UCF Quarterback Reportedly Entering Transfer Portal
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UCF Knights quarterback Tayven Jackson is expected to enter the transfer portal this offseason, according to On3's Pete Nakos on Wednesday afternoon.
It would mark Jackson's third time entering the transfer portal of his career as he searches for his fourth stop of his career with one year of eligibility remaining.
UCF QB Tayven Jackson is expected to enter the transfer portal, per @PeteNakos. https://t.co/5ObSJPjsV5 pic.twitter.com/Qtc8VgnE7O
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) December 3, 2025
Coach Scott Frost declined to comment on the reports during his Early Signing Day press conference on Wednesday.
"Well, I can't, and it doesn't make any sense to comment on any individual," Frost said. "You know, this is college football now, it's crazy time. We have to decide what's best for our team and who needs to stay and who needs to go, and players need to decide what's best for them and who wants to stay and who isn't going to stay, and there's going to be a lot of moving around and jockeying at every college town in America."
Jackson's decision to enter the portal runs contrary to comments he made following UCF's final game of the season against BYU on Saturday afternoon.
"We have a brotherhood that's forming," Jackson said. "We have a culture that's forming that's very exciting for the fans for next year, and we'll be ready to go next year."
In his lone season in Orlando, Jackson was the Knights' predominant starting quarterback. He completed 200 of his 315 passes for 2,151 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions and was sacked 16 times.
The reports came on the same day the Knights signed two quarterbacks, Rocco Marriott and Dante Carr, to the 2026 recruiting class on Early Signing Day. They are the two highest-rated quarterback signings in program history.
As of Wednesday evening, the 2026 UCF quarterback room is set to consist of the two signees, Jacurri Brown, Davi Belfort and potentially Cam Fancher, as Frost said on Wednesday that the program is trying to get him another year after he spent most of this past season out with injuries.
"I actually met with Cam today and talking to him about our future and his future, and I think we're both going to take a little time and see what the picture looks like," Frost said.
Jackson was the first of two Knights to have their intentions to enter the transfer portal reported on Wednesday, with the other being defensive back Tony Williams, also reported by Nakos. A true freshman, Williams played in just two games this past season and is thus eligible for a redshirt so he can have four years of eligibility.
UCF defensive back Tony Williams is expected to enter the transfer portal, per @PeteNakos. https://t.co/kSYG7dYADj pic.twitter.com/a2bHbRZLpo
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) December 3, 2025
Both players are set to join two other defensive backs, Jaylen "AP" Heyward and Jakob Gude, in the transfer portal. Heyward and Gude were the only UCF players to announce their intentions to enter the portal during the season.
Name | Position | Years of eligibility remaining | 2025 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
Tayven Jackson | QB | 1 | 200/315, 2,151 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs, 16 sacks |
Tony Williams | DB | 4 | Played in 2 games, recording two tackles. |
Jaylen "AP" Heyward | DB | 3 | Played in 2 games, recording three tackles. |
Jakob Gude | DB | 3 | Did not see the field. |
The transfer portal is set to officially open on Jan. 2 and remain so through Jan. 16.
Catch up on more UCF News below:
UCF Knights Early Signing Day Tracker: Every Player Coming to the Program in 2026
Bryson Turner is a sports journalist who covers UCF Athletics. Turner has contributed to the Black and Gold Banneret, the home for UCF Athletics on SB Nation. He has called the Orlando area home since the age of 8 and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from UCF.
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