UCF’s focus is the future with an emphasis on recruiting, player retention
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Scott Frost’s re-introduction to college football began a few minutes following a press conference to welcome him back to UCF.
“A couple of players and their agents were waiting outside my office five minutes after I finished, telling me how much money I needed to pay them,” Frost recalled last Wednesday. “I didn’t even know who the kids were.”
It was a wild time for Frost, who had a crash course in the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals, as well as the upcoming revenue-sharing model. All things that didn’t exist in their current forms when he last coached in 2022.
UCF went to work building a roster practically from scratch, adding nearly 70 newcomers, the majority of which arrived from the transfer market. The challenge was introducing a culture that fostered team unity over individual success.
The Knights finished 5-7, missing out on a postseason berth for the second consecutive season. Even before the end of the season, Frost and his staff began identifying players they believe will be crucial pieces for the program’s future.
“We have a lot of the guys that are pieces that we want to build on and build around,” Frost said. “It’s going to be a lot easier for us this year because we know those guys. We know which ones belong, which ones fit us, which ones are doing things the right way, and which ones we’re going to do everything we can to keep here.”
Retention will be an essential part of the process.
UCF doesn’t want to have to replace the majority of its roster like it did last season.
“It’s a process and it’ll probably go on all the way through the end of the portal,” explained Frost. “Those conversations have already started and will continue to take place.”
UCF still processing loss of Shawn Clark, seeks to fill offensive line position
The 15-day transfer portal window runs from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16. Until then, players can only express their intention to transfer.
More than a handful of players have already declared their intent to enter the portal, led by quarterbacks Tayven Jackson and Jacurri Brown.
On the flip side, several players have announced they intend to return next season, including the team’s leading receiver, Duane Thomas Jr.
UCF has also added 13 incoming freshmen as part of its 2026 recruiting class, which ranks 86th in the latest 247Sports composite rankings.
The group features a pair of quarterbacks in 4-star Rocco Marriott and 3-star Dante Carr, along with running back Kaj Baker, linebacker Preston Hall and edge rusher Alhassan Iddrissu.
“A few of those have a chance to come in and help the team right away,” said Frost. “Some others that we’re really excited about, not just where they are, but where they can grow, how far we think they can improve, and how far they can go.”
With a rev-share cap of approximately $18 million for football, UCF has to be smart about how it spends its money, including in recruiting.
“I want to make sure we have a team that has the best chance possible to compete next year,” Frost said. “If you’re spending a lot of money on guys that you don’t think are going to play immediately, then that investment is not helping you win football games immediately. We certainly have a lot of other needs on the team right now and things to fix.
“We’re in a great place to recruit. It was easier for us to find kids and make sure we were getting the right ones who fit us. We’ll be in a better position for that even next year than we were this year.”
Frost understands the importance of this offseason.
UCF hasn’t had a winning season since 2022 and the Knights are a disappointing 7-20 since joining the Big 12 in 2023. But that was the past and all that matters is the future.
“Every time you get to this stage in the year, you’re excited to reset and rebuild,” Frost said. “We’ve got to do a great job evaluation. We did a great job of selling UCF. I think we made a lot of strides this year, but we need to turn the corner and get this over the hump to be a winning program.”
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
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