Sean Beckton Sr. is getting recognized with the kind of label that usually comes after a coach has built something real: one of the Big 12’s top wide receiver coaches. Matrix Analytical, posting on X as CFBAnalytical, ranked the UCF associate head coach third in the conference on June 4, slotting him behind Texas Tech’s Justin Johnson and Texas Christian’s Malcolm Kelly.
That kind of placement fits the picture around UCF right now. Beckton has a deep group to work with, and the Knights are banking on that room to help fuel a 2026 championship push.
One of the biggest names in that mix is Thomas Jr., who looks set up for a career year in his final season. His route running has sharpened, and Beckton pointed to that growth during spring camp.
"I'm proud of him because he's a lot more patient at the top of his routes," Beckton said on April 18. "He's doing a better job of winning at the top of the route.
Last year, I thought when I broke him down, watched all this film, Austin Herink and myself, we looked at him, he was just sometimes he was really too quick. He didn't win the route at the top."
UCF also has Waden Charles back for his sophomore season, and he’s expected to be a major target for Alonza Barnett III. Charles came into spring camp focused on steady improvement, aiming to get "1% better" every day. His goals for next season are team-first, centered on helping UCF win its first Big 12 championship.
The room got even more interesting with the addition of Tyren Hornes, a top-15 wide receiver who could make noise right away as a true freshman. The 6-foot receiver put up 802 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 54 catches in his senior season, and he also added 122 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 11 carries.
UCF’s transfer additions bring more punch to the group. Josh Derry arrives from Monmouth after turning into a 1,000-yard receiver last season and leading the team with 13 receiving touchdowns. Jonathan Bibbs comes over from Louisiana Monroe after finishing with 26 catches, 383 yards and 3 touchdowns.
For Beckton, the challenge isn’t finding talent. It’s managing a room that already looks loaded. Thomas Jr. is stepping into a leadership role, Charles is on the rise, and the rest of the group gives UCF plenty of options as fall camp approaches.
In Other News...
UCFs College Football 27 Rating Is In And Fans Will Debate It
EA Sports has released the official College Football 27 team ratings, and UCF comes in with a noticeable bump that should at least give Knights fans something to argue about. The programs overall mark climbed to 81, a modest but meaningful rise from last year, and the numbers behind it point to a roster that the game sees as more balanced and more dangerous than it was a season ago.
A big part of that jump comes from the names at the top of the card. Tight end Dylan Wade is rated 88 overall, quarterback Alonza Barnett III sits at 86, and defensive standout Jayden Bellamy is also at 86, giving UCF a few players who stand out in a hurry when the ratings are rolled out. For a fan base that always pays close attention to how the Knights are perceived, the real debate now is whether the game has finally caught up to what this group can be. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Grinch Earned New Respect But UCF Fans Know Whats Missing
Alex Grinch earned a measure of respect at UCF by helping steer the Knights to one of the Big 12s better pass defenses last season, and the secondary now has the kind of veteran backbone that usually gives a coordinator a chance to build on what worked. The group returns with senior experience and transfer help, which should give the Knights a better shot at keeping opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable for another year.
Still, the praise comes with a familiar caveat. UCFs defensive backs were good enough to be noticed, but not complete enough to feel finished, and Grinch has already pointed to the spots that need tightening before the 2026 season arrives. If the Knights are going to turn a strong pass defense into something more dependable, the next step has to come in the areas that do not always show up in the headline numbers. [Read more 🡒]