UCF Knights: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
UCF Knights: Key To The 2022 Offense
The downfield passing game has to work.
Mikey Keene did what he could when thrown into the fire as a freshman, but the offense lost its downfield edge after Dillon Gabriel went down.
For years, UCF was among the best teams in the nation at bombing away, getting over ten yards per throw in 2017 with McKenzie Milton, and Gabriel was over nine yards per pop after he took over. Last year UCF averaged just 10.6 yards per completion and was under seven yards per throw for the first time in years.
John Rhys Plumlee will probably be more of a midrange playmaker if he takes over, and that’s okay. However, the chances will be there with defenses likely to crank up the effort to slow down what should be a devastating ground attack.
UCF Knights: Key To The 2022 Defense
The run defense has to hold up.
It should’ve worked for Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Line up, blast away and get physical on the UCF defensive front, run well, leave with a win. The Gators averaged close to seven yards per carry and ran for 205 yards, but lost. That was the only time all season the Knight won after allowing 190 or more rushing yards.
The went 8-0 in the regular season when allowing fewer than 190 yards, and 0-4 when they were on the other side, getting ripped apart by Cincinnati, SMU, and Louisville, and suffered the steady drip, drip, drip from the Navy running game.
Keep teams to around four yards per carry, and everything should be fine.
UCF Knights: Key Player To The 2022 Season
OT Tylan Grable, Sr.
The offensive line wasn’t bad in pass protection, but it could’ve been a bit stronger.
It was 102nd in the nation in tackles for loss allowed, but the running game was fantastic. Most of the line returns fine, but the left side has to build back up.
All should be fine if the 6-7, 290-pound Grable can bring his Jacksonville State production over to UCF. Ultra-athletic, the former tight end can move, was an FCS All-American, and now he needs to be the answer at left tackle.
He’s a key transfer, and so is …
UCF Knights: Key Transfer
QB John Rhys Plumlee, Sr.
Mikey Keene was good enough considering he was just getting going, but Rhys Plumlee is an interesting option for the starting quarterback battle who might give the attack a different sort of look.
The 6-0, 200-pound Ole Miss transfer was too athletic to keep off the field – he was used as a receiver at times, making 25 catches for 280 yards. As a quarterback, he ran for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman, hit 54% of his passes for 981 yards and five touchdowns and three picks in his three years, and … he wasn’t Matt Corral.
He’ll get his shot to take over the UCF offense.
UCF Key Game To The 2022 Season
Cincinnati, Oct. 29
Cincinnati took over UCF’s league.
UCF was the star. UCF was the one who screamed about wanting to get a shot in the College Football Playoff. UCF was the one who blazed the trail to make it more palatable for a Cincinnati to get its shot.
UCF also got whacked by the Bearcats in a 56-21 loss last year, making it three straight losses in the series.
This time around it comes after a trip to East Carolina and before going to Memphis and then Tulane. It’s also the one game on the AAC schedule that UCF might not be the favorite in.
Realistically, win this, go to the AAC Championship.
UCF Knights: 2021 Fun Stats
– 3rd Quarter Scoring: UCF 115 – Opponents 61
– 4th Down Conversions: UCF 11-of-13 (85%) – Opponents (48%)
– Time of Possession: Opponents 31:24 – Opponents 28:33
UCF 2022 Preview
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
UCF Top 10 Players | UCF Schedule