Key themes, questions, and concerns for the Knights
The UCF Knights football team is undergoing a period of transition in 2025. While there is excitement for the new regime led by Head Coach Scott Frost, there are also a lot of questions and unknowns. Let’s review some of the main ones, ABC style:
Alex Grinch – The new Knights defensive coordinator comes to Orlando two years removed from being fired in-season as the USC Trojans defensive coordinator. At the time of his dismissal, Grinch’s unit was allowing 34.5 points per game, while also ranking 107th in the country in pass defense and 120th in rushing defense. However, Grinch did have success at prior stops in his career, including 2017 at Washington State and 2019 at Oklahoma, where he was named a Broyles Award semi-finalist, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. UCF head coach Scott Frost, who himself is hoping to rekindle some 2017 magic, hopes that Grinch can also do the same, taking him back to the time when his defense at Washington State was in the top 10 in the nation in takeaways (28). There are some in the national media who think the style of defense Grinch runs suits the athletes he’ll likely have at UCF. That, plus a perceived chip on the shoulder, would be an ideal recipe for the Knights, who will likely need their defense to be in the top half of the conference if they want to compete in 2025.
Blocking – At Big 12 Media Day, head coach Scott Frost called sixth-year senior offensive tackle Paul Rubelt an ambassador for UCF, a fitting moniker considering both his physical stature, and his role on the offensive line. As the returning veteran starter, Rubelt will anchor a line of transfers and new faces tasked with learning the offensive scheme installed by Frost, offensive coordinator Steve Cooper, and offensive line coach Shawn Clark. While starters have not yet been declared, newcomers Gaard Memmelaar (guard), Carter Miller (center), Preston Cushman (tackle), and Connor Meadows (tackle) will likely figure into the picture on the new-look line. Regardless of the battles playing out to make the two-deep, the Knights will need to consistently win battles up front if they want to have success in the 2025 season.
Crowd Noise – In 2019, 247 Sports ranked The Bounce House as the fourth toughest environment in college football. Fast forward to 2024, when a barren Bounce House crowd booed former head coach Gus Malzahn as he exited the field after a lopsided 28-14 loss to Utah to end the season with a 4-8 record. As the kids say – life comes at you fast. However, there is a renewed energy with the return of head coach Scott Frost, and if UCF wants to see results on the field turnaround, they’ll need that energy to translate to packed crowds with loud voices. The easiest way to re-create the raucous Bounce House energy is to put W’s on the board, but with the program undergoing a hard reset, can Knights fans show some good faith and patience while still packing the stadium? Let’s hope, as we have all seen that a loud and engaged crowd can give the team a boost, an intangible that will likely be needed in 2025.
Depth – The transition from the AAC to the Big 12 has brought many challenges for the Knights on the field, evidenced by their 5-13 overall record in the first two seasons. While UCF has stocked talent in spots all over the field in the Big 12 era, they have often come up short in having depth at key positions. There have been various times over the past two seasons where an opposing team starts to lean on the UCF defense late in the second half by running the ball over and over until they break a long one and put the game away (2023 vs West Virginia comes to mind). There have also been times when the Knights have lost a key player to injury (or, let’s face it, a transfer opt-out), and struggled to find a suitable replacement or production. For the 2025 Knights to be successful, they’ll need to have solid depth at key positions, namely the front 7 on defense and across the offensive line. Scott Frost and his staff prioritized both positions in the portal, but can they develop all of them to be ready to go when their number is called?
Eyes Around – With a new defensive coaching staff and scheme being installed, here’s to hoping that the Knights defensive backs abandon the technique that often had them seemingly unaware of the ball while in flight. While it is entirely possible that this strategy was employed based on personnel or matchups, one would like to see the defensive backs be more aggressive and make a play on the ball to either force a pass break-up, or better yet, a turnover. In 2024, the Knights only recorded nine interceptions, ranking tied for 84th in the county. While interceptions are not solely a DB stat, the Knights could stand to give themselves more chances in 2025.
Field Goal Kicking – The Knights will be on their third different starting placekicker in the past two years, with both Colton Boomer and Grant Reddick no longer with the program. In steps Noe Ruelas, a redshirt senior who played the 2024 season at James Madison, where he was 16 for 20 on Field Goal attempts. Throughout his career, which included a stop at Connecticut, Ruelas has a career 77.5% field goal make percentage, an improvement from the 67% and 71% from Reddick and Boomer, respectively. And while he might not have a cool chant that can be shouted after a made kick, let’s hope Ruelas can settle in and become something Knights fans haven’t had in a while, consistent.
Get to the Quarterback – One of the tenets of a solid defense is the ability to get to the quarterback, an area where UCF has struggled over the past few seasons. UCF totaled 22 sacks in the 2024 season, which for context, in Scott Frost’s first season at UCF, Shaquem Griffin himself tallied 11.5 sacks. While it’s true that Shaquem isn’t walking through the locker room door, UCF should have enough talent, specifically on the defensive front, to wreak some havoc in the backfield. Scott Frost shared that defensive end Nyjalik Kelly was a one-man wrecking crew at times in spring camp, and he, coupled with returning edge Malachi Lawrence and Pitt transfer Sincere Edwards, gives the Knights a formidable chance up front. It’s also fair to point out that sacks are not the only way to impact the QB, getting pressure up the middle and creating a dirty pocket can also disrupt an offense and cause off-schedule plays.
H-Back – First, let’s define the definition of an H-Back, per our friend, the internet: An H-back is a versatile offensive position, like a combo tight end or fullback…a hybrid role where the player lines up off the line of scrimmage…the H-back’s versatility allows for creative offensive play designs and mismatches against defenses. The attributes versatile, hybrid, and mismatch seem to be calling cards of the offensive system we have seen Scott Frost run in the past. Luckily, UCF might have just the player to fit this profile in 6’4”, 229-pound sophomore Kylan Fox. In an offense that will be looking to find consistent weapons, Frost and Co. might be wise to find ways to add some wrinkles that allow Fox to show off his skill set.
I Don’t Care, Just Win – An ode to a Knight we lost too soon, James Reid, aka CostSegAdvisor. James always had a way of cutting through all of the bickering and banter on the internet by posting a simple GIF that read “I don’t care, just win”. There will be some ups and downs this season, and things could even get ugly at times, but this simple refrain will always remind Knight Nation to keep the main thing, the main thing.
John Walker – He walked onto campus in the spring of 2023 as the highest rated recruit in UCF history. His decision to become a Knight seemed a coup, and opened up the possibility that more high-level local recruits might follow suit. After a solid freshman campaign, expectations were high for Walker coming into 2024, that is, before injuries sidelined him for the season. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Knights this offseason, and by all accounts he is healthy and ready to go. With the departures of Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter, Walker will have the opportunity to establish himself as the dominant player across the re-made defensive line. If things all come together, Walker has a great opportunity to have a breakout season for the Knights.
Kick Protection – While big, flashy plays draw eyeballs and excitement, fundamentals often win (or lose) games. In 2024, the only thing fundamental about UCF’s special teams is that they were fundamentally bad. The Knights allowed four blocked kicks in 2024, ranking them 124th out of 132 teams. Scott Frost and new Special Teams Coordinator Pete Alamar cleaned house and brought in a new specialist group, but the rest of the protection unit will come from position players on offense and defense. Alamar comes to UCF with over 20 years of special teams experience, so hopefully he’ll be able to turn the tide on the all-important third unit.
Linebackers – A key piece of football real estate to own and patrol for any defensive unit is the middle of the formation, usually where the linebackers roam. For the 2025 Knights, a whole new group of players will be tasked with quarterbacking the defense from the middle of the field. Transfers Keli Lawson (Virginia Tech) and Lewis Carter (Oklahoma) are two names that stood out during spring camp, and it would seem they are on track to earn starting spots. As mentioned earlier, depth at this position will also be important, which is why players such as Cole Kozlowski (Colgate), Jayden McDonald (Virginia Tech), Phil Picciotti (Oklahoma), and Troy Ford, Jr could also play a pivotal role. This Knights defense could really get humming if they can get consistent tackling, run-stopping ability, and decision-making from the guys in the middle.
Myles Montgomery – Even though the senior running back stands at only 5’11” and 205 pounds, his stature on this team somehow feels larger than his listed size. One of only a handful of returning players, Montgomery showed flashes of excitement last year, serving as the primary backup to RJ Harvey. This year, he comes into the season with a chip on his shoulder, motivated to show his talent. We know that Scott Frost wants to run the football, and Montgomery has a golden opportunity to become the centerpiece of this offense if he can replicate the 5.3 yards per carry he averaged over his last two seasons. Now, we also know that Frost isn’t afraid to rotate running backs and play younger guys, but when it’s crunch time, #22 could make the difference.
North Carolina – While there are no guarantees in life and football, the first two games on UCF’s schedule should be winnable if the Knights show up and are ready to play. That potentially puts the Knights at 2-0 heading into their September 20th showdown with North Carolina, coached by Bill Belichick. As the only P4 non-conference game on the schedule, the matchup with the Tar Heels will be a great litmus test of where the Knights are heading into their conference schedule. While it is tough to get a gauge on how good UNC will be based on the roster turnover, if they are able to beat TCU in their season opener, it is likely they will be 3-0 as they head down to Orlando for the game. A UCF win in this scenario will certainly draw some eyeballs due to the Belichick factor, but it will also provide this team with a level of confidence as they prepare to walk into Manhattan, Kansas the following week.
Opening Drives – An all too familiar scene for UCF in the Gus Malzahn era was watching the team execute a solid start on the opening drive down the field, only to make a bonehead play in plus territory that derailed a chance at a touchdown. The Knights need to get back to better scripting and execution of plays on their opening drive to get points on the board and set the tempo for the game. This is particularly true when UCF is first out on offense, as starting with a 7-0 (or 8-0 if you remember the Frost 1.0 tenure) would appear to be advantageous.
Penalties – The only thing worse than a yellow flag fest, is a yellow flag fest at the most crucial times of the game. For the Knights to have success in 2025, they have to play with discipline and control penalties, especially at key times of the game. Using his UCF history as a measure, Scott Frost’s first tenure at UCF saw his teams average 7 and 9 penalties in 2016 and 2017, which is more than this past season, where UCF averaged 6.5. With the roster turnover and implementation of new schemes, it will be important that the coaching staff teaches discipline and accountability to hopefully eliminate mistakes. It’s one thing to lose to a team because they have more talent, but UCF can’t afford to give away games due to a lack of self-discipline.
Quarterback – Perhaps the easiest and most obvious key, it is also the most unknown going into the season. Scott Frost has made it clear that he thinks he has three quarterbacks he can win with, presumably referring to Tayven Jackson, Jacurri Brown, and Cam Fancher, and while it might be true that Frost trusts all three, at some point, he is going to have to choose one to take the ball and lead this team. Using history as our guide, we know that a QB in Frost’s system has to be able to run and throw, make good, quick decisions, and operate with tempo. Luckily, the QBs have access to Knights QB coach McKenzie Milton, who himself learned this system on the fly in 2016, before mastering it to great success in 2017. And just like Milton circa 2016, all of the current QBs are learning and adapting to the offensive scheme while also getting acclimated to their teammates and skill position players. Meaning, Knights fans might need to resign themselves to the fact that the most important goal for 2025 is to find a QB who can run the system and keep the Knights competitive in each game.
Red Zone – With all of the potential uncertainty on offense, if UCF is able to get the ball in the red zone, it is going to be imperative that they walk away with points. Obviously, touchdowns are preferable, but even three points is better than nothing. Of even more interest will be the way that Scott Frost chooses to attack in the red zone. Will the “wild Knight” package stay around? Will there be a goal line QB option? Or, what about a big tight end like Dylan Wade or Thomas Wadsworth? There are options, but let’s hope those options wind up in the end zone.
Situational Awareness – Football games can often be won or lost in the margins as much as they can on big plays. If the Knights want to sneak up on some teams and steal a game or two they aren’t supposed to win, they’ll need to have strong situational awareness. Basically, the smarter team often wins the game. This includes clock management, time-out usage, substitutions, fourth-down calls, paying attention to down and distance, etc. With an inexperienced and nomadic team, Scott Frost and the Knights cannot afford to give away games through poor decision-making or strategy.
Turnover Ratio – In the history of football, no team has gone an entire season without ever turning the ball over (Note: I did not fact check this, but it has to be true, right?), which means the Knights will likely commit some turnovers in 2025. While not all turnovers are created equal, the ability to minimize mistakes is an important thing when you want to win games. However, another telling metric to look at is turnover ratio, meaning the number of times you turn the ball over versus the number of turnovers you generate. In 2024, the Knights had a turnover ratio of -8, which was tied for 114th in the country out of 131 teams. This is such a telling statistic because it literally involves all three phases of the game, which means Scott Frost and his staff will have to make this a team priority if they want to improve.
Underdog Mentality – When the Knights met the swarm of media at Big 12 Media Days in early July, two things were clear: they knew they were considered underdogs, and, they were embracing that mindset. Most media pundits have projected UCF to finish in the bottom four in the Big 12, and let’s face it, there are plausible reasons for them to hold that opinion. However, this should be of no concern to this Knights football team when they take the field each week. Screw the critics and pundits who don’t believe, and instead, embrace the moment and band together as brothers to prove all of the doubters wrong. Besides, something just feels right about a UCF Knights team being counted out, as history has proven that some of the best moments in school history came from the same backdrop.
Visiting Team – Since entering the Big 12, the Knights are 2-7 in conference road games, winning one each year over their two-year stint. While perhaps a daunting task, this Knights team could really announce their arrival if they can steal a couple of road games from the 2025 schedule. This won’t be easy with trips to Manhattan, Waco, Lubbock, and Provo on the docket, but if the Knights are going to earn bowl eligibility, they will almost certainly need to win a game in a visiting stadium. Perhaps the bright spot for this team is that with 70 plus new players and a new coaching staff, they don’t know anything about the struggles on the road over the past two seasons.
Wide Receivers – There has been a lot of talk about the QB position, and rightfully so, but the position that probably has the most question marks is wide receiver. Only transfer Marcus Burke has ever caught a pass playing for a P4 team. Fellow newcomers DJ Black, Duane Thomas Jr, and Chris Domercant have some game experience at either the G5 or FCS level, making this their first opportunity to play at the power level. The Knights will also have some young and unproven talent in true freshman Carl Jenkins Jr and Waden Charles, to go along with redshirt freshman Bredell Richardson and Jordyn Bridgewater. All of this adds up to the realization that this group will be young and largely inexperienced. If Scott Frost wants his offense to click, he’ll need somebody from this group to step up and become a consistent target.
X-tra Everything – In one of his media availabilities during spring camp, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said, “effort isn’t extra” in response to what he wants to see from his unit. However, extra is exactly what this team will need if they want to surprise some people in 2025. Hustling to the ball, getting downfield for a block, gang tackling the ball carrier, etc. need to be staples of this team. Another famous UCF mantra that was coined by wide receiver coach and UCF Hall of Famer Sean Beckton, “no block, no rock” is a further example of the mentality that needs to be embraced by this current group of players. Talent alone doesn’t always win games, but the teams that have discipline and do a little extra of everything often find themselves on the right side.
Youth Movement – One of the loud refrains from fans during the 2024 season was for the UCF coaching staff to play some of the younger talent on the roster in an effort to develop their skills. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, or when it did, it was too late to matter. Many of those young players are now gone, replaced by another new crop of young players fighting to get on the field for the Knights. If we know anything about Scott Frost, it’s that he is not afraid to play younger players if they earn the right to be on the field. Based on the construction of this roster, that might be a good thing, since UCF will have to find a way to assemble units that can be competitive week in and week out.
Zoom Out – Wins and losses might not be the best way to define the 2025 team. Like it or not, UCF Football is in the midst of a hard reset in literally every facet of the program that will likely be a multi-year effort. A change of this magnitude will take time, and there will probably be some ugly moments sprinkled throughout. Success might come in finding the key players on this team, developing talent, and getting acclimated with offensive and defensive schemes, as opposed to strictly looking at the standings. Don’t get it twisted, this team has to win some games, but fans should keep their eyes open for other victories that won’t always appear on the scoreboard. While it might seem naïve and overly homerish to say, this season might be best remembered for what it built, not what it accomplished.
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