UCF football prepared to 'take it slow' with new QB Alonza Barnett III

ORLANDO — UCF broke spring camp March 31 with its highest-profile transfer addition sidelined for the portion of practice open to the media.

Redshirt senior quarterback Alonza Barnett III went through stretches with his new squad but did not participate in 11-on-11 tempo reps or individual position-group drills. Knights coach Scott Frost said following the first of his team’s 15 practices that he was prepared to “take it slow” with Barnett as he recovers from an undisclosed injury.

“He’s just dealing with a couple little things. We don’t want to push it,” Frost said. “He’s been doing an unbelievable job in offseason workouts with the guys and getting himself ready.

“We’ll get reps out of him out of spring. He’s obviously taking mental reps right now. A guy that’s played as much football as him, we’ve just got to make sure he’s good to go come fall. He’s picking up everything so fast that it’s not a concern to me at all.”

Barnett, UCF’s first announced signing of the 2026 transfer portal class, won Sun Belt Player of the Year honors as James Madison won the conference and snatched an automatic bid into the College Football Playoff.

Over the last two seasons, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Barnett has thrown for 5,404 yards with 49 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has added 1,031 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground.

“He’s an experienced guy, made a lot of plays and throws last year,” UCF senior wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. said. “He’s played the best of the best. Just learning from him and seeing what he knows, what he has, watching his game, it’s kind of inspiring. I’m just ready for the season, to play with him.”

UCF, meanwhile, has gone 9-15 and cycled through six starting quarterbacks in that timeframe: KJ Jefferson, EJ Colson, Jacurri Brown, Dylan Rizk, Cam Fancher and Tayven Jackson — none of whom are still with the team.

“It’s always good when you know who the leader is,” Frost said. “You know where your eyes are supposed to go and who’s the one talking that you need to listen to. That’s where we are going to be as soon as (Barnett) is out there going.”

The Knights signed another pair of transfer quarterbacks, Kaleb Annett and Keyone Jenkins, and two high school seniors that enrolled early, Rocco Marriott and Dante Carr. They will compete through the fall for the second- and third-string spots on the depth chart.

Other UCF football injury updates

In addition, three expected starting defenders were available only in a limited capacity Tuesday morning: defensive end Sincere Edwards, defensive tackle Horace Lockett Jr. and cornerback Antione Jackson. Edwards (foot) and Lockett (pectoral) underwent season-ending surgeries during the 2025 campaign.

“Both of them are tracking really good,” Frost said. “Horace was actually able to do some indy. The only thing he can’t do right now is punch a sled. But we’ve got him up and moving around. I watch Sincere run almost every day. He’s getting better and better coming off the foot.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football QB Alonza Barnett III misses 1st spring practice