Stephen Branca (ESPN+) joins this Sons of UCF EXTRA to review the 2022 UCF Baseball season. Led by Head Coach Greg Lovelady and key players Andrew Sundean, Alex Freeland, and Connor Staine, the Knights finished 35-25, good for 2nd in the American Conference regular season.

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What's your FINAL grade for the 2022 UCF Baseball season?

One of UCF's top 'Hometown Hero' targets in the 2023 class is Ocoee (Fla.) defensive back Zachary Tobe and he made it back on campus on Friday. He had been offered during a previous visit in January.

"Today was mainly about academics," Tobe said. "I got to tour all the academic buildings and got to speak with the academic coordinator, Tara (Helton). She was explaining to me and my parents how serious the academics are at UCF. It's not just all about football."

Tobe, who is planning to major in business administration, also got to meet up with one of UCF's freshmen.

"I talked to Nikai (Martinez) for a little bit," Tobe said. "I played against him in high school a couple times."

He also was able to meet head coach Gus Malzahn for the first time.

"It was nice being able to have a conversation with him," Tobe said. "He was trying to get to know me and my parents. He wanted to know what I wanted in a school and what my parents wanted for me, stuff like that."

What stands out about UCF?

"First of all, I like both the DB coaches (David Gibbs and Addison Williams)," Tobe said. "I feel they're good at what they do and would be good for my future. With UCF going to the Big 12, I feel that would put me on a bigger stage. UCF is continuing to win more games each year. They're really going upwards."

Tobe previously visited Iowa State and said he'll be checking out South Florida this Sunday. He's already booked another visit to UCF though.

"I'll be at UCF the first week of June for Bounce House Weekend," Tobe said. "I think it will be an unofficial visit since I'm so close, but it will be like an official visit with all the stuff planned."

The primary schools on his list include UCF, Iowa State, North Carolina, Purdue, Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana and Illinois. He said several of those schools have talked about scheduling official visits in June, but nothing else is set in stone.

No ranking of favorites yet, but Tobe said UCF is definitely up there.

"They definitely are high on my list, especially after today," he said.

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UCF women's basketball coach Sytia Messer who has been on the job for nearly two months, greeted reporters at the recent Charge On Tour in Oviedo.

Sounds like he’s 1-and done for us.

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Match just started. They have to beat Scotland, then beat Wales in a few days to qualify for the World Cup.

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talked a little NIL right off the bat

The first exit of a scholarship player since the Gus era began. Kam'ron Green, who saw no playing time in his two seasons at UCF.

Brand new Twitter account, was wondering if it was legit, but I finally figured out his name, Jayhlon Young:

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He committed to Grambling State out of high school, but appears he never played there:

Where is the baseball team having their watch party?






* * * * * *

UCF's roster replenishment quest continues.

North Carolina guard Anthony Harris just visited UCF, his second visit so far (previously visited Rhode Island).

He's originally from Washington D.C.. He posted his visit photo to IG earlier tonight, which prompted comments from former UCF player Terrell Allen and Cole Anthony (UNC/Orlando Magic).

Harris played three seasons in Chapel Hill. During his true freshman season in 2019-20, he suffered a torn ACL and was able to get a redshirt. He also missed the first part of the following season while still recovering. And this past season, he was "unavailable" for the latter half of the season for undisclosed reasons (didn't play again after Jan. 8).

UCF still has two scholarships left to fill.


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Grad transfer Diamonté Tucker-Dorsey has one year of eligibility left.

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Hey guys I’m a younger guy looking to buy a car for the first time. I got approved for 15k from my bank and need something reliable (and fun if possible). I’m in the Orlando Area and I wouldn’t mine buying private party. Any suggestions on what I should get or tips in general? I know the market is terrible right now.

First big recruiting weekend, with some studs on campus.
Do we flip Seymore?
Is Braeden Marshall a silent commit already?
Do we land either of the OL?

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The path to the 2022 football season begins this week with the beginning of summer workouts. One thing that's new this year is coaches can oversee two hours per week of practice time over the next two months.

UCF head coach Gus Malzahn spoke about that and several other topics during the recent Charge On Tour in Oviedo.

What's the offseason been like? I know you've been making some transfer additions, announcing another on your way over here.

"It's been a different offseason, there's no doubt. We had a great spring, I felt like. The portal, we kept most of our players which I think is very important. Then we're adding some players. It's a real good time. Our guys are back. They start working out as a team on Tuesday. A lot of excitement right now."

The NCAA is now allowing coach-supervised workouts during the summer, two hours per week. What are you hoping to accomplish with that?

"That's kind of new. We get to work with the ball for the first time for two hours a week with our players. We're very excited about that. The throwing and the catching, the timing and everything that goes with that. That's something new. We're going to definitely use that to our advantage."

Recruits are visiting in June. What do you want to accomplish?

"June is a huge month for recruiting. We have our Bounce House Weekend. We've got some other things. A lot of official visits. It's very critical. Last year we did really well in June. We need to do the same thing this year."

Eliminating the 25 initial counters and just managing the 85 on scholarship, how much is that a benefit?

"That's a game changer that everybody is working through right now. Official visits, everybody got more than that. It's definitely changed the game. That's another thing we're kind of learning through too. I think the rest of the head coaches in college football can say the same thing."

Did that open up some more scholarships for you in potentially adding more players?

"It could. I think it gives everybody more flexibility. We'll see who goes in the portal. We're looking for the right fit anyway. We've just about got everything wrapped up. That feels really good. We'll see. We could add another one or two. Pretty much got it wrapped up."

What are these tour stops like? What are the fans asking?

"First of all, you can sense the excitement everywhere you go. It feels different than it did this time last year. An event like this is great to come out. You can tell they're excited. Their expectations are to win championships. With the guys we've got coming back, with the transfers coming in and the signing class we had, we're feeling really good right now."

Do you hear it from the fans about those expectations?

"No doubt. I felt that last year. Our fans expect to win. You've got the first year, we went through some growing pains and had some injuries. It's a new day as far as that's concerned."

What did you think about the college football soap opera between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher?

"That was pretty interesting. You don't see that every day. That's something you really hadn't seen before. I think it's a new day in college football in a lot of different ways. There's probably more to come where that came from too."

What do you think about the proposed transfer windows?

"You've got the one-time transfer. The people that graduate that can transfer. Strategically, managing your roster with the 85, it's a new day. It's like the NFL. We're going to have to do a really good job with that."

Looking ahead to the Big 12, how do you keep your guys grounded?

"We're excited about the Big 12, but our guys understand that's the future. We've got to take care of this year. The AAC, our goal is to win the championship. That's a real league. I think everybody knows that. We're taking it one year at a time. Our guys are focused on nothing but this next year. But the big picture, when you're recruiting and everything that goes with that, you can look forward to the Big 12."

How do you feel about the linebacker position? Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste obviously has experience and you're bringing in transfers to supplement the other spots.

"We're bringing in some very talented guys. There's no doubt about that. It starts with Jeremiah. We're real excited. T-Will is the best. He's the best linebacker coach in the country I feel like. We added some very talented guys this summer. The practices this summer are very critical to get those guys ready to go."

The rest of your freshman class arrive this summer. How excited are you to get those guys on campus?

"Our freshmen are showing up this weekend. There's a lot of excitement. There's some guys that are going to help us this year, there's no doubt. Getting those guys on campus, working out and getting them with our team, with the transfers and the guys coming back, it feels real exciting right now."

How do you think this month of June is going to be different in recruiting? Last year you were just getting here and now you've got the Big 12 to recruit with.

"The game changed with the Big 12. There's no doubt. Our staff is pretty much all intact. We kind of know what to expect. We know more about us. And about UCF and everything that goes with it. I think that really helps. It'll be a lot more comfortable. We did pretty well last June. I think we can take it a step further this June."

What does it mean to interact with the fans at events like these?

"This is the fun part for me. Getting out and seeing the fans face to face. Last year at this time we were just getting over COVID. It's wide open and ready to go. Real exciting for me."

How quickly do you want to name a quarterback starter when you get to preseason practice?

"I told both those guys, sooner rather than later. We're going to make sure that we've got the best guy to help us win. The great thing is we've got two quality quarterbacks I feel like we can win a lot of games with. This day and time of the transfer portal, I think that's rare. We've got two real guys. We'll see once fall camp gets here."

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i don't know what they call these weekly interviews but they're usually pretty cool. i don't tune in to all of them, but tonight is kind of a no brainer for me. @SW Knight - is KZ going to host? i'd be interested in hearing them talk shop together

i know there was a lot of reading into coach malzahn's comments about the QB battle recently. what better way to find out then ask TC directly? sign up for mission control if you haven't yet!

also, the most important question is this: does he still go by tommy? is he thomas now? i've heard him called both and inquiring minds want to know

Holy shit why does Georgia insist on electing the absolute dumbest f*cking pieces of human trash alive. These people make goodknightfl look almost capable.

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https://www.si.com/college/auburn/f...alzahn#gid=ci02a27b4ae00024e2&pid=tank-bigsby

People notice us. Love us or hate us they notice

Three-Peat! Texas Tech Meat Judging Team Captures Third Straight National Championship

2022 UCF Softball: Knights Head Coach Cindy Ball-Malone met with members of the media to discuss the 2022 season, the Knights weekend in Oklahoma in the Super Regionals and her future with the program.

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I’ve watched the first 30 mins so far it’s deadly. Does it get any better? The damn thing is close to 3 hours long.