Knights aim to build on perfection QB Milton leads a loaded offense and could make a run at Heisman Trophy
New UCF coach Josh Heupel doesn’t want his team resting on its laurels.
Sure, the Knights are coming off an undefeated season, winning a conference championship and the Peach Bowl. UCF athletics director Danny White declared the team national champions, a claim later backed up by the ColleyMatrix, one of the official rankings used by the NCAA to determine its champions.
But the Knights have turned the page from last season and moved on.
“You can’t be looking back and live in the past if you want to stay successful in the future; otherwise they’ll surpass you,” UCF linebacker Pat Jasinski said. “If we do exactly what we did last year, it won’t be good enough. I know we’ve got a lot of media attention and our administration has fully backed us. As of right now, we’re focused on what’s next. We’re all excited for this year.”
With a wealth of talent back on offense, including quarterback McKenzie Milton, UCF is No. 18 in Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel’s preseason 2018 college football rankings.
Murschel ranked all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 129 to our projected No. 1 team.
entering overall) UCF Josh Heupel (0-0, first season; 0-0
13-0 (8-0 in American Athletic Conference; first in East Division and conference champions)
Nobody could have imagined UCF would go from winless to perfect in just two seasons, but that’s what the Knights did in 2017. Everything just seemed to click under coach Scott Frost last season. Even a natural disaster couldn’t slow down the team, which was forced to reschedule several games in the wake of Hurricane Irma. UCF eventually went on to capture the American Athletic Conference title, defeating Memphis in a thriller. But afterward, the Knights found out they had lost their coach as Frost announced his decision to leave for alma mater Nebraska. He reached a deal with UCF officials to coach the Knights during the postseason, steering them to a win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The school brought in newcomer Josh Heupel to replace Frost.
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RB Jawon Hamilton, OL Aaron Evans, OL Chavis Dickey, WR Tre’Quan Smith, TE Jordan Akins, TE Jordan Franks, DB Mike Hughes, DB Tre Neal, DL Tony Guerad, DL Jamiyus Pittman, LB Chequan Burkett, LB Shaquem Griffin
QB McKenzie Milton, RB Adrian Killins, OL Wyatt Miller, OL Jordan Johnson, OL Tyler Hudanick, WR Dredrick Snelson, WR Otis Anderson, WR Gabe Davis, TE Michael Colubiale, DB Kyle Gibson, DB Brandon Moore, DL Titus Davis, DL Trysten Hill, LB Pat Jaskinski, P Mac Loudermilk
Milton is coming off a career-best season during which the talented quarterback rewrote the school record books. He passed for 4,037 yards with 37 touchdowns while adding 613 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Milton’s performance earned him AAC Offensive Player of the Year honors and he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Milton has given Heupel rave reviews, lauding the coach who was a star quarterback at Oklahoma and most recently turned Missouri’s offense into an elite attack.
“A lot of it is the same concepts with us manipulating defenders. If they want to stack the box, we’re going to pitch it outside. If they want to stay soft, we’re going to gash them on the inside. We’ve got a lot of good running backs and a lot of good receivers so it’s going to be fun,” Milton said of any differences in offensive philosophy.
One of the deepest and most talented groups is running back. Adrian Killins led the Knights last season with 790 yards and 10 touchdowns. Killins’ explosiveness was clearly demonstrated during his 96-yard touchdown run against Memphis. Veteran Taj McGowan (235 yards, eight touchdowns) and versatile Otis Anderson along with Greg McRae make up a solid mix in the backfield.
Tre’Quan Smith became the first 1,000-yard receiver since Breshard Perriman in 2014 after the senior hauled in 59 catches for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Smith’s departure opens the door for junior Dredrick Snelson, who emerged last season with 695 yards and eight touchdowns.
Three offensive linemen return, led by fifth-year senior Wyatt Miller. Miller started all 13 games at right tackle last season and has 34 career starts, making him the most experienced player among the group. Jordan Johnson is back at center, with the junior earning a preseason spot on the Remington Trophy watch list.
Shaquem Griffin was the heart and soul of the UCF defense last season, with his veteran leadership providing a spark to the group. His departure, along with the exit of linebacker Chequan Burkett, corner Mike Hughes and defensive lineman Jamiyus Pittman, leaves the defense in search of impact players at every position.
New defensive coordinator Randy Shannon is sticking with the 4-3 scheme, but he’s adding some new wrinkles. The line will have a different look, with senior Titus Davis and junior Trysten Hill returning along with seniors Joey Connors and A.J. Wooten.
Linebacker Pat Jaskinski (104 tackles) was the team’s top tackler in 2017 and his return is crucial as the defense searches for leadership.
The offense is loaded with talented players at every skill position led by Milton, who could make a strong case for the Heisman Trophy this year. The offense could be better under Heupel. The defense, however, is unrefined at some spots and may need time to develop. Barring a collapse, UCF should contend for another league title and New Year’s Six bowl bid.