The 2026 UCF Knights Transfer Portal Tracker

The floodgates are open.

For the first time since transfer windows were introduced back in 2022, there is only one transfer portal window, from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16. Wherever an athlete ends up after this window closes is where he stays for the 2026 season.

This article breaks down all the offseason transfer portal activity for the UCF Knights football program, as coach Scott Frost enters his second year in his return to Orlando. This tracker covers every addition and departure, position-by-position impact, and what it means for the team’s future.

Incoming Transfers
Outgoing Transfers
Position-by-Position Breakdown
How the Transfer Class Stacks Up Nationally
Biggest Winners
Questions Still Remaining

Incoming Transfers

Click the underlined names for individual articles that break down the player individually, featuring coach quotes, media reactions and more detailed insights.

Name	Position	Years of Eligibility Remaining	Previous School	2025 Stats	Transfer Rating (On3)
Alonza Barnett lll	QB	1	James Madison	2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year. Went Completed 58.4% (216/370) of his passes for 2,806 yards and 23 TDs. 8 INTs. Rushed 127 times for 589 yards and 15 TDs.	87
Kaleb Annett	QB	3	Boise State	Did not see the field in 2025.	83
Landen Chambers	RB	2	Central Arkansas	Named All-UAC First Team. Ran 242 times for 1,273 yards and 10 TDs. Caught 27 passes for 238 yards.	88
Duke Watson	RB	2	Louisville	Played in 7 games. Ran 49 times for 158 yards and a TD. Caught 6 passes for 49 yards and a TD.	89.76
Josh Derry	WR	1	Monmouth	Named FCS First-Team All-American (AP, Phil Steele). Caught 76 passes for 1,123 yards and 13 TDs	86.5
Jonathan Bibbs	WR	3	ULM	Played in all 12 games. Caught 26 passes for 383 yards and 3 TDs. Also ran 11 times for 58 yards.	87
Grayson Brousseau	TE	3	Oklahoma State	Played in all 12 games. Caught 7 passes for 45 yards.	84.5
Henry Tabansi	OL	2	Buffalo	Started all 12 games at left tackle.	87
Brady Wayburn	OL	2	UConn	Started at right guard in 6 of 12 games played.	87
Tyler Gibson	OL	1	Charlotte	Started at right tackle in 6 of 12 games played.	83
Cooper Terpstra	OL	2	Michigan State	Played in 10 games, mainly on special teams. Made first career start in last game.	83
Brad Gurley	DL	2	Eastern Kentucky	Started all 12 games at defensive end. Named All-UAC Second Team. Recorded 45 tackles (21 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three passes defended and one forced fumble.	87
Bruno Dall	EDGE	2	Akron	Played in all 12 games as a regular starter. Named All-MAC Third Team this season after recording 44 tackles (18 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, seven passes defended, a forced fumble and an INT.	87.73
Ken Talley	DE	1	Arkansas	Played in 3 games off the bench. Recorded 3 tackles (1 solo).	84.67
LA Jesse Harrold	DE	4	Florida State	Did not play in 2025.	87.5
Thomas Collins	DL	2	Oregon State	Started all 12 games. Recorded 30 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.	86
Josh Schell	DL	1	Tennessee	Played in all 13 games off the bench. Recorded 1 tackle.	81
Tackett Curtis	LB	1	Wisconsin	Played in 11 games (started 7). Recorded 29 tackles (15 solo), a sack and a pass defended	87
Jahleel Culbreath	LB	1	Old Dominion	Started all 13 games. Recorded 71 tackles (26 solo), nine tackles for loss and three sacks.	87
Rashad Henry	LB	2	UMass	Played in all 12 games (started 4). Recorded 67 tackles (21 solo) and 3 tackles for loss.	85
Ty Bartrum	S	1	Harvard	Played in 11 games. Named AP Honorable Mention All-American. Recorded 83 tackles (27 solo), 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles and 1 INT	89.26
Jailen Duffie	CB	2	North Dakota State	Started in all 12 games he played. Named All-MVFC 2nd Team. Recorded 15 tackles (12 solo), a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and two passes defended.	87
Kahmel Johnson	DB	3	Wayne State College (D2)	Named All-NSIC 1st Team Defense. Recorded 37 tackles (18 solo), 0.5 TFLs, 3 INTs and 12 pass defended.	86
Matt Irwin	S	2	Idaho	Played in all 12 games. Recorded 45 tackles (29 solo), one tackle for loss and two passes defended.	85.50
Caleb Flagg	DB	2	Missouri	Played in 4 games, recording 4 tackles and 2 passes defended before redshirting the rest of the season.	86
TJ Branch	S	4	Colorado	Redshirted freshman season.	86
Atticus Bertrams	P	1	Wisconsin	Played in 12 games. Punted 37 times, averaged 41.5 yards per punt, landing 18 inside the 20-yard line.	80
Will Stone	K	1	Texas	Played in 3 games in 2025. Was main kickoff specialist in 2023 and 2024. Averaged 63.3 yards per kick over 3 seasons.	80

By the Numbers

Position Group	# of additions	% of P4 Transfers
Quarterback	2	0%
Running Back	2	50%
Wide Reciever	2	0%
Tight End	1	100%
Offensive Line	4	25%
Defensive Line (EGDE + DT)	6	50%
Linebackers	3	33.3%
Defensive Backs	6	20%
Special Teams	2	100%
Total	28	39.3%

Two of UCF's biggest needs on offense, quarterback and running back, were addressed immediately with the additions of former JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett lll and former Central Arkansas running back Landen Chambers.

Quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton's reaction to Barnett's announcement:

LET’S GOOOO!! 😤😤
— McKenzie Milton (@McKenzieMil10) January 4, 2026

With the additions of both Kehmal Johnson and Caleb Flagg early on in the portal window, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and new defensive backs coach Will Johnson are stocking up on depth with developmental potential in the secondary.

Four of the Knights' first nine additions from the transfer portal were offensive linemen. However, both the defensive line, which had many players enter the portal, and the defensive backs, a position group where a lot of its depth entered the portal, have also been emphasized.

Outgoing Transfers

* = Started in six or more games in the 2025 season

Name	Position	Years of eligibility remaining	2025 Stats	Destination
Tayven Jackson*	QB	1	200/315, 2,151 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs, 16 sacks.	North Texas
Jacurri Brown	QB	1	Played in 3 games, 3/5 passing for 97 yards and a TD, 16 rushes for 142 yards and 2 TDs.	Rice
Cam Fancher	QB	1	Played in 3 games (started 2). 41/72 passing for 333 yards, 31 carries for 170 yards and 1 TD.	Michigan State
Davi Belfort	QB	3	Played in 6 games off the bench. Completed 4/6 passes for 53 yards and an INT and ran 16 times for 94 yards and a TD.	James Madison
John Walker*	DT	2	Started all 12 games, recording 40 tackles, (16 solo), three tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble.	Ohio State
Carter Miller*	OL	1	Started first nine games at center.	South Carolina
Dalton Riggs*	LS	1	Played all 12 games at long snapper.	Ohio State
Kylan Fox	TE	2	Played in 12 games (started 3), recorded 16 receptions, 137 yards, 1 TD.	Purdue
Max Drag	TE	2	Played in 11 games (starting 1). Caught 3 passes for 19 yards.	South Carolina
DJ Black*	WR	1	Played in all 12 games (started 11). Caught 22 passes for 273 yards and 2 TDs.	South Carolina
Jamaal Johnson	EDGE	1	Played in all 12 games. Recorded 24 tackles, 11 of them solo, and 1.5 tackles for loss.	Northwestern
Rodney Lora	DT	2	Played in all 12 games off the bench, recording 22 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery.	?
Jaeden Gould	DB	2	Played in all 12 games off the bench, recording five tackles (3 solo) and one pass breakup.	Temple
Derrick LeBlanc	DT	2	Played in 8 games, recorded 13 tackles, seven solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.	Maryland
Jyaire Brown	CB	1	Played in 11 games (1 start), recording seven tackles and one pass breakup.	Southern Miss
Stacy Gage	RB	3	Played in 8 games before getting sidelined by injury. Recorded 13 carries for 63 yards and 1 TD.	LSU
Ja'Cari Henderson	DB	1	Played in 10 games, recording three tackles (2 solo).	Appalachian State
Isaiah Reed	DB	1	Played in 4 games. Recorded 1 solo tackle.	UMass
Tony Williams	DB	4	Played in 2 games, recording two tackles.	Kennesaw State
Jaylen "AP" Heyward	DB	3	Played in 2 games, recording three tackles.	Arkansas State
Tyler Wrenn	RB	1	Played in 2 games, recording 1 carry for 8 yards and 1 reception for 11 yards.	?
Josh Dorsainvil	EDGE	1	Played in 1 game, recorded 1 solo tackle.	?
Jakob Gude	DB	3	Did not see the field.	Appalachian State
Jacquez Joiner	OL	4	Played in one game this season.	Marshall
Thomas Gearity	OL	3	Played in one game this season.	Colgate
Malakhi Boone	LB	4	Did not see the field.	?
Andrew Rumph	DT	2	Did not see the field.	Jacksonville State
Christian Peterson	DB	2	Played in all 12 games.	East Carolina
Kam Moore	LB	1	Played in 8 games. Recorded 3 tackles, 2 of them solo.	?
Troy Ford Jr.	LB	3	Played in 7 games. Recorded 3 solo tackles.	?
Bredell Richardson	WR	3	Played in four games. Caught one punt return for eight yards.	?
Tyreek'e Robinson	DT	3	Played in 2 games, recording one solo tackle.	East Tennessee State
Keshaun Hudson	DT	1	Did not see the field in 2025.	Jackson State
TJ Bullard	LB	1	Played in 10 games. Recorded 2 tackles (1 solo).	Florida

By the Numbers

Position Group	# in the Transfer Portal	% of Group in Portal
Quarterback	4	80%
Running Back	2	28.6%
Wide Reciever	2	13.3%
Tight End	2	33.33%
Offensive Line	3	12.5%
EDGEs	2	22.2%
Defensive Tackles	6	60%
Linebackers	4	44.4%
Defensive Backs	8	42.1%
Special Teams	1	16.7%
Total	34	30.4%

Notes

The defense and quarterback rooms were the most impacted by transfer portal departures, with the defensive tackles and quarterbacks being the only groups to lose more than half of its players.

While the offensive line has only lost two players, including one starter, to the transfer portal, it has already lost seven players to graduation. So, the offensive line's transfer portal exits increased the number of departures in the room to 37.5% of its 2025 roster.

With Tayven Jackson's departure, UCF is set to have its fourth different main starting quarterback in four years in 2026.

While the defensive backs lost over a third of its roster to the transfer portal, all of them have a combined one start.

Position-by-Position Breakdown

We released an article on Dec. 22 that detailed UCF's most pressing needs from the portal at the time, so click here to check that out for some more insight.

Quarterback

The quarterback room is going to get, essentially, a complete overhaul. All four quarterbacks that played in more than one game in 2025 have entered the transfer portal. This just leaves transfer portal add Alonza Barnett lll and a pair of incoming freshman: Rocco Marriott and Dante Carr.

With Barnett III's announcement of his transfer to UCF, Frost gains offensive stability. By getting the defending 2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year and a quarterback that led his team to the College Football Playoff, he goes from having three quarterbacks competing for the starting job all through camp to one proven guy that has the job locked down from the beginning.

Barnett's arrival could come at the cost of proven depth, with three quarterback behind him having never taken a collegiate snap.

2026 UCF Quarterbacks by Seniority

Name	Year
Alonza Barnett lll	R-Senior
Kaleb Annett	R-Sophomore
Rocco Marriott	Freshman
Dante Carr	Freshman

Running Back

The transfer portal can only help the running back room, as even with Stacy Gage and Tyler Wrenn's departures, all five of the running backs that currently remain on UCF’s roster are underclassmen. Among them, only Agyeman Addae, a walk-on, would have any collegiate playing experience.

The Knights gain a pair of proven upperclassmen backs in Landen Chambers, who was named an All-UAC First-Teamer with Central Arkansas this past season as a sophomore, and Duke Watson, who stood out as a freshman at Lousiville, but was hampered by injury this past season. Both also have multiple years of eligibility left to build a multi-threat running back room alongside Addae, Taevion Swint, Kaj Baker and Arthur Lewis IV, all of whom are underclassmen in 2026.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

The Knights may have lost a wide receiver and tight end who made starts in DJ Black and Kylan Fox, but they were not the most targeted players at their respective positions, especially at the end of the season. Those would be Duane Thomas Jr. and Dylan Wade, both of whom are confirmed to be returning in 2026. Behind them are sophomore Waden Charles, a returning-from-injury DayDay Farmer and incoming freshman Tyren Hornes.

The Knights may have found a new deep threat in defending FCS First-Team All-American Josh Derry. The receiver averaged 69.2 yards per game on 4.6 catches per game in three seasons with Monmouth. With young receivers coming up on the team in Waden Charles, Hornes and a host of others, Derry adds another beacon of senior leadership to pair up with Thomas Jr. As it stands on the evening of Jan. 7, they are the only seniors in the Knights' receiving room that played in a majority of games this past season.

UCF added a second wide receiver from the transfer portal on Jan. 8, flipping Jonathan Bibbs from North Carolina. He is a rising sophomore, and although he did not start all 12 games he played for ULM this past season, he did earn a few starts. He is set to join a slew of young UCF receivers that could compete for looks during camp.

Two days before the transfer portal window closed, the Knights added their first tight end of the transfer portal cycle with Grayson Brousseau. He follows UCF's new tight ends coach, Cooper Bassett, from Oklahoma State. While his previous experience might not preclude him from taking the starting job away from Wade, his three years of remianing elgibility allows him time to develop into a starter in the future.

Offensive Line

UCF's first addition at offensive line, Cooper Terpstra from Michigan State, is a former walk-on who got his first start at center in the last game of this past season. Frost has said he likes to develop offensive linemen over time, so even if Terpstra does not develop to take over as the starting center right away, he could still be a depth piece and take over the job in 2027.

The Knights' next three additions for the offensive line, Brady Wayburn, Austin Gibson and Henry Tabansi, each have started at least half of their games this past season. All three of them are former Group of 5 players are parlaying their roles into a Power 4 roster spot, perhaps even as a starter. Tabansi, who has started in every collegiate game he has ever played, has the strongest case among the trio.

The first four lineman UCF has acquired so far are 6-4 or taller and 300 lbs. or more.

New UCF offensive line coach AJ Blazek has been hard at work despite his recent arrival, accounting for four of UCF's first nine officially signed transfers.

Most of UCF's offensive line losses are coming from graduation and not the transfer portal.

Defensive Line

The defensive line is the most-affected position group by transfer portal losses.

While EDGE starters Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly ran out of eligibility, the next player up after them, Jamaal Johnson, hit the portal.

Assuming Sincere Edwards returns, the apparent candidates to join him as potnetial starters at EDGE include All-MAC Third Teamer Bruno Dall from Akron and All-UAC Second Teamer Brad Gurley from Eastern Kentucky. Both additions are coming off full seasons starting at EDGE or defensive end for their respective schools.

Defensive tackle is one of two position rooms to lose more than half of their players, though starter RJ Jackson Jr. has confirmed has confirmed his return for 2026 on Jan. 4 and a backup Jeffson Lafontant, who played in 10 games this past season, remains on the team as of Jan. 7. Additionally, Horace Lockett, who showed promise in the first four games of this past season before an injury ended it prematurely, withdrew from the transfer portal on Jan. 5.

Former Oregon State defensive lineman Thomas Collins and former Tennessee defensive lineman Josh Schell could provide some flexibility for the Knights. Collins started all 12 games at defensive tackle for the Beavers in 2025, but his profile on On3 labels him as an EDGE, while Schell was never given a EDGE or tackle level as a Volunteer. With UCF needing depth at both positions, their versatility could prove crucial especially if the Knights have issues bringing in the high number needed to refill both position groups.

Defensive Backs

No primary starting UCF defensive back entered the transfer portal. So, the room's seven departures deplete its depth. Additions like Ty Bartrum, an FCS Honorable Mention All-American from Harvard, and Kahmel Johnson, a player from the Division ll level with multiple years of eligibility, can help replenish that depth.

New defensive backs coach Will Johnson brought one of his North Dakota State players with him, cornerback Jailen Duffie. Departing cornerback Jyaire Brown was the only player who was called a "cornerback," despite every other defensive back simply being called as such. With Duffie officially retaining a "cornerback" label, this could indicate he is filling the role Brown left behind.

Linebackers

Similar to the EDGEs, UCF lost depth at linebacker in the transfer portal as starters Cole Kozlowski, Keli Lawson and backup Jayden McDonald all ran out of eligibility. Starter Lewis Carter has yet to officially declare his decision.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch brought in a player he knows well in former Wisconsin linebacker Tackett Curtis. He started the first seven games for the Badgers last season, but came in off the bench later in the season. A return to a Grinch-led defense could propel him back into a starting role, but at the same time, considering he lost his starting role with Wisconsin, he could still serve as a depth piece that this room also needs. The addition of every-game starter Jahleel Culbreath from Old Dominion could provide solid competition for that second starting slot.

The same day UCF added Culbreath, it also brought in former UMass linebacker Rashad Henry. A Miami native who earned starts in the latter third of this past season, though he did not get any sacks or passes defended, he could start if he develops quickly in camp. For now, he looks more like a reliable bench player who can switch in when the starters need a break.

Special Teams

UCF long snapper Dalton Riggs announced his transfer to Ohio State on Jan. 4. He did have a backup on the roster in freshman Rocklyn Kelly, but if special teams coordinator Pete Alamar wants him to have competition, he could bring in another experienced player from the portal, as he did with Riggs.

The Knights added a new punter from Wisconsin in Atticus Bertrams.

The addition of Will Stone, a kickoff specialist from Texas, opens the possibility for kickoff and field goal kicking duties to be placed with different kickers.

How the Transfer Class Stacks Up Nationally

With 28 transfers accounted for, the Knights' class ranks 44th in the nation according to On3's rankings and 10th in the Big 12.

With 20 of UCF's commits accounted for so far, the Knights are tied the 60th-highest-rated transfer portal class in the nation and 15th-highest-rated in the Big 12, according to 247Sports.

Section last updated: Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Check back again as more transfers join their new programs.

Biggest Winners

Steve Cooper and McKenzie Milton

With the addition of a proven and experienced quarterback in Alonza Barnett III, there is likely not going to be any doubt about who the anticipated starter is going to be for the Knights in 2026.

So, unlike last season in which Frost, Cooper and Milton had to build their schemes to account for four different quarterbacks at any one point during the season, this time they can build around primarily one.

Check back here for updates as more transfer portal additions are reported.

Questions Still Remaining

Who is the Knights' backup quarterback in 2026?

With Alonza Barnett lll in the building, the question of who the starting quarterback is going to be is pretty much answered. However, last season showed that injuries can really ravage a position group at any time. So, with three quarterbacks that have yet to take a single collegiate snap behind him, a backup quarterback battle is poised to commence at the start of spring camp.

Does UCF get another running back?

The Knights have added two running backs from the transfer portal who are upperclassmen in 2026, in Landen Chambers and Duke Watson. However, beyond them, it is a sea of youth with incoming freshmen Kaj Baker and Arthur Lewis IV, plus returners like rising sophomore Agyeman Addae and Taevion Swint, who should redshirt last season after a camp injury sidelined him for it all. The answer to this question lies in how much Frost and running backs coach Jimmy Beal want to put on the young running backs in 2026.

How Deep Is UCF's Defensive Line?

Given the significant impact of graduations and transfer portal losses on the defensive line, the Knights have been fairly light on additions to the position group so far, picking up just two in the first week since the transfer portal opened. With the injuries that UCF has sustained at the position in recent seasons, depth can be crucial.

With the additions of Thomas Collins and Josh Schell that start do not outright indicate a role as either an EDGE or a tackle, could the Knights be looking to answer this question with versatility?

Catch up on more UCF news below:

UCF Knights Early Signing Day Tracker

The Complete UCF Knights 2025 Season Transfer Portal Report Card

UCF's Wish List For 2026