Once again, UCF finds itself preparing for an opponent amidst uncertainty at quarterback. This is the fifth time this season that the Knights are left questioning who will take snaps behind center.
The status of starter Tayven Jackson is in question for Saturday’s game at Cincinnati after suffering an apparent arm injury in the third quarter against Kansas. Cam Fancher, who started the season opener against Jacksonville State on Aug. 28, replaced Jackson.
“It’s still TBD on quarterbacks,” coach Scott Frost said on Monday. “Tayven’s X-rays were negative and it’s the same thing as it was last week. We’ll be watching him as the week progresses. I think we’ll have Jacurri [Brown] back this week and Cam’s healthy.”
Jackson suffered an AC joint sprain on his left shoulder during the first half against Kansas State on Sept. 27. He briefly left the game, only to return in the second half. Brown also suffered an AC sprain and returned briefly against the Wildcats before being replaced by Jackson. He was listed as out for last Saturday’s contest against Kansas.
Fancher missed several weeks after suffering a lower-body injury against the Gamecocks. He only recently returned to practice.
“It’s a unique situation I’ve never really dealt with as a coach before, having this much change at quarterback,” said Frost. “It’s not just the season. It’s been kind of all through spring ball and fall camp, since we didn’t have somebody step up and take it.”
It was a tight competition between the three quarterbacks throughout spring and fall camps before Fancher eventually earned the nod as a starter.
“It’s been a revolving door there in practice and now in games,” added Frost. “Hopefully, we have everybody else up and ready to be around the quarterback, whoever it is Saturday, so that they can feel more comfortable.”
What can UCF do to slow down Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby?
For the third consecutive game, UCF is set to face another dual-threat quarterback.
Little things prove to be costly for UCF during two-game skid
Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby ranks third in the Big 12 in quarterback rating (174.38), trailing only Kansas’ Jalon Daniels (181.41) and Texas Tech’s Behren Morton (177.88). In leading the Bearcats to a 38-30 win over then-No. 14 Iowa State, Sorsby passed for 214 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 65 yards and another score.
“It’s a team that’s playing really well,” said Frost. “They have a quarterback that’s playing about as well as anybody in the league.”
“I feel like for all quarterbacks nowadays, running is a huge factor for them,” added linebacker Cole Kozlowski. “We just have to contain them. Rush lanes are going to be huge this week and being able to plaster in coverage and stay with our guy. Making sure that everyone is doing their jobs and pulling off if the quarterback decides to scramble.”
What has been the message during this losing streak?
After experiencing its second loss of the season, Frost’s message to the team remains unchanged from what it was at the beginning of the season.
“He just wants us to attack everything we do, just attack and keep coming together as a team,” said freshman receiver Waden Charles. “Yeah, we went through two losses, losses that weren’t supposed to happen, but you’ve got to keep fighting, come together as a team.”
How does Horace Lockett’s absence impact the defense?
Lockett got off to an impressive start for the Knights, racking up 13 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. He was graded as one of the top pass rushers on the team by Pro Football Focus, behind Nyjalik Kelly and Malachi Lawrence.
His absence was notably felt during Saturday’s loss to Kansas, as the Knights struggled to generate pressure and managed just 9 pressures on Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels.
“Horace is a big loss,” Frost said of the redshirt junior who had season-ending surgery to correct a pectoral tear. “We’re going to rely on some young guys that haven’t played as much to fill that role and have some other guys probably play a few more snaps.”
Jeffson Lafontant and Rodney Lora split snaps at the tackle spot behind John Walker and RJ Jackson.
How healthy are the Knights?
According to Frost, the Knights were banged up coming off the loss to Kansas.
Receiver Marcus Burke and tight ends Dylan Wade and Caden Piening suffered injuries and were absent at the end of the game.
“That’s football. There are a lot of teams that are missing players,” said Frost. “Luckily for us, we only have one or two that are season-ending. We’re going to get some other guys back. So, I want those guys in the training room to keep going and in the meantime, it allows us to get some more guys playing.”
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
