ORLANDO — UCF takes the field for its 2024 football opener one week from Thursday, welcoming Football Championship Subdivision program New Hampshire to the Bounce House.
It’s Year 2 in the Big 12 Conference for the Knights, picked to finish eighth in the league’s preseason media poll. They dug an 0-5 hole in league play from the outset last season, but rallied to win three of their last four games to achieve bowl eligibility. Still, a disappointing 30-17 defeat in the Gasparilla Bowl to Georgia Tech marked the first losing record of Gus Malzahn‘s collegiate coaching career.
Changes were made, both to the coaching staff and to the roster. More than 40 new players joined the squad from the NCAA’s transfer portal and the high school ranks, and Malzahn named Tim Harris Jr. and Ted Roof as his offensive and defensive coordinators.
UCF Knights football: The News-Journal’s 2024 preseason coverage in one place
Harboring competition while building camaraderie has been the primary objective for UCF’s coaches over the course of three scrimmages and, as of Thursday morning, 19 practice sessions.
“It’s been a very demanding, very physical camp, and the guys have responded,” Malzahn said Saturday. “I think we have a really good idea how we’ll respond in adversity. I think that’s very important.
“We’re in a better spot than we were this time last year. But we’ve got to keep working. The job’s not done.”
UCF will release its first official depth chart Monday, with starters and backups listed at each position. Based on the the limited portions of practice open to the media, and comments from players and coaches throughout fall camp, here is The News-Journal’s projection for the Knights’ offensive, defensive and special teams starters.
Note: Players’ heights, weights, eligibility status and hometowns are listed in parentheses.
UCF projected offensive starters
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QB: KJ Jefferson (6-3, 247, 5th, Sardis, Miss.)
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RB: RJ Harvey (5-9, 208, 5th, Orlando)
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WR: Kobe Hudson (6-1, 200, 5th, Pine Mountain, Ga.)
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WR: Trent Whittemore (6-4, 211, RSr., Gainesville)
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SWR: Xavier Townsend (5-11, 185, Jr., Tampa)
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TE: Randy Pittman Jr. (6-2, 225, So., Panama City)
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LT: Amari Kight (6-7, 318, 5th, Birmingham, Ala.)
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LG: Adrian Medley (6-5, 305, 5th, Pensacola)
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C: Caden Kitler (6-3, 295, RSo., Dallas, Texas)
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RG: Marcellus Marshall (6-5, 310, Sr., Morgantown, W. Va.)
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RT: Paul Rubelt (6-10, 330, RSr., Frankfurt-Oder, Germany)
Analysis: Jefferson, Harvey and Hudson are among the obvious inclusions in UCF’s base 11 personnel. UCF offensive coodinator Tim Harris Jr. said recently the team will explore using more two-tight end sets, with Evan Morris and Grant Stevens expected to see expanded roles. Whittemore is listed as the second starting receiver on the perimeter, but it’s likely this will end up being an “OR” situation on the official depth chart. Chauncey Magwood, Ja’Varrius Johnson, Jarrad Baker and Jacoby Jones are also vying for reps. Similarly, the right side of the offensive line is fluid. Marshall will be the team’s swingman, making starts at three positions last year and recently working in practice as the second-team center. If Marshall instead slides outside and plays right tackle, Samford transfer Jabari Brooks is likely next in line at right guard.
UCF projected defensive starters
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DE: Malachi Lawrence (6-4, 250, RJr., Louisville, Ky.)
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DT: Lee Hunter (6-4, 320, RJr., Mobile, Ala.)
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DT: Ricky Barber (6-3, 295, 5th, Louisville, Ky.)
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DE: Kaven Call (6-3, 240, So., Apopka)
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MLB: Ethan Barr (6-3, 245, 5th, Flower Mound, Texas)
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WLB: Deshawn Pace (6-2, 220, 5th, Cincinnati, Ohio)
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CB: Brandon Adams (6-3, 190, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.)
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CB: Mac McWilliams (5-10, 185, RSr., Pensacola)
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NB: Braeden Marshall (5-10, 175, So., Lake Mary)
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S: Ladarius Tennison (5-10, 200, 5th, Rockledge)
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S: Sheldon Arnold (6-1, 191, 5th, Loganville, Ga.)
Analysis: Opposite of Lawrence, the other defensive end spot is wide open. Nyjalik Kelly is healthy and was running with the 1s at various points of last week’s open portion of practice. Pace will likely move around the field, and Xe’Ree Alexander will factor in heavy at weakside linebacker. Spring portal additions McWilliams and Arnold, multiyear starters at UAB and East Tennessee State, have impressed in the secondary. Marshall nearly broke camp as the starting nickelback last fall as a true freshman, and he went on to make three starts in Big 12 play. Expect lots of rotation among the DBs, especially as safety Demari Henderson works himself back into game shape after recovering from a knee injury.
UCF projected starting specialists
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K: Colton Boomer (5-10, 175, Jr., Lake Mary)
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P: Mitch McCarthy (6-5, 230, Jr., Melbourne, Australia)
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LS: Gage King (6-4, 250, 5th, El Dorado Hills, Calif.)
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KR: Johnny Richardson (5-7, 175, 5th, Lake Wales)
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PR: Xavier Townsend (5-11, 185, Jr., Tampa)
Analysis: UCF will hope Boomer gets back to his best after a second-half slump. He finished the year 13 of 21 on field goal attempts and 48 for 50 on PATs. There were high points in 2023, however, as Boomer became the second kicker in school history to make multiple kicks of at least 50 yards in the same game, earning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors against Boise State. McCarthy has appeared in 25 games for the Knights, averaging 41.3 yards per punt last season. Richardson and Townsend handled most of the returns, each possessing the ability to break loose and go the distance. It’s the coverage units that must improve after allowing 22.8 yards per kickoff return (110th in FBS) and 11.8 yards per punt (107th).
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football: Projected depth chart for New Hampshire game
