By Mark Pszonak
With action in the transfer portal slowing down, it is time to take a closer look at how each P4 school did during this cycle. Up now are the UCF Knights
The skinny: UCF head coach Gus Malzahn has not been bashful in his use of the transfer portal during recent cycles, and that continued this year. And after dissecting all the comings and goings, this portal cycle was a significant victory for the Knights. While their loss of significant players was rather minimal, they signed multiple players who should make a valuable and immediate impact in 2024.
Total # entries into portal: 32
Total # of scholarship players who entered portal: 23
Number of scholarship players who withdrew: 0
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Key losses: DB Corey Thornton (Louisville), DB Nikai Martinez (Michigan State), OL Drake Metcalf (Virginia)
Key additions: QB KJ Jefferson (Arkansas), LB Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati), LB Jesiah Pierre (Texas Tech), OL Wes Dorsey (Western Kentucky), WR Ja’Varrius Johnson (Auburn), DE Nyjalik Kelly (Miami-Florida), LB Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt), DB Tre’quon Fegans (USC), RB Peny Boone (Louisville), DB Sheldon Arnold II (East Tennessee State), DB Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State)
Final thoughts: The Knights first season in the Big 12 was not a total disappointment, but many had hoped for better than 6-7, 3-6 in-conference and a bowl loss to Georgia Tech. UCF did win three of their final four Big 12 games to qualify for a bowl and now hope to take that momentum into 2024. Leading the way will be QB KJ Jefferson, whose dual-threat abilities should fit in perfectly with the Knights. The rest of the offense already looked strong, but the additions of WR Ja’Varrius Johnson, RB Peny Boone and OL Wes Dorsey will further enhance their positions. Defensively, the influx of talent was more abundant. The linebacker position was completely overhauled, with Jesiah Pierre, Deshawn Pace and Ethan Barr all expected to be major contributors. In the secondary, Sheldon Arnold II is one of the top FCS additions by a P4 school, Tre’quon Fegans brings valuable experience and Cedrick Hawkins is young, but has star potential. And finally, on the defensive line, the hope is that Nyjalik Kelly will provide a pass rushing spark to the unit. With Oklahoma and Texas leaving the Big 12, there is potential for other schools to make an immediate statement in the new revamped model. UCF has the players to be one of those schools, but now they have to put it all together on the field.
