UCF head coach Scott Frost has thrown some of his underclassmen players into games, presenting them with an opportunity to showcase their talents.
According to DFaulk_23 on X, Frost has played 26 underclassmen players across three games. Following the Knights’ loss to Kansas State last Saturday, the number of underclassmen who played remains unchanged.
Some of the more notable underclassmen are sophomore tight end Kylan Fox, sophomore EDGE Sincere Edwards and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Rodney Lora. Each of these players has made their mark on UCF football, earning the trust of the coaching staff.
Fox, who’s a part of a half-underclassmen tight end room, scored his first touchdown of the season against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Knights’ 34-9 victory on Sept. 20. In last Saturday’s game against the Wildcats, he stepped in for an injured junior Dylan Wade who missed the game, alongside his fellow underclassmen, freshman Caden Piening and redshirt sophomore Max Drag.
In Fox’s post-game press conference after defeating the Tar Heels, he spoke on Piening’s ability as one of the seven offensive freshmen, who Frost put on the field.
“He’s very, very physical,” Fox said. “He’s very good in the passing game as well. He’s coming along and getting out there and getting his feet wet. He’s definitely ready.”
Piening missed some preseason play due to injuries, but his talent is something the coaching staff noticed and trusted enough to inject into their offense when UCF is out on the field.
Fox said the tight end room is versatile, and each of the players brings a different skill set to the Black and Gold. Versatility is what the coaches use to their advantage because it gives the offense and defense a different look to catch their opponents off guard.
For example, although junior quarterbacks Tayven Jackson and Jacurri Brown are upperclassmen, the Knights find a way to include Brown in short-yardage situations where he runs the ball. Another example is when Kansas State used its freshman backup quarterback, Blake Barnett, to present UCF’s defense with an unfamiliar formation, which proved extremely effective in the Wildcats' run game.
UCF’s offensive coordinator, Steve Cooper, spoke on the coaching staff’s mindset when deciding to use multiple players.
“Sometimes there's going to be a specific play that we want to have XYZ guy in, and it might be because his skillset’s really tailored for the thing we're asking to do,” Cooper said. “So, with that being said, we'll have some specific plays we want, and it's not just the tight ends, it's all positions.”
The trust the underclassmen have earned from the coaching staff speaks volumes about their talent and, most importantly, what future UCF football recruits can look forward to.
2026 quarterback commits Kane Archer and Dante Carr will enter a welcoming environment once they hit the fields of the Nicholson Fieldhouse and the Acrisure Bounce House. Both quarterbacks possess dual-threat talent, and the Knights’ coaching staff will look to utilize them to the best of their ability.
Coach Frost has thrown 26 of his underclassmen into the fire and will continue to do so throughout the season. The tests for the underclassmen present them with the opportunity to showcase their skills and give their upperclassmen some rest on long drives.
Talent is valued in the UCF football program, and the coaching staff will find ways to utilize it on the field to make an impact in games.