When Scott Frost returned to college coaching at UCF in mid-December after nearly three years adrift, he walked into a chaotic situation. Taking over from Gus Malzahn, Frost inherited a roster battered by the brutal winds of the transfer portal. Players left in droves. His first mission was clear but daunting. He needed to stabilize the Knights’ remaining roster. He also needed to fish for new talent. And he had to reload a program still buzzing from Malzahn’s tenure. Just when the seas seemed calm, another storm brewed. A far trickier, less publicized battle now threatens to test Frost’s leadership all over again.
Behind the scenes, a glaring light shines on an escalating crisis involving UCF’s walk-on program. Brian Smith, speaking on Locked On UCF, outlined the murky complications stemming from the new NCAA scholarship cap. “It’s really not about the money. It’s about some of the other, let’s just say, sub points,” Smith explained. “One of the things is the new 105 scholarship limit, which also includes the walk-ons. It’s very confusing.” He then broke it down in simple terms.
“If you had 120-some kids on your roster, that ain’t going to happen no more based on what the coaches, the ADs, and all that were told—that this is what we’re going to do. But the judge said, ‘We don’t want to see all these kids just get cut. Even if they were just walk-ons, it’s not fair to them. So, we got to figure this out.’”
The implications of this new rule aren’t just numbers on a ledger—they’re deeply personal. Smith painted a raw picture of the immense effort walk-ons pour into a program, often without a scholarship. “They had like 20 plus people over the 105 limit. This was like a week or so ago. I mean, that would su-k. If you’re a walk-on one of those programs, man, you give your blood, sweat, and tears. So I get it,” he said. Smith projected that the Knights find a temporary solution for this season.
“I’m guessing, this is just my projection, for at least one year, those kids are going to have a spot. Now, they may not play, but they would still have a spot. My guess is the same time next year, it’s going to be 105. That includes all scholarship players and all walk-ons. So, the walk-on programs are going to get much smaller.” It’s the kind of slow squeeze that doesn’t make headlines but reshapes the lifeblood of a team.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 28: RJ Harvey #7 of the UCF Knights rushes the ball in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Scott Frost himself hasn’t been shy about venting his frustrations with the broader landscape. After concluding spring camp, he called the transfer portal experience a “nightmare.” Speaking in frank terms, he said, “Then when that was over, it felt like I was just a coach again. Now we’re going to go through another portal season that’s not going to be any fun.” His candor highlights the exhausting cycle modern coaches must navigate. No sooner do they patch one gap than two more spring leaks. The portal has become a living, breathing entity, one that dictates rosters as much as recruiting once did.
Compounding matters, the fresh spring transfer window—opening just days ago—sent another shockwave through Frost’s roster. Within hours, a handful of Knights jumped ship, headlined by promising names like QB Dylan Rizk, OLs Waltclaire Flynn Jr., LB DJ McCormick, and DB Tre’Quon Fegans. It’s a tough blow for a program that was already clinging to a fragile new identity. And for Scott Frost personally, it stirs memories of his ill-fated Nebraska tenure, where optimism died by a thousand cuts.
He once believed Nebraska was his “dream job,” but after four straight losing seasons and a brutal exit, the dream curdled into a nightmare—a cautionary tale he’s desperate not to repeat in Orlando. Now, as UCF fights to maintain its footing in a rapidly changing college football ecosystem, Frost finds himself not just coaching games but waging war on multiple fronts.
Scott Frost finds his QB: $180K man commits to UCF with a big splash
The UCF Knights have officially added a new arm to their QB room—and it’s a name that could turn some heads. Former Virginia Tech signal-caller Davi Belfort is making his way to Orlando through the transfer portal, and he couldn’t be more excited.
“I’m coming home! Romans 8:28,” Belfort tweeted, pairing his announcement with a slick photoshopped picture of himself in a UCF football uniform. The image screamed excitement, with Belfort’s name and the word “committed” splashed across it in bold white lettering. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native wasted no time after visiting UCF, announcing his commitment just two days later. Clearly, the visit hit all the right notes. Now, he’s ready to trade in his Hokies colors for the Knights’ black and gold. DB is the 3rd passer Frost & Co. has added this offseason.
Adding a little extra sparkle to the news, On3 has projected Belfort’s current NIL value at a cool $180,000—not too shabby for a player looking for a fresh start and a big opportunity. With his roots back in the Sunshine State and a new squad behind him, Belfort seems poised to write an exciting new chapter.
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