UCF’s Landen Chambers Is a Top-10 Graded Big 12 Running Back

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Landen Chambers has yet to play a down of Power Four football, but Pro Football Focus believes he is the sixth-best running back in the Big 12.

PFF gave the Central Arkansas transfer an 85.0 grade. He's firmly above Utah's duo Wayshawn Parker and Steve Chavez-Soto (81.0) and slightly below West Virginia's Cam Cook (85.9).

Chambers is aiming to carry over his career performance last year in the FCS into the FBS in the upcoming season. The 5-foot-11 tailback rushed for 1,273 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns at Central Arkansas.

UCF added its first 1,000-yard rusher since RJ Harvey ran for a league-best 1,577 yards in 2024. Harvey carried the Knights' offense in a losing season, finishing with the third-most rushing touchdowns at 22.

The running game was a weakness in 2025 despite possessing a talented backfield in Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon. Montgomery was the short-yardage workhorse (4.9 yards per carry), and Nixon was the big-play speedster (longest run is 87 yards).

Together, they combined for fewer total yards than Chambers (1,259) and one more touchdown. Questions arose about the position after the duo's eligibility expired because UCF was losing valuable production with little youth to replace them.

Confidence was regained with the additions of the Central Arkansas transfer and Louisville transfer Duke Watson. Coach Scott Frost said Chambers' tape stood out to him when evaluating players during January's transfer portal cycle.

"It really got my attention because of his size, his balance and his ability to stay on his feet through contact," Frost told reporters on Jan 29."We didn't really have a big back last year, and I think he's going to be a little different than the rest of the guys we have."

It isn't the first time the Knights' potential lead back has received recognition. Pro Football Sports Network graded him as a top-10 transfer running back (88.0).

Chambers can help UCF turn heads in the Big 12, as the program has consistently finished in the bottom half of preseason power rankings. The Knights were ranked 11th in June's iteration, and it's likely influenced by their horrendous 7-20 conference record in the past three seasons.

Strengthening the running back depth could diversify the offense more, with Chambers as a potential starter. A dynamic, young 1,000-yard rusher is hard to find, and Frost brought one from the FCS level up to the FBS.

As a highly touted transfer running back in a stacked Power Four conference, the Keller, Texas native said he is willing to do everything the coaches need him to do to succeed and help the Knights win.

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