Keyone Jenkins headlines with four accolades following historic UCF win

All photos courtesy of UCF Athletics

UCF’s season has been fueled by the opportunity to earn the respect they feel they deserve.

At this year’s Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon back on Aug. 21, head coach Scott Frost told attendees, “Nobody’s going to respect us until we go earn it.”

This statement has fueled the Knights all season as they’ve looked to earn more respect each week.

Following the Knights’ upset on Saturday against No. 2 BYU, several players have also gotten a taste of some national recognition, including Frost, quarterback Keyone Jenkins, wide receiver Tyren Hornes, and punter Atticus Bertrams.

UCF named Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week

After the Knights’ 39-31 double-overtime win over No. 2 BYU, UCF was named the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week.

The historic win was the Knights’ highest-ranked victory since their 52-42 victory over the No. 6-ranked Baylor Bears in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl.

The upset also stamped the Knights’ first-ever victory over an AP top 5 opponent, and their fourth over an AP top 10 opponent in program history.

The honor, selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America, marked UCF’s fourth time receiving it. It was UCF’s first since its 45-3 win against No. 15 Oklahoma State back in 2023.

Scott Frost earns two “Coach of the Week” honors

Following UCF’s overtime triumph, head coach Scott Frost was named the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Week and the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week.

The Bear Bryant Awards, presented by the American Heart Association, are chosen by a committee of national college football media members to recognize excellence in coaching.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory while also embodying the three pillars of scholarship, leadership, and integrity.

The 39-31 victory marked Frost’s fourth win over a ranked opponent with UCF, the most in program history. UCF has 11 ranked wins in total.

Additionally, as reported by Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel via X, Frost has tied former UCF head coaches Josh Heupel and Gus Malzahn with 28 wins as head coach for the Knights, the fourth most in program history.

Keyone Jenkins collects a handful of accolades for his performance

Senior quarterback Keyone Jenkins put together in clinic in UCF’s monumental 39-31 double overtime victory against No. 2 BYU, accounting for four total touchdowns, including two touchdown passes in overtime.

The performance earned him four awards: Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week, Maxwell Award Player of the Week, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, and Manning Star of the Week.

The FIU transfer threw for a season-high 293 yards in the Knights’ first victory over an AP top-five opponent in school history.

Jenkins connected with three different players on his scoring plays.

His lone passing touchdown in regulation came to redshirt junior running back Landen Chambers for a 6-yard score late in the first half, giving the Knights a 17-14 lead at halftime.

Jenkins also scored a rushing touchdown on a 1-yard sneak to retake the lead late in the third quarter, 24-21.

The next two touchdowns came in overtime to senior wide receiver Josh Derry in the first overtime period and redshirt sophomore tight end Grayson Brousseau for the game-winning touchdown in second overtime.

Jenkins became UCF’s first Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week since Dillon Gabriel and its third quarterback to receive a Manning Star of the Week since 2019.

As Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, he joins a group that includes former UCF running backs RJ Harvey and Jaden Nixon.

Jenkins will make his next start against the Baylor Bears this Friday for UCF’s tenth annual Space Game, as redshirt senior quarterback Alonza Barnett III continues to heal from injury.

Tyren Hornes earns True Freshman of the Week honors

In UCF’s historic victory, a young star emerged in true freshman wide receiver Tyren Hornes, who had his breakout game in his first start against the Cougars.

Hornes finished Saturday’s matchup with 137 yards on six catches, earning him 247Sports Freshman of the Week honors.

The former four-star recruit had a handful of impact plays for the Knights in their statement win, proving to be a tough weapon for BYU’s defense to contain.

Late in the first half, Jenkins found Hornes as he rolled to his left for a 30-yard gain, setting up the Knights just outside the red zone. The drive ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chambers to take a 17-14 lead before halftime.

With 7:01 left in the third quarter, the Knights faced a 3rd and 17 in their own territory. A screen pass by Jenkins to Hornes ignited a 56-yard catch-and-run all the way to the BYU 15-yard line. Jenkins put the finishing touches on that drive with a 1-yard keeper for a touchdown to give UCF a 24-21 lead.

In the second overtime period, the Knights had to go for two after a touchdown pass to Brousseau. Evading defenders, Jenkins found Hornes in the back corner of the end zone to solidify a 39-31 lead before the game ended on defense.

As the season continues, the Knights will keep finding ways to involve the young player in their offense.

Atticus Bertrams named to Ray’s 8

Finally, one of the unsung heroes of this UCF roster, senior punter Atticus Bertrams was named to the Ray Guy Award Ray’s 8, an honor recognizing the best punters in college football.

In UCF’s victory over No. 2 BYU on Saturday, half of Bertrams’ four punts pinned the Cougars inside their own 20-yard line.

Each punt averaged 48.0 yards. The Cougars did not score on three of his four punts on their ensuing drives.

The Sydney, Australia native ranks 10th in FBS punting and second in the Big 12 Conference, averaging 46.4 yards per punt. The punter ahead of him in the Big 12 is Baylor’s own Palmer Williams.

The two will meet this Friday in UCF’s tenth annual Space Game at the Acrisure Bounce House at 7:30 p.m.