The spring transfer portal has been open for a week and will continue for one more week. Here's a look of where we currently are.
7 UCF scholarship players have entered the portal:
QB Timmy McClain
S Nikai Martinez
WR Stephen Martin
WR Goldie Lawrence
DB Ja'Maric Morris
DB Jason Duclona
DE Zavier Carter
No major surprises on the list. It was always expected Timmy McClain would enter the portal. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't do it last December. My guess is they wanted clarity on the two-time transfer rule.
Nikai Martinez, from what I'm told, saw the writing on the wall in terms of his starter status and playing time. He would have been a contributor in some form or fashion, but it remains to be seen if he would have retained his starting job. He struggled vs. Big 12 competition last year and was the team's worst-graded tackler.
Stephen Martin is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship. He definitely would have played on special teams and possibly cracked the WR rotation, though he was looking for a bigger opportunity with more playing time.
The other players didn't make much of an impression in the spring. I don't think any were on the two-deep.
UCF has received a commitment from 2 spring transfer portal players:
S Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State)
DE Nyjalik Kelly (Miami)
By my count, UCF has 79 players on scholarship (returners, signees, transfer commits) which leaves 7 open spots for portal additions.
UCF's spring portal needs:
Quarterback - UCF's QB room is KJ Jefferson and three freshmen (Dylan Rizk, Riley Trujillo, EJ Colson). Most teams would be in trouble if the starting QB went down, but UCF's situation is especially precarious.
Transfer Name to Watch - Jacurri Brown (Miami)
Brown is set to visit this week. He would essentially be signing up to be UCF's backup, though you never how the season will go. He could end up playing a major role and set himself up to be the 2025 starter.
Running Back - On the surface, this does not appear to be a major need assuming UCF is returning RJ Harvey, Johnny Richardson and Myles Montgomery, though UCF apparently feels otherwise as evident by offers.
Transfer Names to Watch - Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams (UMass), Trent Howland (Indiana).
Lynch-Adams is scheduled to visit UCF this upcoming weekend. He has a midweek visit to Michigan State. Howland is looking at UCF, Ole Miss, Duke and Oklahoma State.
Wide Receiver - UCF is looking for an experienced player (or two) in the portal. Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend are UCF's only established receiving threats. Beyond those two, the rotation is shaping up to include Jarrad Baker, Trent Whittemore, Chauncey Magwood and freshman Bredell Richardson.
Transfer Names to Watch - Ja'Varrius Johnson (Auburn), Jay Fair (Auburn), Justus Ross-Simmons (Colorado State), Dalevon Campbell (Nevada), Elijah Badger (Arizona State), Justin Robinson (Mississippi State), Jacoby Jones (Ohio), Tyler Williams (Georgia), Raymond Cottrell Jr. (Texas A&M/Kentucky), Tar'Varish Dawson (Auburn/Colorado), Sam Brown (Houston).
There's a lot of names here and there will be top competition for the first few names on the list.
Offensive Line - UCF is searching for additional depth at all positions. Center remains a question mark. Caden Kitler seemingly won the job in the spring. Jabari Brooks was moved to guard. Waltclaire Flynn could be the future, but he's a freshman. Could UCF look to add an additional center for provide preseason competition?
Transfer Names to Watch: Jason Zandamela (USC), Gabriel Arena (Virginia Tech), Joe Borjon (Arizona), Derrick Graham (Troy/Texas A&M), DJ Geth (North Carolina).
Defensive End - Malachi Lawrence is coming off a breakout season. Beyond that, the current rotation is mostly younger unproven players and an FCS transfer (Kaven Call, Jamaal Johnson, Isaiah Nixon, Daylon Dotson).
Transfer Names to Watch - Nyjalik Kelly (Miami), Eddie Kelly (Georgia Tech), Rene Konga (Rutgers), DJ Allen (Purdue).
Nyjalik Kelly committed to UCF on Tuesday.
Linebacker - UCF has seemed pleased with Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt) and Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati) this spring, though UCF is still recruiting linebackers in the spring portal.
Transfer Name to Watch - Myles Jernigan (California).
Jernigan has OVs scheduled to Kansas State, Louisville, UCF and Duke.
Secondary - UCF has already added Cedrick Hawkins and could look for additional depth.
Transfer Names to Watch: Tre'Quon Fegans (USC), Cormani McClain (Colorado), Kaleb Spencer (Miami).
Lots of questions surrounding McClain, UCF is definitely doing their due diligence. It could happen.
==
QB (4)
KJ Jefferson (Arkansas)**
Dylan Rizk
Riley Trujillo*
EJ Colson*
RB (5)
RJ Harvey
Johnny Richardson
Myles Montgomery (Cincinnati)**
Stacy Gage*
Frankie Arthur*
WR (10)
Kobe Hudson
Xavier Townsend
Trent Whittemore
Chauncey Magwood
Jarrad Baker
Tyree Patterson
Bredell Richardson*
Kylan Fox*
Jordyn Bridgewater*
Kason Stokes*
TE (4)
Randy Pittman Jr.
Jordan Davis
Evan Morris (Michigan State)**
Grant Stevens
OL (13)
Amari Kight
Marcellus Marshall
Adrian Medley
Caden Kitler
Paul Rubelt
Jabari Brooks (Samford)**
Wes Dorsey (Western Kentucky)**
Cameron Kinnie
Johnathan Cline
Keyon Cox
Patrick Barnett
Waltclaire Flynn*
Chase Malamala*
DT (7)
Ricky Barber
Lee Hunter
John Walker
Matthew Alexander
Derrick LeBlanc
Andrew Rumph
Marcus Downs*
DE (6)
Malachi Lawrence
Nyjalik Kelly (Miami)**
Daylan Dotson (UT Martin)**
Jamaal Johnson
Isaiah Nixon
Kaven Call
LB (10)
Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt)**
Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati)**
Jesiah Pierre (Texas Tech)**
Xe'ree Alexander (Idaho)**
Andrew Harris
Kam Moore
TJ Bullard
Troy Ford Jr.
Qua Birdsong*
DJ McCormick*
S (9)
Bryon Threats (Cincinnati)**
Demari Henderson
Quadric Bullard
William Wells
Xavier Williams
Christian Peterson*
Jashad Presley*
Jakob Gude*
Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State)**
CB (7)
Brandon Adams
Ja'Cari Henderson
Ladarius Tennison (Ole Miss)**
Braeden Marshall
Antione Jackson (ECU)**
Chasen Johnson*
Jaylen Heyward*
Specialists (4)
K Colton Boomer
K Grant Reddick
P Mitch McCarthy
LS Gage King
7 UCF scholarship players have entered the portal:
QB Timmy McClain
S Nikai Martinez
WR Stephen Martin
WR Goldie Lawrence
DB Ja'Maric Morris
DB Jason Duclona
DE Zavier Carter
No major surprises on the list. It was always expected Timmy McClain would enter the portal. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't do it last December. My guess is they wanted clarity on the two-time transfer rule.
Nikai Martinez, from what I'm told, saw the writing on the wall in terms of his starter status and playing time. He would have been a contributor in some form or fashion, but it remains to be seen if he would have retained his starting job. He struggled vs. Big 12 competition last year and was the team's worst-graded tackler.
Stephen Martin is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship. He definitely would have played on special teams and possibly cracked the WR rotation, though he was looking for a bigger opportunity with more playing time.
The other players didn't make much of an impression in the spring. I don't think any were on the two-deep.
UCF has received a commitment from 2 spring transfer portal players:
S Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State)
DE Nyjalik Kelly (Miami)
By my count, UCF has 79 players on scholarship (returners, signees, transfer commits) which leaves 7 open spots for portal additions.
UCF's spring portal needs:
Quarterback - UCF's QB room is KJ Jefferson and three freshmen (Dylan Rizk, Riley Trujillo, EJ Colson). Most teams would be in trouble if the starting QB went down, but UCF's situation is especially precarious.
Transfer Name to Watch - Jacurri Brown (Miami)
Brown is set to visit this week. He would essentially be signing up to be UCF's backup, though you never how the season will go. He could end up playing a major role and set himself up to be the 2025 starter.
Running Back - On the surface, this does not appear to be a major need assuming UCF is returning RJ Harvey, Johnny Richardson and Myles Montgomery, though UCF apparently feels otherwise as evident by offers.
Transfer Names to Watch - Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams (UMass), Trent Howland (Indiana).
Lynch-Adams is scheduled to visit UCF this upcoming weekend. He has a midweek visit to Michigan State. Howland is looking at UCF, Ole Miss, Duke and Oklahoma State.
Wide Receiver - UCF is looking for an experienced player (or two) in the portal. Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend are UCF's only established receiving threats. Beyond those two, the rotation is shaping up to include Jarrad Baker, Trent Whittemore, Chauncey Magwood and freshman Bredell Richardson.
Transfer Names to Watch - Ja'Varrius Johnson (Auburn), Jay Fair (Auburn), Justus Ross-Simmons (Colorado State), Dalevon Campbell (Nevada), Elijah Badger (Arizona State), Justin Robinson (Mississippi State), Jacoby Jones (Ohio), Tyler Williams (Georgia), Raymond Cottrell Jr. (Texas A&M/Kentucky), Tar'Varish Dawson (Auburn/Colorado), Sam Brown (Houston).
There's a lot of names here and there will be top competition for the first few names on the list.
Offensive Line - UCF is searching for additional depth at all positions. Center remains a question mark. Caden Kitler seemingly won the job in the spring. Jabari Brooks was moved to guard. Waltclaire Flynn could be the future, but he's a freshman. Could UCF look to add an additional center for provide preseason competition?
Transfer Names to Watch: Jason Zandamela (USC), Gabriel Arena (Virginia Tech), Joe Borjon (Arizona), Derrick Graham (Troy/Texas A&M), DJ Geth (North Carolina).
Defensive End - Malachi Lawrence is coming off a breakout season. Beyond that, the current rotation is mostly younger unproven players and an FCS transfer (Kaven Call, Jamaal Johnson, Isaiah Nixon, Daylon Dotson).
Transfer Names to Watch - Nyjalik Kelly (Miami), Eddie Kelly (Georgia Tech), Rene Konga (Rutgers), DJ Allen (Purdue).
Nyjalik Kelly committed to UCF on Tuesday.
Linebacker - UCF has seemed pleased with Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt) and Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati) this spring, though UCF is still recruiting linebackers in the spring portal.
Transfer Name to Watch - Myles Jernigan (California).
Jernigan has OVs scheduled to Kansas State, Louisville, UCF and Duke.
Secondary - UCF has already added Cedrick Hawkins and could look for additional depth.
Transfer Names to Watch: Tre'Quon Fegans (USC), Cormani McClain (Colorado), Kaleb Spencer (Miami).
Lots of questions surrounding McClain, UCF is definitely doing their due diligence. It could happen.
==
QB (4)
KJ Jefferson (Arkansas)**
Dylan Rizk
Riley Trujillo*
EJ Colson*
RB (5)
RJ Harvey
Johnny Richardson
Myles Montgomery (Cincinnati)**
Stacy Gage*
Frankie Arthur*
WR (10)
Kobe Hudson
Xavier Townsend
Trent Whittemore
Chauncey Magwood
Jarrad Baker
Tyree Patterson
Bredell Richardson*
Kylan Fox*
Jordyn Bridgewater*
Kason Stokes*
TE (4)
Randy Pittman Jr.
Jordan Davis
Evan Morris (Michigan State)**
Grant Stevens
OL (13)
Amari Kight
Marcellus Marshall
Adrian Medley
Caden Kitler
Paul Rubelt
Jabari Brooks (Samford)**
Wes Dorsey (Western Kentucky)**
Cameron Kinnie
Johnathan Cline
Keyon Cox
Patrick Barnett
Waltclaire Flynn*
Chase Malamala*
DT (7)
Ricky Barber
Lee Hunter
John Walker
Matthew Alexander
Derrick LeBlanc
Andrew Rumph
Marcus Downs*
DE (6)
Malachi Lawrence
Nyjalik Kelly (Miami)**
Daylan Dotson (UT Martin)**
Jamaal Johnson
Isaiah Nixon
Kaven Call
LB (10)
Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt)**
Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati)**
Jesiah Pierre (Texas Tech)**
Xe'ree Alexander (Idaho)**
Andrew Harris
Kam Moore
TJ Bullard
Troy Ford Jr.
Qua Birdsong*
DJ McCormick*
S (9)
Bryon Threats (Cincinnati)**
Demari Henderson
Quadric Bullard
William Wells
Xavier Williams
Christian Peterson*
Jashad Presley*
Jakob Gude*
Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State)**
CB (7)
Brandon Adams
Ja'Cari Henderson
Ladarius Tennison (Ole Miss)**
Braeden Marshall
Antione Jackson (ECU)**
Chasen Johnson*
Jaylen Heyward*
Specialists (4)
K Colton Boomer
K Grant Reddick
P Mitch McCarthy
LS Gage King
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