UCF Knights 2017 outlook
Last 4 seasons
2016: 6-7, coached by Scott Frost
2015 0-12, coached by George O’ Leary
2014: 9-4, coached by George O’Leary
2013: 12-1, coached by George O’Leary
All Time record: 225-202-1
2016 reflection:
South Carolina St. W 38-0
@ 6 Michigan L 14-51
Maryland L 24-30
@ Florida Int'l W 53-14
@ East Caro. W 47-29
23 Temple L 25-26
@ Connecticut W 24-16
@ Houston L 24-31
Tulane W 37-6
Cincinnati W 24-3
Tulsa L 20-35
@ 25 South Fla. L 31-48
N- Arkansas St. L 13-31
Leaders:
Passing: McKenzie Milton 194/336 (58%) 1983 yards, 10 TDs, 7 Ints
Rushing: Jawon Hamilton 139 carries for 495 yards (3.6 AVG) 4 rushing TD’s
Receiving: Tre’Quan Smith 57 Rec for 853 yards (15 AVG) 5 receiving TD’s
Tackles: Mark Rucker 93 total tackles
TFLs: Shaquem Griffin, 20 Tackles for Loss
Sacks: Shaquem Griffin, 11.5 Sacks
Ints: Shaquill Griffin 4 ints
notable 2017 signees (based on 247 sports)
Cordarrian Richardson, RB, 5’11 220
Emmanuel Greene, WR, 5’10 171 (early enrollee)
Bentavious Thompson, RB, 5’11 187
Marion Williams, WR, 6’0 205
Sterling Jones, LB, 6’1 221
Gabriel Luyanda, JuCo LB, 6’5 230
Jeremiah Zio, DE, 6’7 225
Darriel Mack, QB, 6’3 205
Otis Anderson, RB, 5’8 168 (early enrollee)
Zamari Maxwell, CB, 6’1 175
NFL draftees: Shaquill Griffin
Key Losses:
RB Dontravious Wilson
WR Taylor Oldham
C Jason Rae
LB Mark Rucker
LB Demitre Brim
DB TJ Mutcherson
LB Errol Clarke
DB Drico Johnson
DB Shaquill Griffin
DB DJ Killings
2017 season outlook
4-8 wins
UCF Analysis:
After a disappointing winless season, Coach Scott Frost led UCF to 6 wins and a bowl berth in his first season as UCF head coach. they had a new look offense very similar to what Oregon runs, a up tempo spread offense. UCF in 2016 had much QB instability. McKenzie Milton struggled to make a huge splash as a true freshman but started for a majority of the season after SR QB Justin Holman was hurt. Defensively, the Knights were very strong as they were in years past, improving from a poor defensive scoring margin of 37 PPG to 24 PPG in 2016. the ability of the Knights is unclear after lossing 3 LBs and 4 DBs in the secondary. The team could be headed for an offensive focused mindset in year 2 of Scott Frosts tenure as the UCF HC. the running game struggled mightly in year 1 and will need to improve for the UCF Knights to take a step forward. RB Dontravious WIlson graduated and leaves the team without a go to RB in goal line situations, as he led the team with 8 rushing TD's. in their 2017 recruiting class, 3 of the top 10 guys they recruited were RBs, and Cordarrian Richardson headlines the bunch. the WR situation looks good for UCF, a lot of speedy playmakers led by explosive WR Tre'Quan Smith. Overall on this team, they are a very young group and lost a lot of talent, but still have the American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year in Shaquem Griffin. with his leadership, the defense can hold their own despite inexperience in many places. looking at their schedule, worst case scenario for them is 4 wins and the best case scenario for them is 8 wins. very difficult to project a team with a lot of unknowns in 2 year of a head coaches regime.