UCF defensive coordinator Alex Grinch didn’t hold back when discussing how his defense fared against Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson last week.
“We failed that challenge,” Grinch said.
Johnson posted a season-high 72% completion rate, connecting on 18 of 25 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. He also showcased his versatility with a season-best 75 rushing yards on 12 carries. His performance, coupled with that of running back Dylan Edwards’ remarkable showing — where he rushed for a career-high 166 yards — propelled the Wildcats to a 34-20 victory over the Knights, marking their most impressive win of the season.
Things don’t get any easier for the Knights this week as Kansas comes to town, bringing with it another formidable test in the form of quarterback Jalon Daniels.
Daniels is coming off one of his best performances of the season, having completed 19 of 28 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns, while also adding 55 rushing yards in a tightly contested 37-34 loss to Cincinnati last Saturday.
After being limited by injuries throughout much of his career, Daniels is putting together one of the best seasons of his career, passing for 1,262 yards with 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His 188.8 passer rating is the best in his five previous seasons with the Jayhawks.
“He’s really good when you watch him on tape,” coach Scott Frost said. “He can throw at an elite level. He can run at an elite level and they do a great job scheme-wise with him. They’re probably going to get theirs to some degree, but we’ve got to try and limit that.”
The 6-foot, 220-pound Daniels is among a handful of Big 12 quarterbacks who rank in the top five nationally in passing touchdowns. His 16 touchdowns are second-best in the Football Bowl Subdivision, tying him with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and right behind Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson’s 17.
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“This is a massive challenge this week. He’s been tearing up people for a long time in this conference,” said Grinch.
“The plan is that we need to do a better job of rushing lanes,” he added. “We’ve got to respect that. We have to understand that we’re not the only guys on the field when you’re out of the rushing lanes or you lose leverage on the perimeter. You try to simulate it, but it’s tough to do.”
Linebacker Lewis Carter notes several similarities between Daniels and Johnson, but he believes the game plan remains essentially unchanged for this week.
“They are both pretty good athletes. They both can run. They both can throw the ball,” said Carter. “I feel like Daniels can throw the ball a little bit better, a little bit more accurately. So we’ve got to go out there and attack them early, stop them early and just play hard.”
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.
