The 2025 UCF Knights football team will represent the University of Central Florida (UCF) as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights will be led by third-year head coach Scott Frost in his second stint. The Knights play their home games at Acrisure Bounce House, located in Orlando, Florida.[a]
After compiling a 28–24 record during four years as head coach, Gus Malzahn resigned on November 30, 2024 to take the offensive coordinator position at Florida State.[1] One week later, after a brief coaching search, the university re-hired Scott Frost, who coached the Knights football team in 2016–2017.[2]
Schedule
Offseason
Transfers
Incoming
Outgoing
2025 Recruits
College recruiting information
Name
|
Hometown
|
School
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Commit date
|
Taevion Swint Running back
|
Kissimmee, FL
|
Osceola High School
|
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
Apr 23, 2023
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Tony Williams Safety
|
Miami, FL
|
Miami Central High School
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
190 lb (86 kg)
|
Mar 15, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Rukeem Stroud Cornerback
|
Tampa, FL
|
Tampa Bay Technical High School
|
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
|
170 lb (77 kg)
|
Jun 24, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
LaParka Langston Offensive tackle
|
Senatobia, MS
|
Northwest Mississippi Community College
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
325 lb (147 kg)
|
Dec 10, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Caden Piening Tight end
|
Cincinnati, OH
|
Anderson High School
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
|
246 lb (112 kg)
|
Mar 13, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Carl Jenkins Jr. Wide receiver
|
St. Augustine, FL
|
St. Augustine High School
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
180 lb (82 kg)
|
Dec 4, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Malakhi Boone Linebacker
|
Bushnell, FL
|
South Sumter High School
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
235 lb (107 kg)
|
May 1, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Waden Charles Wide receiver
|
Boynton Beach, FL
|
Somerset Academy High School
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
Jul 3, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Jaquez Joiner Offensive tackle
|
Cocoa, FL
|
Cocoa High School
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
|
260 lb (120 kg)
|
Sep 2, 2023
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Jacob Maiava Offensive guard
|
Kahuku, HI
|
Kahuku High School
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
290 lb (130 kg)
|
Feb 2, 2025
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Camp Lott Offensive tackle
|
McComb, MS
|
Parklane Academy
|
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
|
250 lb (110 kg)
|
Jan 31, 2025
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
RyShawn Perry Defensive tackle
|
Covington, GA
|
Newton High School
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
274 lb (124 kg)
|
Apr 7, 2024
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Raishaun McHaney Offensive tackle
|
Indianapolis, IN
|
Lutheran High School of Indianapolis
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
|
260 lb (120 kg)
|
Feb 4, 2025
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Trenton Turner Defensive line
|
Lakeland, Florida
|
Lakeland High School
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
311 lb (141 kg)
|
Feb 5, 2025
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Chance Nixon Running back
|
Oviedo, Florida
|
Oviedo High School
|
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
|
180 lb (82 kg)
|
May 13, 2025
|
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Overall recruit ranking:
|
- Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
- In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
|
*= 247Sports Composite rating; ratings are out of 1.00. (five stars= 1.00–.98, four stars= .97–.90, three stars= .80–.89)
†= Despite being rated as a three star recruit by ESPN, On3.com, and 247Sports.com, Stroud received a four star rating by Rivals.com.
Δ= TBD left the UCF program following signing but prior to the 2025 season.
Preseason
For 2025, UCF elected to not conduct their annual spring exhibition game. This was due to ongoing construction at the stadium, and to protect the roster during the spring transfer portal window.[7] As a substitute, the Knights arranged for two practice sessions to be open to the public.[8]
The Big 12 officially discontinued their annual preseason media poll,[9] but various other outlets predicted the Knights to finish 15th–16th in the conference.[10][11]
Game summaries
vs Jacksonville State
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
JVST |
UCF
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Jacksonville State
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
vs North Carolina A&T (FCS)
North Carolina A&T Aggies (FCS) (0–0) vs UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida
- Date:
- Game time: 7:00 p.m.
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers (ESPN+):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
NCAT |
UCF
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
North Carolina A&T
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
vs North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels (0–0) vs UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
UNC |
UCF
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
North Carolina
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
at Kansas State
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
UCF |
KSU
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
Kansas State
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
vs Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks (0–0) vs UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
KU |
UCF
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Kansas
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
at Cincinnati (rivalry)
UCF Knights (0–0) at Cincinnati Bearcats (0–0) – Game summary
at Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
UCF |
CIN
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
Cincinnati
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
vs West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers (0–0) vs UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
WVU |
UCF
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
West Virginia
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
at Baylor
UCF Knights (0–0) at Baylor Bears (0–0) – Game summary
at McLane Stadium • Waco, Texas
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
UCF |
BAY
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
Baylor
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
vs Houston
Houston Cougars (0–0) vs UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers (FS1):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
HOU |
UCF
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Houston
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
at Texas Tech
UCF Knights (0–0) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (0–0) – Game summary
at Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, Texas
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
UCF |
TTU
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
Texas Tech
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
vs Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys (0–0) vs UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida
- Date:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
OKST |
UCF
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Oklahoma State
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
at BYU
UCF Knights (0–0) at BYU Cougars (0–0) – Game summary
at LaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, Utah
- Date:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers ( ):
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics |
UCF |
BYU
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
UCF
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
BYU
|
Passing
|
|
|
Rushing
|
|
|
Receiving
|
|
|
Personnel
Roster and coaching staff
2025 UCF Knights Football
|
Quarterbacks
Running backs
- 4 Taevion Swint – Fr.
- 5 Jaden Nixon –
Sr.
- 21 Stacy Gage –
Fr.
- 22 Myles Montgomery –
Sr.
- 32 Tyler Wrenn –
Sr.
- 35 Agyeman Addae – Fr.
- 42 Chance Nixon – Fr.
Wide receivers
- 3 Marcus Burke –
Sr.
- 6 Ric'Darious "DayDay" Farmer – So.
- 7 Duane Thomas Jr. – Jr.
- 8 Bredell Richardson –
Fr.
- 9 DJ Black –
Jr.
- 12 Carl Jenkins Jr. – Fr.
- 13 Chris Domercant –
Sr.
- 19 Waden Charles – Fr.
- 39 Andrea Parisi –
Fr.
- 81 Zack Palmer – Fr.
- 82 Jordyn Bridgewater –
Fr.
- 85 Carson Hinshaw –
Fr.
- 86 Chase Hinshaw – Fr.
- 87 Dwartney Wortham –
Jr.
- 89 Caleb Rollerson –
Fr.
Tight ends/H-back
- 0 Dylan Wade – Jr.
- 1 Kylan Fox – So.
- 18 Caden Piening – Fr.
- 80 Max Drag –
So.
- 83 Dallan 'Deebo' Coleman – 5th-Sr.
- 84 Thomas Wadsworth –
Jr.
|
|
Offensive Lineman
- 50 Patrick Barnett –
5th–Sr.
- 52 Carter Miller –
Jr.
- 53 LaParka Langston – Jr.
- 55 Cameron Kinnie –
5th–Sr.
- 57 Camp Lott – Fr.
- 58 Connor Meadows –
Jr.
- 61 Owen Spell – Jr.
- 62 Jabari Brooks –
5th–Sr.
- 63 Shaheem Hill –
Jr.
- 64 Gaard Memmelaar –
5th–Sr.
- 65 Jaquez Joiner – Fr.
- 66 Colin Cook –
5th–Sr.
- 67 Noah Senka –
Fr.
- 68 Ethan Higgins –
So.
- 69 Paul Rubelt –
5th–Sr.
- 70 RaiShaun McHaney – Fr.
- 71 Thomas Gearity –
Fr.
- 72 Dominick Campbell –
Jr.
- 73 Jacob Maiava – Fr.
- 74 Matthew Prigmore –
So.
- 75 Andrew Phelan –
So.
- 76 Justin Royes –
So.
- 77 Keegan Smith –
Sr.
- 78 Preston Cushman –
Jr.
Kickers/Punters
- 16 Noe Ruelas –
Sr.
- 31 Noah McGough – Fr.
- 40 Anthony Venneri –
Jr.
- 97 Mason Denaburg – Fr.
Long snappers
- 37 Rocklyn Kelley – Fr.
- 47 Dalton Riggs –
Jr.
|
|
Defensive tackles
- 13 Horace Lockett –
Jr.
- 54 Trenton Turner – Fr.
- 55 John Walker –
So.
- 87 Andrew Rumph –
So.
- 88 Derrick LeBlanc –
So.
- 91 Keshaun Hudson –
Jr.
- 92 Jeffson Lafontant –
So.
- 94 Rodney Lora –
So.
- 95 RJ Jackson Jr. – Jr.
- 98 Tyrek'e Robinson –
Fr.
Linebacker
- 0 Keli Lawson –
Sr.
- 16 T.J. Bullard –
Jr.
- 20 Lewis Carter – Jr.
- 28 Troy Ford Jr. –
So.
- 30 Kam Moore –
Jr.
- 32 Malakhi Boone – Fr.
- 33 Phil Picciotti –
So.
- 38 Jayden McDonald –
Sr.
- 43 Cole Kozlowski – Sr.
Defensive back
- 1 Ja'Cari Henderson –
Jr.
- 2 Phillip Dunnam – Sr.
- 3 Tony Williams – Fr.
- 4 Braeden Marshall – Jr.
- 5 DJ Bell –
Jr.
- 7 Antione Jackson – Jr.
- 8 Demari Henderson –
Jr.
- 11 Jaeden Gould –
Jr.
- 14 Isaiah Reed – 5th-Sr.
- 17 Jaylen "AP" Heyward – So.
- 18 Jakob Gude – So.
- 19 Hudson Gibbs –
So.
- 23 Jayden Williams –
Sr.
- 25 Rukeem Stroud – Fr.
- 26 Christian Peterson – So.
- 27 Nicholas Antoine –
Jr.
- 29 Jayden Bellamy –
Jr.
- 34 Terrell Jackson –
Jr.
- 36 Chase Jarrett –
Fr.
- 49 Donnell Johnson –
So.
|
|
Cornerbacks
Defensive ends
- 6 Isaiah Nixon –
So.
- 9 Nyjalik Kelly – Sr.
- 10 Sincere Edwards – So.
- 12 Aymeric Koumba –
So.
- 44 Josh Dorsainvil –
Sr.
- 45 Quentin Hatch –
Jr.
- 51 Malachi Lawrence –
Sr.
- 96 Anthony Coaxum –
Sr.
- 99 Jamaal Johnson –
So.
Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Coaching staff
- Scott Frost – Head Coach
- Alex Grinch – Defensive coordinator/safeties
- Steve Cooper – Offensive coordinator/tight ends
- Sean Beckton Sr. – Associate head coach/wide receivers
- Mike Dawson – Defensive run game coordinator/edge
- Kenny Martin – Defensive Tackles
- Shawn Clark – Offensive line
- Brandon Harris – Defensive backs
- Jimmy Beal – Running backs
- Mark D'Onofrio – Linebackers
- McKenzie Milton – Quarterbacks
- Pete Alamar – Special teams coordinator
- Austin Herink – Senior Offensive Analyst
- Travis Fisher – Senior Defensive Analyst
- Demeitre Brim – Defensive Analyst
- Drico Johnson – Defensive Analyst
- Jordan Johnson – Offensive Analyst
- Alex Ward – Offensive Quality Control
- Pete Haffner – Defensive Quality Control
- Jihad Woods – Defensive Quality Control
- Geron Hargon – Special Teams Quality Control
- Zach Duval – Director, Sports Performance
- Andrew Strop – Associate Director, Sports Performance
- Sean Beckton Jr. – Asst. Dir. of Sports Performance
- Andrew Sims – Chief of Staff
- Trent Mossbrucker – General Manager of Football Player Personnel, Acquisitions and Roster Management
- Jeff Love – Executive Dir. of Player Personnel
- Ryan Callaghan – Senior Dir. of FB Operations & Recruiting
- Deshon Lawrence – Senior Director of Player Development, Pro Liaison & Internal Operations
- Lauryn Ford – Assistant Dir. of Operations
- Jeris McIntyre – Dir. High school relations
- Ryan Beer – Dir. of Player Personnel
- Dan Pirtle – Dir. of Player Personnel
- Jordan Litten – Dir. of FB Creative & Athletic Branding
- Kaelen Skipper – Player Personnel Assistant
- Brad Helton – Assistant AD, Video Operations
- Brian Lund – Associate AD. Head Football Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine
- Fred Donnell – Asst. Athletic Director
- Diarmuid Christie – Asst. Athletic Director
- Kyle Flora – Asst. Athletic Director
- Elisabeth Bird – Asst. Athletic Director
- Brad Anderson – Dir. of Equipment Operations
- Austin Seymour – Associate Director, Equipment
- Schuyler Silverglate – Assistant Director, Equipment Operations
→ Roster updated August, 2025
→ Depth chart updated August, 2025
|
Coaching staff additions
Coaching staff departures
Notes
- ^ The stadium and the UCF main campus have an Orlando mailing address, but both are located in unincorporated Orange County.
References
- ^ Thamel, Pete (November 30, 2024). "Sources: UCF's Gus Malzahn joining FSU as offensive coordinator". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- ^ Olson, Max (December 7, 2024). "Scott Frost returns as UCF head football coach on 5-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ^ Ciardello, Keff (July 27, 2024). "UCF 2025 Football Schedule: Full List of Knights' Opponents". College Football Network. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "2025 UCF Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247sports. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ^ "2025 UCF Football Transfer Portal". On3.com. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ Murschel, Matt (January 28, 2025). "UCF most likely won't host spring football game, may open practices and scrimmages to fans". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ Boyle, Chris (March 5, 2025). "UCF Knights football: Fans invited to attend 2 spring practices at Bounce House". Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ Marcello, Brandon (July 9, 2025). "Big 12 nixes preseason poll to help shape narrative -- should national college football rankings follow suit?". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ Nagel, Cody (July 8, 2025). "2025 Big 12 football preseason poll: 247Sports expert panel picks Arizona State to repeat as league champions". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ Callihan, Schuyler (July 19, 2025). "Big 12 Preseason Power Rankings and Record Predictions for All 16 Teams". SI.com. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Bowls & rivalries | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|
National championship seasons in bold |