UCF’s path from a solid offense to a dangerous one starts before the ball is even snapped.
That’s the message offensive coordinator Steve Cooper laid out at UCF’s local media day, where he made it clear the Knights’ next leap depends on cleaning up the little things and then letting the playmakers run wild.
“It takes no talent to be elite in the pre-snap,” Cooper said at UCF’s local media day.
That pre-snap work was a problem last season. UCF was learning a new coaching staff and a new playbook on the fly, and the growing pains showed up in the form of penalties that repeatedly stalled drives. Illegal shifts, delay of game calls and false starts wiped out downfield progress throughout the season.
The timing of those mistakes hurt, too. UCF took three false starts in the fourth quarter after Kansas running back Leshon Williams scored the lead-taking touchdown on Oct. 4, a stretch that underlined how costly the miscues could be in conference play.
The expectation now is that those issues won’t linger at the same level. UCF enters next season with more comfort in Scott Frost’s scheme, helped by the fact that 61% of last year’s production is back. That continuity should make communication cleaner, and it should tighten the expectations between veterans and newcomers.
Cooper said Frost has stressed operations all year. Once that part is under control, the staff can lean into the next phase: finding players who can turn ordinary snaps into explosive gains.
Two names stood out from Cooper’s comments: running back Taevion Swint and transfer wide receiver Josh Derry.
Frost has already pointed to Swint as an X-factor, citing his speed and big-play ability. The freshman’s background makes the fit easy to see.
He starred at Osceola High School, just 45 minutes from campus, and put together a monster senior year with 1,778 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns while helping his team reach the state championship game. Over his high school career, Swint topped 100 rushing yards 23 times.
Derry brings a different kind of juice. The 5-foot-9 receiver earned the nickname “Scary Derry” and arrives after serving as Monmouth’s top target.
Over the last two seasons, he posted 133 catches for 2,018 yards and 18 touchdowns. That production showed up again during spring ball, where he impressed for the Knights at the Power Four level.
If UCF gets the pre-snap details right and those explosive pieces hit, the ceiling is obvious. Cooper’s vision is an offense that can be as explosive as possible, one that looks more like the firepower UCF had in 2017 and 2018.
In Other News...
Dylan Wade Gives UCF A Dangerous Weapon Few Big 12 Defenses Want
Dylan Wade has already shown why he belongs on the short list of Big 12 tight ends defenses have to account for every week. The UCF pass catcher drew national notice with a No. 10 ranking from the College Football Report and a spot on the John Mackey Award Watch List, a recognition that fits with the production he delivered last season when he set program records for receptions, yards and touchdowns by a tight end.
For UCF, that kind of presence is more than a nice bonus in the passing game. Wade has been a reliable target in key spots, including a senior night showing against Oklahoma State, and his ability to work the middle of the field gives the Knights a threat that can stress coverage in ways many conference opponents would rather avoid. With defenses already having enough to sort out, Wade gives UCF another matchup problem on the same field. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Quietly Addressed A Growing Concern On Its Defensive Line
Preseason camp brought a quiet but practical roster move for UCF, one aimed at stabilizing the middle of the defensive line. The Knights added a defensive tackle with stops at Holmes Community College and Allen University, giving the room another body at a spot that has been thinned by injuries and practice absences.
The move is less about reshaping the rotation than making sure the staff has someone it can lean on if the situation worsens. For now, the focus remains on depth and availability along the interior, where every healthy lineman matters, and the Knights are trying to keep that group intact until the injured pieces are ready to return. [Read more 🡒]