a stronger grasp of the system early on.
There’s also a long-term play here. If Barnett were to go down - and given UCF’s recent quarterback history, that’s not an outlandish scenario - then Marriott or Carr would be thrown into the fire.
Not ideal, sure, but those reps could serve as valuable “on-the-job training” that pays off in future seasons. It’s not the smoothest path, but it could forge a more seasoned signal-caller down the line.
Then there’s the financial side of things. NIL dollars don’t grow on trees, and every roster move comes with a price tag.
If UCF were to chase another quarterback, that money would have to come from somewhere - likely at the expense of other positions that need attention, like the offensive line. And if you’ve followed the Knights the last couple of years, you know how much inconsistency and injuries up front have impacted the offense.
Shoring up that group might yield more immediate returns than adding a marginal QB2.
And let’s be honest - the portal isn’t exactly overflowing with ideal fits. Finding a quarterback who checks all the boxes - affordable, experienced, and content with a backup role - is easier said than done. If the right guy isn’t out there, forcing a move just to add depth could disrupt the chemistry that’s already building.
But there’s another side to this, and it’s a big one: what if Barnett gets hurt, and the freshmen just aren’t ready?
That’s not just a hypothetical. UCF has been down this road before.
Over the past two seasons, the quarterback carousel has been spinning thanks to injuries and inconsistency. This isn’t a program that’s been spoiled with depth - it’s one that’s needed every ounce of it.
Relying on two true freshmen who haven’t taken a collegiate snap is a major gamble, especially in the Big 12. This isn’t a conference where you can just coast while your young quarterback learns on the job.
The margin for error is razor thin, and one misstep under center can derail an entire season. Without a proven backup, UCF would be walking a tightrope at the most important position on the field.
So what’s the move?
It all comes down to how much risk Frost and his staff are willing to stomach. Sticking with Barnett, Marriott, and Carr could foster long-term development and free up resources to strengthen the roster elsewhere. But it also leaves the Knights one injury away from turning to a true freshman in a conference that doesn’t forgive growing pains.
There’s no perfect answer here - just a balancing act between upside and security. But one thing’s for sure: in today’s college football landscape, quarterback depth isn’t just a luxury.
It’s a necessity. And UCF’s 2026 season may hinge on whether their current trio can hold the line - or whether a new face is needed to steady the ship.