Here's a recap of everything that happened today. The news has been coming virtually nonstop since early this afternoon.
Shortly after 1 p.m., CoachingSearch.com (a site similar to Football Scoop) posted that the entire UCF coaching staff had been fired by Scott Frost. I had been wondering how news would break since I knew Frost was meeting individually with coaches today.
First coach I connected with indicated that he was let go, but wasn't sure about any others. Another coach was under the impression everyone was fired. Then I was told meetings were continuing with others. I received word from another coach that the CoachingSearch.com report was inaccurate.
Going into this process, I figured Sean Beckton had the best chance of being retained but with Frost's background I just wasn't sure what would happen. If anything, I'm guessing he has more coaches in mind for the offensive side of the ball.
After Twitter was abuzz with the rumor, Beckton sent out the following tweet:
UCF then issued the following statement:
"Reports that Coach Frost isn’t going to retain any of the assistant coaches at UCF are false. He doesn’t believe it would be wise to completely abandon UCF tradition and some of the people who have helped make this a special place.
"The process of putting a coaching staff in place is in motion, and decisions will be made in regards to each position. It is his wish that enough people are kept in place from this staff to maintain consistency, as well as to continue developing relationships to build a bridge from the past to the future."
Even now as I write this, I'm not entirely clear on what Frost has decided as for specific roles. Yes, I know a few coaches that were definitely let go but I am going to wait until tomorrow to see what's announced by the university.
NEW STAFF HIRE
While I was following that story, I received word that Colorado wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Troy Walters would be joining Frost's staff. I was able to confirm the hire and was told he would arrive in Orlando on Friday. The initial source indicated that their belief was he would be offensive coordinator, though the second source with direct knowledge of the hire declined to confirm his role, just that he was being hired.
In the late 1990s, Walters was a star WR and consensus All-American at Stanford who went on to play in the NFL for eight seasons. He spent two years in Minnesota with Daunte Culpepper (2000-01) and then stints with Indianapolis (2002-05), Arizona (2006) and Detroit (2007). He's since gotten into coaching with stops at Indiana State (2009), Texas A&M (2010-11), NC State (2012) and Colorado (2013-15).
Source on Walters:
"He has aspirations to be a head coach, so this is a natural move for him. UCF folks are going to love him. He's real personable, but not in a cocky way. A humble way. He's a former Biletnikoff winner. A great coach in terms of coaching receivers. Good recruiter on CU's staff. He's great. Good on social media. He'll do well."
Since Frost has said he'd call plays for at least the first couple years, so if Walters is indeed OC, this is a good opportunity to get acclimated to the role.
I have heard of a couple other names linked to staff positions, but have not confirmed.
RECRUITING RECRUITING RECRUITING
Around 6 p.m., you could tell Scott Frost got right to work recruiting. The first news to surface came from Miami RB commit Jawon Hamilton of South Dade, who indicated he received a UCF offer. He was gracious enough to call me almost immediately to do an interview.
Moments later, Palm Bay RB Brian Lankford-Johnson also indicated he too got an offer. He's the RB who recently visited for the USF game. I also got in touch with him almost immediately and you can read that interview here. I do know he has some academic work otherwise he's the type that would commit on the spot.
Dr. Phillips WR Jaquarius Bargnare, who had received a UCF offer in September, tweeted that he had just spoken with Frost on the phone. He's a speedy 5-9 slot receiver. He also spoke with me right away.
The last prospect to tweet of contact was Daytona Beach-Mainland RB Adrian Killins. He was so excited to get an offer. So many great quotes in that interview. Definitely can see him being a Knight.
Since his hire, Frost has followed these recruits on Twitter: QB Feleipe Franks (UF commit), QB Tyler Huntley (Utah commit), QB Shea Patterson (Ole Miss commit), RB Jawon Hamilton (Miami commit) and RB Travis Homer (Miami commit).
Oh, Shea Patterson is only the No. 1 player in the nation. Period. Five stars. Not just No. 1 QB. No. 1 player.
I'm somewhat familiar with Travis Homer. He visited UCF earlier last spring and got an offer right before his recruitment blew up.
One can assume those recruits were also contacted by Frost. Of that specific group, only Hamilton tweeted of contact (and I later interviewed).
As for Feleipe Franks, there's been chatter that he wasn't happy with Florida so quickly welcoming five-star Georgia commit Jacob Eason on an official visit. Earlier on Thursday, there were whispers Eason may be ready to flip. If he does, does that prompt Franks to perhaps look more closely at UCF? Time will tell.
I'm sure Friday will be a busy day as well. I'd imagine UCF would officially announce some coach hires so these guys can get on the road to begin recruiting, officially.
Shortly after 1 p.m., CoachingSearch.com (a site similar to Football Scoop) posted that the entire UCF coaching staff had been fired by Scott Frost. I had been wondering how news would break since I knew Frost was meeting individually with coaches today.
First coach I connected with indicated that he was let go, but wasn't sure about any others. Another coach was under the impression everyone was fired. Then I was told meetings were continuing with others. I received word from another coach that the CoachingSearch.com report was inaccurate.
Going into this process, I figured Sean Beckton had the best chance of being retained but with Frost's background I just wasn't sure what would happen. If anything, I'm guessing he has more coaches in mind for the offensive side of the ball.
After Twitter was abuzz with the rumor, Beckton sent out the following tweet:
UCF then issued the following statement:
"Reports that Coach Frost isn’t going to retain any of the assistant coaches at UCF are false. He doesn’t believe it would be wise to completely abandon UCF tradition and some of the people who have helped make this a special place.
"The process of putting a coaching staff in place is in motion, and decisions will be made in regards to each position. It is his wish that enough people are kept in place from this staff to maintain consistency, as well as to continue developing relationships to build a bridge from the past to the future."
Even now as I write this, I'm not entirely clear on what Frost has decided as for specific roles. Yes, I know a few coaches that were definitely let go but I am going to wait until tomorrow to see what's announced by the university.
NEW STAFF HIRE
While I was following that story, I received word that Colorado wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Troy Walters would be joining Frost's staff. I was able to confirm the hire and was told he would arrive in Orlando on Friday. The initial source indicated that their belief was he would be offensive coordinator, though the second source with direct knowledge of the hire declined to confirm his role, just that he was being hired.
In the late 1990s, Walters was a star WR and consensus All-American at Stanford who went on to play in the NFL for eight seasons. He spent two years in Minnesota with Daunte Culpepper (2000-01) and then stints with Indianapolis (2002-05), Arizona (2006) and Detroit (2007). He's since gotten into coaching with stops at Indiana State (2009), Texas A&M (2010-11), NC State (2012) and Colorado (2013-15).
Source on Walters:
"He has aspirations to be a head coach, so this is a natural move for him. UCF folks are going to love him. He's real personable, but not in a cocky way. A humble way. He's a former Biletnikoff winner. A great coach in terms of coaching receivers. Good recruiter on CU's staff. He's great. Good on social media. He'll do well."
Since Frost has said he'd call plays for at least the first couple years, so if Walters is indeed OC, this is a good opportunity to get acclimated to the role.
I have heard of a couple other names linked to staff positions, but have not confirmed.
RECRUITING RECRUITING RECRUITING
Around 6 p.m., you could tell Scott Frost got right to work recruiting. The first news to surface came from Miami RB commit Jawon Hamilton of South Dade, who indicated he received a UCF offer. He was gracious enough to call me almost immediately to do an interview.
Moments later, Palm Bay RB Brian Lankford-Johnson also indicated he too got an offer. He's the RB who recently visited for the USF game. I also got in touch with him almost immediately and you can read that interview here. I do know he has some academic work otherwise he's the type that would commit on the spot.
Dr. Phillips WR Jaquarius Bargnare, who had received a UCF offer in September, tweeted that he had just spoken with Frost on the phone. He's a speedy 5-9 slot receiver. He also spoke with me right away.
The last prospect to tweet of contact was Daytona Beach-Mainland RB Adrian Killins. He was so excited to get an offer. So many great quotes in that interview. Definitely can see him being a Knight.
Since his hire, Frost has followed these recruits on Twitter: QB Feleipe Franks (UF commit), QB Tyler Huntley (Utah commit), QB Shea Patterson (Ole Miss commit), RB Jawon Hamilton (Miami commit) and RB Travis Homer (Miami commit).
Oh, Shea Patterson is only the No. 1 player in the nation. Period. Five stars. Not just No. 1 QB. No. 1 player.
I'm somewhat familiar with Travis Homer. He visited UCF earlier last spring and got an offer right before his recruitment blew up.
One can assume those recruits were also contacted by Frost. Of that specific group, only Hamilton tweeted of contact (and I later interviewed).
As for Feleipe Franks, there's been chatter that he wasn't happy with Florida so quickly welcoming five-star Georgia commit Jacob Eason on an official visit. Earlier on Thursday, there were whispers Eason may be ready to flip. If he does, does that prompt Franks to perhaps look more closely at UCF? Time will tell.
I'm sure Friday will be a busy day as well. I'd imagine UCF would officially announce some coach hires so these guys can get on the road to begin recruiting, officially.
