UCF relying on depth, offense in first Big 12 season

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

ARLINGTON, Texas – As UCF makes its transition to the Big 12, it brings a foundation built by depth.

The Knights return 11 players who received either first-team, secondteam or third-team allconference honors on at least one all-league team in 2022. They picked up many players from the transfer portal, some who are expected to have an immediate impact.

“As far as our roster we’ve returned six on both sides of the ball,” UCF coach Guz Malzahn said. “We have our kicker and punter back, and both of those guys were phenomenal last year. We brought in 18 transfers, and most of these guys weren’t just starters on their previous teams but quite a few of them were impact players.”

Within his returners, Malzahn gets another season alongside two contributors to last year’s Knights offense in quarterback John Rhys Plumlee and wide receiver Javon Baker. Both transfers from SEC squads, Baker led UCF in receiving yards last year, and Plumlee threw for 2,586 yards and recorded 14 passing touchdowns and 11 more on the ground.

“(Plumlee) did a very solid job for us,” Malzahn said. “He is in a great spot to take that next step really as our team leader.”

After an all-around successful offensive season, one where they finished with the No. 9 rushing offense and No. 16-ranked total offense in the country, the Knights are bringing back Darin Hinshaw, this time as an offensive coordinator.

Hinshaw, who is making his Big 12 debut with Malzahn, was brought in to add another element to UCF’s fast-paced offense and help Plumlee take a big leap at quarterback.

“I brought in Darin to really open up our offense, push the ball vertically down the field,” Malzahn said. “We were a top-20 offense overall in college football, but our yards per completion were really high.

“And then to develop our quarterback, specifically John Rhys, and he has done an unbelievable job. John Rhys is like night and day to where he was at this time last year.”