Navigating the Transfer Portal: UCF Knights' Quarterback and Key Position Overhauls for the Future
The landscape of college football is ever-changing, and the transfer portal has become a pivotal tool for teams to reshape their rosters quickly. The UCF Knights football team has been actively utilizing this mechanism to address key position needs and build a competitive team. With the transfer portal playing a significant role, UCF has been proactive in both retaining talent and acquiring new players to bolster their roster.
Quarterback Carousel: Rebuilding the Room
The quarterback position has seen a complete overhaul for the Knights. The departures of multiple quarterbacks have left the team in need of experienced and capable signal-callers.
Key Losses:
- Tayven Jackson (North Texas)
- Cam Fancher (Michigan State)
- Jacurri Brown (Rice)
- Davi Belfort (James Madison)
- Brock Hansel
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Alonza Barnett III (James Madison)
- Keyone Jenkins (Florida International)
- Kaleb Annett (Boise State)
Roster Holdovers: None
Incoming Freshmen:
- Rocco Marriott (Platte City, Mo.)
- Dante Carr (Minersville, Pa.)
The quarterback room is entirely new. Alonza Barnett III, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, is expected to step in as the starter. He brings impressive credentials, having recorded 2,806 passing yards, 589 rushing yards, and 38 touchdowns, leading James Madison to a College Football Playoff spot. Keyone Jenkins, with three years of starting experience at FIU, is likely to be the primary backup. The potential of developing Rocco Marriott and Dante Carr into becoming the starter in less than a calendar year remains a remote one, UCF needs to look for experience in the transfer portal position.
Addressing Defensive Needs: Defensive Tackle and Linebacker
The Knights have also experienced significant changes in their defensive personnel, particularly at defensive tackle and linebacker. The transfer portal has become a popular place for UCF linebackers, though it is not the only culprit for how thin it is now. All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Lewis Carter's plans might still be unknown, but he is one of three linebackers, alongside Troy Ford Jr. and Phil Picciotti, with a chance at a return.
Read also: Transfer Impact on NSU Football
Defensive Tackle: Replenishing Depth
The UCF Knights entered this offseason with 10 defensive tackles on the roster. Five of them are now expected to get in the transfer portal. The departure of John Walker, who started all 12 games, is a significant loss.
Key Losses:
- John Walker (Ohio State)
- Rodney Lora (Purdue)
- Derrick LeBlanc (Maryland)
- Andrew Rumph (Jacksonville State)
- Tyreek'e Robinson (East Tennessee State)
- Keshaun Hudson (Jackson State)
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Thomas Collins (Oregon State)
- Brad Gurley Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)
- Josh Schell (Tennessee)
- Artavius Jones (Miami)
Roster Holdovers:
- Horace Lockett Jr.
- RJ Jackson Jr.
- Jeffson Lafontant
- Trenton Turner
Incoming Freshmen:
- Noah Mercer (Key West, Fla.)
- Isaiah McNish (Apopka, Fla.)
Even if RJ Jackson Jr. and a rehabbed Horace Lockett take over the starting jobs in the defensive tackle room, there still would remain the issue of getting them depth so that the starters can get periods of rest if they need to. Early signee Noah Mercer might be able to help with that, but he is still just one player who is set to graduate from high school in a few months. The Knights have added Thomas Collins, Brad Gurley Jr., Josh Schell, and Artavius Jones to bolster the defensive line.
Linebacker: Rebuilding the Core
The linebacker corps has also seen significant turnover.
Key Losses:
- Cole Kozlowski (graduation)
- Keli Lawson (graduation)
- TJ Bullard (Florida)
- Troy Ford Jr.
- Kam Moore (Arkansas State)
- Malakhi Boone
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Jahleel Culbreath (Old Dominion)
- Tackett Curtis (Wisconsin)
- Rashad Henry (UMass)
Roster Holdovers:
- Lewis Carter
- Jayden Jennings
- Phil Picciotti
Incoming Freshmen:
- Preston Hall (Missouri City, Texas)
- Matthew Occhipinti (Ramsey, N.J.)
This drain on the Knights' linebacker room comes from the combination of three players running out of eligibility alongside another three entering the transfer portal. Early Signees Preston Hall and Matthew Occhipinti may help fill out the room's depth, but it still leaves several open spots that UCF can fill in the transfer portal. Jahleel Culbreath, Tackett Curtis, and Rashad Henry have been brought in to strengthen the linebacker unit.
Additional Position Group Adjustments
Running Backs
Key Losses:
- Myles Montgomery (graduated)
- Jaden Nixon (graduated)
- Stacy Gage (LSU)
- Tyler Wrenn
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Landen Chambers (Central Arkansas)
- Duke Watson (Louisville)
Roster Holdovers:
- Taevion Swint
- Agyeman Addae
- Chance Nixon
Incoming Freshmen:
- Arthur Lewis IV (St. Johns, Fla.)
- Kaj Baker (Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
Wide Receivers
Key Losses:
- DJ Black (South Carolina)
- Marcus Burke (graduation)
- Chris Domercant (graduation)
- Bredell Richardson (Tulane)
- Carl Jenkins Jr. (Miami (Ohio))
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Josh Derry (Monmouth)
- Jonathan Bibbs (Louisiana-Monroe)
Roster Holdovers:
- Duane Thomas Jr.
- Waden Charles
- DayDay Farmer
- Caleb Rollerson
- Jordyn Bridgewater
- Andrea Parisi
- Zack Palmer
- Carson Hinshaw
- Chase Hinshaw
Incoming Freshmen:
- Tyren Hornes (Sarasota, Fla.)
- Jordan Nunuha (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
Tight Ends
Key Losses:
- Kylan Fox (Purdue)
- Max Drag (South Carolina)
- Deebo Coleman (graduation)
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Grayson Brousseau (Oklahoma State)
Roster Holdovers:
- Dylan Wade
- Caden Piening
- Thomas Wadsworth
Incoming Freshmen:
- Brooks Hall (Platte City, Mo.)
Offensive Line
Key Losses:
- Paul Rubelt (graduation)
- Carter Miller (South Carolina)
- Cameron Kinnie (graduation)
- Jabari Brooks (graduation)
- Keegan Smith (graduation)
- Gaard Memmelaar (graduation)
- Jaquez Joiner (Marshall)
- Thomas Gearity (Colgate)
- Patrick Barnett (Fresno State)
- Colin Cook (graduation)
- Andrew Phelan (retired)
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Henry Tabansi (Buffalo)
- Brady Wayburn (UConn)
- Cooper Terpstra (Michigan State)
- Tyler Gibson (Charlotte)
Roster Holdovers:
- Preston Cushman
- Connor Meadows
- Owen Spell
- Justin Royes
- LaParka Langston
- Dominick Campbell
- Jacob Maiava
- Shaheem Hill
- Matthew Prigmore
- Camp Lott
- Raishaun McHaney
- Noah Senka
- Ethan Higgins
Incoming Freshmen:
- Kasiyah Charlton (Brunswick, Ga.)
- Amahn Williams (Marion, Mass.)
Edge Rushers
Key Losses:
- Malachi Lawrence (graduation)
- Nyjalik Kelly (draft)
- Jamaal Johnson (Northwestern)
- Josh Dorsainvil
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Bruno Dall (Akron)
- Ken Talley (Arkansas)
- LA Jessie Harold (Florida State)
Roster Holdovers:
- Sincere Edwards
- Isaiah Nixon
- Aymeric Koumba
- Quentin Hatch
Incoming Freshmen:
- Alhassan Iddrissu (Oakdale, Conn.)
Defensive Backs
Key Losses:
- Phillip Dunnam (graduation)
- Jaeden Gould (Temple)
- Ja'Cari Henderson (Appalachian State)
- Jyaire Brown (Southern Mississippi)
- Isaiah Reed (UMass)
- Jaylen Heyward (Arkansas State)
- Christian Peterson (East Carolina)
- Jakob Gude (Appalachian State)
- Tony Williams (Kennesaw State)
- Chase Jarrett (Colgate)
- Hudson Gibbs (retired)
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Ty Bartrum (Harvard)
- Jailen Duffie (North Dakota State)
- Matt Irwin (Idaho)
- Caleb Flagg (Missouri)
- Kahmel Johnson (Wayne State-Neb.)
- Antonio Branch Jr. (Colorado)
Roster Holdovers:
- Jayden Bellamy
- Antione Jackson
- Braeden Marshall
- Demari Henderson
- DJ Bell
- Jayden Williams
- Rukeem Stroud
- Nick Antoine
- Terrell Jackson
- Donnell Johnson
Incoming Freshmen:
- Elijah Keys (Neptune Beach, Fla.)
- Amarion Queen (Stuart, Fla.)
Specialists
Key Losses:
- Noe Ruelas (graduation)
- Dalton Riggs (Ohio State)
Transfer Portal Acquisitions:
- Will Stone (Texas)
- Atticus Bertrams (Wisconsin)
- Kyle Hicks (Tennessee State)
Roster Holdovers:
- Anthony Venneri
- Noah McGough
- Mason Denaburg
- Rocklyn Kelley
Incoming Freshmen: None
Read also: The Legacy of UCLA Quarterbacks
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