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ORLANDO — It might not have beeen as extensive as last year's roster overhaul, but the UCF Knights did plenty of shopping in the transfer portal.
According to On3's portal tracker, the Knights signed 33 transfers since the conclusion of the 2025 season, one in which they went 5-7 — 0-5 on the road — and missed out on bowl eligibility. Alonza Barnett III, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year who guided James Madison to the College Football Playoff, headlines the group of newcomers.
Knights coach Scott Frost protected the team's investment in Barnett by holding him out of spring camp for precautionary reasons. Barnett's ability to understand the offense, build chemistry with his new targets and elevate the group around him will largely determine the course of the season.
That much is understood; quarterback is the sport's most valuable position. But which of the Knights' other additions will prove their worth?
Here are five important transfers that UCF's football team hopes will lead to a change in fortunes this fall.
Horace Lockett Jr. and RJ Jackson Jr. would appear to be the Knights' starting pair of defensive tackles, but don't be surprised if Oregon State transfer Collins pushes for significant reps out of the gate.
Collins, a 6-foot-1, 295-pound redshirt junior from Gothenburg, Sweden, started all 12 games last year for the Beavers and recorded 30 tackles with 4½ TFLs, a half-sack, six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Two of his TFLs and two of his hurries came in a road loss against Big 12 champion Texas Tech.
Lockett's durability, considering he has played just four games the past two seasons due to hand and pectoral injuries, is a concern. As is the overall depth behind the projected starting pair; John Walker (Ohio State), Rodney Lora (Purdue) and Derrick Leblanc (Maryland) all transferred to Big Ten programs.
There's a lot of internal optimism that Collins can consistently wreck plays in the opposing backfield and perhaps push for all-conference recognition.
UCF desperately needed to find playmakers to boost a sputtering offense that averaged 24.3 points per game in 2025. Based on his performance in spring camp and his All-American credentials at Monmouth, Derry should provide a spark.
He finished third in the Football Championship Subdivision with 13 touchdown receptions, catching 76 balls for 1,123 yards. The 5-foot-9, 182-pound Baltimore native registered six 100-yard games and two with at least 10 grabs.
UCF's top three receivers — Duane Thomas Jr., Dylan Wade and Waden Charles — are all back, and Barnett's presence should boost the stock of the Knights' passing game on the whole. Wade caught five of the team's 12 passing TDs last year, a single-season program record for a tight end.
UCF landed an experienced, accurate kicker in the portal last spring in Noe Ruelas. He had an excellent senior season, making 15 of 17 field goal attempts with a pair of 50-yarders and earning semifinalist recognition for the Lou Groza Award.
This time around, the Knights do not field a placekicker who has made a collegiate field goal.
Stone knocked through a couple of PATs against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl during the 2024 College Football Playoff and served as Texas' kickoff specialist in 47 appearances for his hometown Longhorns.
He'll have a leg up in the competition against redshirt freshman Noah McGough entering fall camp.
While UCF certainly envisions finishing drives with touchdowns, it will need reliability on special teams to avoid leaving points on the board. Margins for error in the Big 12, as the Knights have seen the last three years, are razor thin.
The Knights will roll out three new starters along the offensive line, supporting the projected right-sided duo of guard Connor Meadows and tackle Preston Cushman.
Left tackle is one of the sport's premium positions, both in terms of importance and NIL/rev-share dollars. As one example, LSU paid Jordan Seaton $4 million after his departure from Colorado, according to On3.
The 6-foot-5, 306-pound Tabansi made 25 consecutive starts protecting the blind side for Buffalo. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out at 80 or better (out of 100) in pass protection four times as a redshirt sophomore.
UConn transfer Brady Wayburn and Michigan State transfer Cooper Terpstra are the favorites to start at left guard and center, respectively, while Charlotte transfer Tyler Gibson will compete for reps at tackle or kick inside.
There's plenty of room for improvement for the newcomers. UCF ranked 105th in PFF's run blocking metrics, allowed 20 sacks and committed 40 pre-snap offensive penalties.
Two seasons ago, Watson looked like one of the nation's most electrifying runners at Louisville — averaging an FBS-best 8.9 yards per carry. Injuries and Isaac Brown's emergence for the Cardinals dropped Watson down the depth chart and eventually into the portal.
UCF general manager Trent Mossbrucker recruited the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Georgia while on Louisville's staff and targeted him once he became available. The Knights' top two rushers from 2025, Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon, graduated and signed undrafted free-agent contracts.
Watson and redshirt freshman Taevion Swint are expected to split the workload, and Central Arkansas transfer Landen Chambers will get opportunities as well, especially in short-yardage situations. Frost expressed confidence in his group of ball-carriers and believes its one of the deepest position groups on the team.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 5 transfers that could transform UCF football into Big 12 contenders
Continue reading...
According to On3's portal tracker, the Knights signed 33 transfers since the conclusion of the 2025 season, one in which they went 5-7 — 0-5 on the road — and missed out on bowl eligibility. Alonza Barnett III, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year who guided James Madison to the College Football Playoff, headlines the group of newcomers.
Knights coach Scott Frost protected the team's investment in Barnett by holding him out of spring camp for precautionary reasons. Barnett's ability to understand the offense, build chemistry with his new targets and elevate the group around him will largely determine the course of the season.
That much is understood; quarterback is the sport's most valuable position. But which of the Knights' other additions will prove their worth?
Here are five important transfers that UCF's football team hopes will lead to a change in fortunes this fall.
Thomas Collins
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Horace Lockett Jr. and RJ Jackson Jr. would appear to be the Knights' starting pair of defensive tackles, but don't be surprised if Oregon State transfer Collins pushes for significant reps out of the gate.
Collins, a 6-foot-1, 295-pound redshirt junior from Gothenburg, Sweden, started all 12 games last year for the Beavers and recorded 30 tackles with 4½ TFLs, a half-sack, six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Two of his TFLs and two of his hurries came in a road loss against Big 12 champion Texas Tech.
Lockett's durability, considering he has played just four games the past two seasons due to hand and pectoral injuries, is a concern. As is the overall depth behind the projected starting pair; John Walker (Ohio State), Rodney Lora (Purdue) and Derrick Leblanc (Maryland) all transferred to Big Ten programs.
There's a lot of internal optimism that Collins can consistently wreck plays in the opposing backfield and perhaps push for all-conference recognition.
Josh Derry
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UCF desperately needed to find playmakers to boost a sputtering offense that averaged 24.3 points per game in 2025. Based on his performance in spring camp and his All-American credentials at Monmouth, Derry should provide a spark.
He finished third in the Football Championship Subdivision with 13 touchdown receptions, catching 76 balls for 1,123 yards. The 5-foot-9, 182-pound Baltimore native registered six 100-yard games and two with at least 10 grabs.
UCF's top three receivers — Duane Thomas Jr., Dylan Wade and Waden Charles — are all back, and Barnett's presence should boost the stock of the Knights' passing game on the whole. Wade caught five of the team's 12 passing TDs last year, a single-season program record for a tight end.
Will Stone
You must be registered for see images attach
UCF landed an experienced, accurate kicker in the portal last spring in Noe Ruelas. He had an excellent senior season, making 15 of 17 field goal attempts with a pair of 50-yarders and earning semifinalist recognition for the Lou Groza Award.
This time around, the Knights do not field a placekicker who has made a collegiate field goal.
Stone knocked through a couple of PATs against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl during the 2024 College Football Playoff and served as Texas' kickoff specialist in 47 appearances for his hometown Longhorns.
He'll have a leg up in the competition against redshirt freshman Noah McGough entering fall camp.
While UCF certainly envisions finishing drives with touchdowns, it will need reliability on special teams to avoid leaving points on the board. Margins for error in the Big 12, as the Knights have seen the last three years, are razor thin.
Henry Tabansi
The Knights will roll out three new starters along the offensive line, supporting the projected right-sided duo of guard Connor Meadows and tackle Preston Cushman.
Left tackle is one of the sport's premium positions, both in terms of importance and NIL/rev-share dollars. As one example, LSU paid Jordan Seaton $4 million after his departure from Colorado, according to On3.
The 6-foot-5, 306-pound Tabansi made 25 consecutive starts protecting the blind side for Buffalo. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out at 80 or better (out of 100) in pass protection four times as a redshirt sophomore.
UConn transfer Brady Wayburn and Michigan State transfer Cooper Terpstra are the favorites to start at left guard and center, respectively, while Charlotte transfer Tyler Gibson will compete for reps at tackle or kick inside.
There's plenty of room for improvement for the newcomers. UCF ranked 105th in PFF's run blocking metrics, allowed 20 sacks and committed 40 pre-snap offensive penalties.
Duke Watson
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Two seasons ago, Watson looked like one of the nation's most electrifying runners at Louisville — averaging an FBS-best 8.9 yards per carry. Injuries and Isaac Brown's emergence for the Cardinals dropped Watson down the depth chart and eventually into the portal.
UCF general manager Trent Mossbrucker recruited the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Georgia while on Louisville's staff and targeted him once he became available. The Knights' top two rushers from 2025, Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon, graduated and signed undrafted free-agent contracts.
Watson and redshirt freshman Taevion Swint are expected to split the workload, and Central Arkansas transfer Landen Chambers will get opportunities as well, especially in short-yardage situations. Frost expressed confidence in his group of ball-carriers and believes its one of the deepest position groups on the team.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 5 transfers that could transform UCF football into Big 12 contenders
Continue reading...
