Keyone Jenkins is getting the nod for UCF, and the timing could hardly be more important.
With Alonza Barnett III sidelined, the Knights will turn to the Florida International transfer as their starting quarterback for the next several weeks. That decision also makes Jenkins the answer over Boise State transfer Kaleb Annett, who has yet to appear in a college football game since committing to Boise State in 2023.
For UCF, this is about more than simply filling a spot. The program has been searching for steadiness at quarterback for years, with injuries hammering the position since 2021. Jenkins brings the kind of experience that can help settle things down.
Last season at FIU, he threw for 1,742 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He also added another layer with his legs, running for 132 yards and five touchdowns on 51 carries. Over the course of his career, he has rushed for 310 yards and 13 touchdowns, including six scores as a freshman and five more as a junior.
That dual-threat skill set fits what Scott Frost wants. Frost leans on quarterbacks who can move, extend plays and create extra yards on the ground, and Jenkins checks those boxes.
Still, the challenge ahead is real. The left-hander will have to build timing with his receivers quickly, and that chemistry has been in motion for months.
During spring, the coaching staff took a cautious approach with Barnett’s minor injuries and kept him out, allowing Jenkins to get work. Then Barnett reclaimed the spot in summer and fall when he was back.
Now the Knights head into their final nonconference game against Georgia State with a clear purpose. Saturday offers Jenkins a chance to settle in before Big 12 play starts next week against Texas Christian.
Coach Scott Frost said the team will go as far as Barnett takes them, and now, that responsibility lies on Jenkins' shoulders.
UCF’s offense may be in new hands, but the rest of the equation matters just as much. The offensive line has to keep Jenkins upright and avoid putting him in harm’s way. The Knights cannot afford more injuries, and they certainly can’t keep digging deeper at quarterback.
In Other News...
TCU Gets Timely Boost As UCF Enters Big 12 Opener Shorthanded
TCU is set to get a useful piece back just as Big 12 play begins, with wide receiver Jordan Dwyer expected to return from a foot injury when the Horned Frogs meet UCF. Dwyer missed the first three games of the season, so his availability gives TCU a timely lift as it looks to open conference play with some momentum.
UCF, meanwhile, enters the matchup dealing with a significant change under center. Starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III is sidelined by a hamstring injury, and the Knights are expected to turn to Keyone Jenkins in his place. For a team trying to settle in quickly against a conference opponent, the timing of those injury updates adds another layer to a game already carrying plenty of early-season importance. [Read more 🡒]
UCF's Offense Just Created A Tough Big 12 Decision
UCFs offense looked a lot different in the win over Georgia State, and that was the point. With Alonza Barnett III sidelined, backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins stepped in and the Knights leaned hard into the run game, a formula that helped them control the day and leave with a 44-30 victory. Duke Watson was at the center of it, and the ground attack carried much of the load while UCF kept the ball in Jenkins hands enough to complement what was working.
The bigger question now shifts to the Big 12 opener against TCU, where the Knights will have to decide whether the same approach can travel against a tougher league opponent. Scott Frost has already settled the quarterback side of it, naming Jenkins the starter for next week, so the discussion is more about how much UCF can keep leaning on that rushing identity and whether the offense can keep finding answers with a limited passing volume. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Frost Got The UCF Response He Needed Before Big 12 Play
UCF left the field Saturday with more than a nonconference win, it left with a reminder of what a composed second half can look like. After falling behind at halftime, the Knights settled in and pulled away from Georgia State 44-30, a result Scott Frost pointed to as evidence the team handled adversity the right way before Big 12 play begins. He highlighted the defense and run game as the areas that steadied things after the break, which mattered as much as the final score for a team still looking to define itself early in the season.
Duke Watson gave that turnaround a real jolt with a career day on the ground, and Keyone Jenkins added three scores even if the passing game was uneven at times. The bigger picture for UCF is that the pieces looked more connected when the pressure tightened, which is exactly the kind of response Frost wanted to see before the schedule gets more demanding. There are still questions to sort through, but the Knights at least showed they can absorb a punch and finish with some force. [Read more 🡒]