The Knights host C-USA’s Jacksonville State on Thursday night
ORLANDO, Fla. – Much of the preseason in Scott Frost’s second stint as coach at UCF included sorting out who would be the quarterback leading the Knights’ offense in Thursday evening’s opener against visiting Jacksonville State.
Of course, Gus Malzahn spent last season attempting to figure out who would be behind center one week to the next. Arkansas transfer K.J. Jefferson (5), Dylan Rizk (4), Jacurri Brown (2) and E.J. Colson (1) all started at least one game during a 4-8 campaign. The quartet combined for a pass efficiency rating that ranked 82nd nationally and next-to-last (Houston) in the Big 12.
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Brown, the former highly-touted dual-threat recruit at Miami – Seems like ages ago, doesn’t it? – is the only one who returned for 2025.
It will not be Brown who starts Thursday, or Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson. The keys to the offense are in the hands of Cam Fancher, though the key chain may be dangling from his fingertips.
The Dayton, Ohio native took the turnpike north from FAU where he spent the 2024 season under coach Tom Herman, who was fired after 10 games, and interim coach Chad Lunsford. Fancher, who spent his first three college seasons at Marshall, started nine games for the Owls and was 99th among 119 qualifying FBS quarterbacks in pass efficiency.
“All three kids did an unbelievable job and Cam’s gonna run out there,” said Frost. “It’s his job to begin the game and begin the season and we will go from there.”
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The 6-foot-2 and 200-pound Fancher has made 26 career starts, compiled more than 6,400 total yards (5,294 passing) and an unimpressive 26 touchdowns to 22 interceptions. In fact, each of the last two seasons Fancher has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns for a combined 17/17. Since Frost expired his eligibility at Nebraska nearly three decades ago, Brown and Jackson best be ready to roll.
“I trust all three,” said the 50-year-old coach, who left UCF for his alma mater following a 2017 American championship win over Memphis and before the Knights completed a 13-0 season under interim coach Troy Walters with a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn. “I want good things to happen for all three of them. If the situation arises, we will get some other guys in. We might even have a plan for that, but right now it’s Cam’s job.”
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While Brown remains in the mix with the Knights, Jefferson expired his eligibility and Colson landed at Incarnate Ward of the FCS where current Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward began his collegiate career. Rizk transferred to Stanford and is among those backing up sixth-year signal caller Ben Gulbranson.
Four of the Knights’ first five games are at home. They host North Carolina A&T next Saturday and, following a bye, Bill Belichick and North Carolina arrive at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Sept. 20. The first road game is Sept. 27 at Kansas State, which is also the conference opener. Kansas visits UCF on Oct. 4.
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