Powered by high-profile transfers and returning depth, the Knights land a top-20 national ranking as they look to replace NFL talent with dynamic, record-breaking playmakers.
The UCF Knights running back group has blossomed into one of the deepest positions on the team and received recognition as a top group in the nation.
X user NCAAF Nation ranked the top 25 running back units heading into the 2026 season, and UCF placed 17th on the list. The Knights are one of three Big 12 teams on the list with Texas Tech (second) and Oklahoma State (19th).
Coach Scott Frost and his coaching staff became active in January's transfer portal cycle, landing talented backs in Central Arkansas transfer Landen Chambers and Louisville transfer Duke Watson.
The duo has proven production at their previous programs, an approach UCF took in the portal to round out the rough edges of its team.
Chambers exploded in his sophomore campaign at Central Arkansas, rushing for 1,273 yards and 10 touchdowns on 242 carries. He rushed for over 100 yards in eight straight games, and his career-high game came against the North Alabama Lions when he rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.
Injuries derailed Watson's sophomore year at Louisville, bringing his production down to 158 yards and one touchdown on 49 carries. His freshman season is when he put the nation on notice.
He led the nation in yards per carry with 8.9 en route to a 597-yard season with seven touchdowns. The Knights added a 1-2 punch in the back field with Chambers, who could fix UCF's short-yardage run problems from last season, and Watson, who can break out big runs for easy first downs.
Alongside Chambers and Watson are the returners, Agyeman Addae and Taevion Swint. Addae showcased his versatility in UCF's season-ending loss to then-No. 11 BYU on Nov. 29.
The walk-on running back caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown, and threw a trick touchdown pass to former Knights quarterback Tayven Jackson.
Swint recovered from an injury he suffered last year during spring training that sidelined him for the entire season. He said he's ready to prove himself on the field and to the community because he feels like he owes it to them.
UCF also added Kaj Baker and Arthur Lewis IV on National Signing Day, further bolstering the running back group into one of the deepest and youngest positions on the team.
Despite the losses of Jaden Nixon, who signed with the Green Bay Packers, and Myles Montgomery, who signed with the New England Patriots, the Knights have the firepower to make up for the loss of their production in yards and touchdowns.
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