Future Power Rankings: College football's best offenses for the next three years
We take a look at which programs will have the best offenses over the next three seasons. Plenty of teams are in contention for the top spot, but which team has the brightest future?
11. UCF Knights
2022 future QB ranking: Not ranked2021 future offense ranking: 17
Scouting the Knights: Since 2019, UCF ranks fifth nationally in scoring, sixth in total yards and ninth in yards per play. Although the quarterback outlook isn't quite as solid as in the past, the overall unit projects quite well during the next few years, which include the Big 12 transition. Quarterback Mikey Keene might turn out to be the next great Knights signal-caller, as he faced a tough situation last year as a true freshman thrust into action following Dillon Gabriel's collarbone injury. Keene still completed 63.8% of his passes with 17 touchdowns and only six interceptions. UCF has other options at quarterback with Ole Miss transfer John Rhys Plumlee, sophomore Parker Navarro and incoming freshman Thomas Castellanos. Even more excitement comes at running back, as junior Johnny Richardson returns after averaging 7 yards per carry in 2021. Richardson joins workhorse senior Isaiah Bowser, who logged a team-high 159 carries last fall. Veteran Mark-Antony Richards remains, and other young backs should enter the mix in 2023.
The offense's strength could be at wide receiver, as Jaylon Robinson returns from injury to complement top target Ryan O'Keefe (84 receptions, 812 yards in 2021) and others. Kobe Hudson, who had 44 receptions for Auburn in 2021, transferred to UCF to rejoin coach Gus Malzahn and has three years of eligibility left. Quarterback Joey Gatewood, who made stops at Auburn and Kentucky, also could be an option at receiver, and UCF has a nice rotation piece in senior Amari Johnson. The offensive line received a big boost when tackle Samuel Jackson(33 career starts) returned for a sixth season. Jackson forms a nice nucleus with center Matthew Lee, who enters his third year as a starter, and second-team All-AAC guard Lokahi Pauole. The additions of transfers Ryan Swoboda(Virginia) and Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) solidify the line for 2022. Malzahn has featured tight ends in the past and could emphasize the spot more with Florida transfer Kemore Gamble(48 career receptions, 632 receiving yards).
