Thamel: UCF QB Alonza Barnett 'Championship Level'

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After multiple down years, UCF is looking to return to prominence under head coach Scott Frost.

With talented skill position players and more consistency at the quarterback position, the Knights should be much-improved and poised for a sneaky-good year in the Big 12 Conference.

Alonza Barnett III, transfer QB from James Madison, is a big part of these heightened expectations.

Coming off of a College Football Playoff berth, Barnett has been hailed as not only a skilled QB, but a leader in the locker room.

Back at Big 12 Media Days, ESPN's Pete Thamel had heavy praise for the Knights' new QB, saying that Barnett is "championship level" and showed out as a person among the other 45+ gunslingers in attendance at The Manning Academy.

Barnett threw passes for the attendees at the academy, as he recovered from the lingering injuries which kept him sidelined during the Spring.

But, Thamel focused on his personal characteristics, saying that Barnett has the leadership to "electrify" UCF's offensive attack.

After leading James Madison to a College Football Playoff berth last season, Barnett shined, finishing with 273 yards passing, 45 yards rushing and three total touchdowns.

His opponent, the Oregon Ducks, were one of the most-dominant defensive forces in the country, holding the Big 12 Champion Texas Tech Red Raiders scoreless in the following round.

With talented pass catchers like Josh Derry, Waden Charles, Duane Thomas Jr., and Dylan Wade at his disposal, Barnett is in for another big season.

He has frequently talked about the "addicting" feeling of getting to the CFP, while saying he definitely wants to experience that as a member of UCF.

To do so, the Knights would have to be elite in a competitive Big 12 Conference.

But, with so much parity among the recent conference champions, the door is open for UCF to make a run.

Barnett's dual-threat ability fits UCF's mobile-QB oriented schematics on offense, while his leadership around the facilities will help have his team on the right page come gametime.

For Frost, the second year at UCF has been his turnaround point in the past, with the Knights head coach leading his team to a self-proclaimed "National Championship" in his sophomore campaign last go-around.

While a National Championship is certainly a reach, having players with both talent and belief in the direction the program is heading in can be magical.

With Barnett at the helm, UCF has the most dynamic QB play it has had in many seasons.

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