With 61 days left until UCF opens its season on Sep. 3 at 7 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman, the Knights’ roster countdown turns to offensive lineman Owen Spell.
Spell is entering his second year in Orlando after transferring from Limestone University, a program that later shut down. Two weeks after Spell announced he was entering the transfer portal, Limestone revealed it was closing, bringing an end to its Division II football program after 11 seasons. Spell appeared in 10 games during what became the school’s final football season in 2024.
At UCF, Spell spent most of the 2025 season as the backup left tackle behind Paul Rubelt. Even so, he got on the field in all 12 games, working at both left and right tackle and picking up two starts at left tackle.
The path to a starting job in 2026 is far from clear. Preston Cushman, last season’s starter at right tackle, is back, and so is his backup, Connor Meadows.
UCF also added experienced transfers in Henry Tabansi, who started at left tackle for Buffalo last season, and Tyler Gibson, who won Charlotte’s starting right tackle job last season. That leaves tackle as a crowded spot.
Still, Spell has a chance to work his way into the mix. Offensive line coach AJ Blazek said Spell had a good spring and has helped push Tabansi in practice. Spell’s flexibility could also matter, especially with fewer incoming transfers at guard.
After an April 9 practice, Blazek said he had used Spell at guard over the previous couple of days. If that trial sticks, Spell could slide inside and compete for a starting role there. If not, he could still be a valuable swing piece who can line up at either tackle spot or guard.
"If kids know there's an opportunity, they show up every day because it might be theirs," Blazek said.
No matter where he ends up on the depth chart, Spell is positioned for another full workload in 2026.
In Other News...
UCF Still Holds A Place In College Football History Few Can Claim
The 2017 season still sits in a unique corner of college football history for UCF, a year when the Knights went undefeated, won the AAC title and capped it with a Peach Bowl win over Auburn. The College Football Playoff committee left them out, but the Colley Matrix recognized their national championship claim, putting the program in a small club of teams that have topped a major selector.
For UCF, the distinction carries extra weight because it came from a team that was still carving out its identity on the sports biggest stage. It also remains a point of pride as Scott Frost has returned for a second stint as head coach, reconnecting the current program to the breakthrough that helped define what the Knights could become. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Massive New Lineman Comes With One Concerning Twist
UCF added a fascinating long-term project in Daniel Marcellinus, a massive offensive lineman whose path to Orlando has already been anything but ordinary. The former basketball player from Nigeria is now the tallest player on the roster at 6-foot-11, and his size alone makes him one of the more intriguing newcomers the Knights have brought in.
Marcellinus arrives from Campbell with four years of eligibility still intact, giving UCF time to develop him without needing immediate results. The catch is that he will not be available for the 2025-26 season, leaving the Knights to wait on a player whose upside is obvious even as his timeline remains uncertain. [Read more 🡒]