Finally, the 2024 season is upon us and the UCF Knights open their season Thursday night versus the New Hampshire Wildcats. The UCF Knights begin their second season as a member of the Big 12 conference.
New Hampshire represents UCF’s only Football Championship Subdivision opponent in 2024.
What To Expect From the UCF Knights?
UCF is built to be very run-heavy. At quarterback is Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson. Jefferson is built like a tank and can tuck and run, running for over 1,800 yards over his career. Running back phenom RJ Harvey is back as the starting running back. Behind him is a committee of reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year Peny Boone, speedster Johnny Richardson, and Myles Montgomery. UCF’s running game is designed to wear defenses down and a smaller team like New Hampshire might struggle with fatigue. The Knights will throw the ball some, but it’s likely they will lean in on the run and let the committee get some work in.
The defense has new leadership in defensive coordinator Ted Roof. This brings in a new defensive philosophy that will have UCF play primarily in the nickel formation with five defensive backs. Last year under Addison Williams, the Knights used their fifth defensive back as a flex player who can line up with the linebackers. Moving to a more traditional defensive scheme will allow the smaller defensive backs to play their game versus having to “punch up” inside against larger linemen.
Who Are the New Hampshire Wildcats?
The New Hamshire Wildcats are a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, an FCS conference. For reference, the CAA was known as the Colonial Athletic Association until 2023. Oddly enough, the CAA is also a 16-team football conference, just like the Big 12 now is. Last year, the team opened the season ranked 11th. The Wildcats opened the season 2-3, losing three games by a combined 10 points. UNH struggled to win close games, going 2-4 in one-score games and the Wildcats finished 6-5 overall. The 2024 game against UCF will be New Hampshire’s only game against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. The Knights will be paying the Wildcats a $350,000 guarantee for this game.
The Wildcats come into 2024 looking to replace some key players. Leading running back Dylan Laube was drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft while starting quarterback Max Brosmer transferred to Minnesota. The new starting quarterback is senior Seth Morgan, a transfer from Virginia Military Institute, whose last game was in 2022. That season, Morgan was the leading passer, throwing for 1,283 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions for a VMI squad that went 1-10. Overall, he’s thrown for 4,815 yards with 28 touchdowns and 24 interceptions since 2019. Don’t let the bad 2022 season fool you though. Morgan has been able to rack up the yards, throwing for over 300 yards six times and 400 yards two times. Considering the possibility of New Hampshire playing from behind, UCF’s defensive backs will likely see a lot of work.
Replacing Laube is Myles Thomason, who ran 48 times for 216 yards and a touchdown last year as Laube’s backup.
UCF’s Depth Chart Notes
Looking at UCF’s depth chart, there are a couple of things to note.
*Trent Whittemore takes the sport vacated by Javon Baker, who left for the NFL. Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend reprise their roles from last year. Replacing Baker from a production standpoint is going to be difficult, but someone is going to have to do it. This is an older position group with six of the eight receivers being seniors.
*Colton Boomer is still UCF’s lead kicker. After winning the hearts of fans as a near-perfect freshman in 2022, Boomer struggled badly in 2023, hitting only 13 of 21 field goals, including going two for five in the 30-39 yard range. Grant Reddick is hanging around as Boomer’s backup.
*Fan favorite offensive lineman Paul Rubelt is finally listed as a starter. The towering 6′-11″ lineman will start at right tackle along with talented linemen Marcellus Marshall at right guard and Caden Kitler at Center.
*This is currently a senior-heavy two-deep roster. 15 of the 22 starters on offense and defensive are seniors or fifth-year players. UCF has been utilizing the transfer portal heavily while upping its high school recruiting.
*There are some key names missing from the depth chart due to injury. The biggest name missing is sophom*ore defensive tackle John Walker. He’s slated to miss an extended time due to a leg injury, per head coach Gus Malzahn. Proven vets Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter will anchor the defensive line. Defensive back Demari Henderson is also out with a knee injury and redshirt junior tight end Jordan Davis will miss the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
UCF Knights vs New Hampshire Wildcats Prediction
New Hampshire will not be able to contain UCF’s run game for four quarters. The Knights should be able to take advantage of the home crowd and have some fun. Knights 56-10.
UCF hosts New Hampshire on Thursday, August 29th at 7 pm at FBC Mortgage Stadium. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
