UCF will be without its leading rusher when it takes on Arizona State on Saturday, with Duke Watson ruled out in the Big 12’s first player availability report of the week.
Watson was among several Knights listed out Wednesday. He left Saturday’s game against Kansas in the first quarter and was carted to the locker room before later reappearing on the sideline in street clothes with a boot on his right foot. Coach Scott Frost said Monday he wasn’t sure what Watson’s status would be.
The junior has been UCF’s top ground threat, piling up 596 yards on 94 carries with three touchdowns after transferring in from Louisville over the offseason. With Watson sidelined, the Knights are expected to lean on Landen Chambers, who has 225 rushing yards, and Taevion Swint, who has 181, against an Arizona State defense allowing 124 rushing yards per game.
UCF’s injury list didn’t stop there. Offensive lineman Tyler Gibson, cornerbacks DJ Bell and Kahmel Johnson, safety Demari Henderson and tight end Dylan Burk were also ruled out.
Starting receiver Waden Charles was listed as doubtful. Charles is tied for second on the team with 25 catches and ranks third with 285 receiving yards. A source said he suffered an undisclosed injury in the 33-32 win over Kansas.
Backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins, tight end Caden Piening and offensive lineman Jacob Maiava were listed as questionable.
There was some good news on the defensive side: linebacker Lewis Carter, who has missed the last six games, was listed as probable. Cornerback Antione Jackson, linebacker Jayden Jennings and edge rusher Bruno Dall were also listed as probable.
In Other News...
UCF Just Delivered The Kind Of Road Win Fans Have Been Waiting For
For a team that had been fighting through self-inflicted mistakes on the road, the trip to Kansas offered a cleaner version of UCF football. The Knights played with noticeably better communication and leaned on veteran leadership to keep things under control, and the result was the kind of disciplined performance that had been missing away from home.
The most striking part was how little the officials had to call on the Knights, a sign the operation finally looked organized from start to finish. Just as important, the win ended a long slide in road games and gave UCF a much-needed proof point that the problems that had followed it away from Orlando can be corrected. [Read more 🡒]
Johnny Dawkins Just Gave UCF Fans A Reason To Dream Bigger
UCFs early-season buzz has not been limited to what Johnny Dawkins is building on the floor. The Knights have landed commitments from three four-star recruits over the past two weeks, a run that gives the program a different kind of momentum as it continues to stack talent around a roster that is off to a 3-0 start. With Dior Johnson and Carmelo Pacheco helping drive the unbeaten opening, the on-court product has matched the recruiting surge in a way that should resonate with fans looking for a bigger picture.
The latest addition only adds to the sense that UCF is trying to change the shape of its future in the paint. Bol Kuany joins fellow South Sudanese 7-footer John Bol in giving the Knights a frontcourt foundation that looks unusually long and promising, and it is the kind of recruiting win that can alter how a program is viewed beyond one season. Dawkins has already given UCF reason to feel good about the present, but the way this class is coming together suggests the ceiling may be climbing just as quickly. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Unbeaten Start Comes With A Riley Kugel Concern
UCFs 3-0 start has given the Knights plenty to feel good about, but Riley Kugels early-season shooting has been one of the few uneasy spots in an otherwise clean opening stretch. The senior guard arrived with a reputation built on a strong previous season and a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers Summer League team, so there was reason to expect him to be a steady scoring option right away.
Instead, Kugel has been working through a rough start as he adjusts to his new role. He is averaging five points per game and has yet to find a rhythm from deep, which leaves a little more pressure on the upcoming schedule as UCF looks to keep rolling. For now, the Knights can afford patience, but Kugels place in the starting lineup will be something to watch if the shot does not come around soon. [Read more 🡒]