UCF Running Back Trending Towards Playing Against Oklahoma State

A pair of UCF seniors received promising updates with Thursday's Big 12 player availability report ahead of the Knights' Senior Knight game against Oklahoma State.

Offensive lineman Paul Rubelt and running back Myles Montgomery were both upgraded to "probable" designations after starting out the week as "questionable."

Coach Scott Frost told Marc Daniels on 96.9 The Game on Wednesday that the Knights have been working to get Rubelt back to 100 percent. Meanwhile, Montgomery said on Monday that he is taking his shoulder injury "day by day."

Linebacker Jayden McDonald also trended in the direction of potentially suiting up against the Cowboys, getting updated from a "doubtful" designation on Wednesday to a "questionable" designation on Thursday.

Defensive back Braeden Marshall remains "questionable," alongside tight end Caden Piening.

Another reserve tight end, Max Drag, and backup kicker and punter, Mason Denaberg, were also upgraded from "questionable" to "probable" on Thursday.

No UCF players were ruled out on Thursday who weren't already designated as such on Wednesday.

The next look into these Knights' availability for Saturday's 4 p.m. kickoff against Oklahoma State is released on Friday at 10 p.m., followed by a game-day report 90 minutes before kickoff at 2:30 p.m.

Scott Frost: UCF Center "Probably" Out For Season

UCF Knights fans did not have to wait until the week's first player availability report to find out if center Carter Miller would return Saturday against Oklahoma State.

On his weekly radio appearance on 96.9 The Game, UCF coach Scott Frost told Marc Daniels that Miller, UCF's starting center, was "probably done for the year" due to an illness. Cameron Kinnie, as he did last weekend against Texas Tech, takes over at center.

"Proud of the guys that came in and played different roles that they hadn't been in for the season, but definitely hurts you when you lose some continuity at key spots," offensive coordinator Steve Cooper said on Tuesday. "When you're playing with a different center, the calls come in a little bit differently, the communication levels a little bit differently. So, we'll give those guys some grace, but I think what we understand now is it really doesn't matter who's out there, it's next man up."

Once the first player availability report was released at 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Miller was one of eight players listed as "out." Some, like quarterbacks Cam Fancher and Jacurri Brown, were expected, since Frost has already said he was down to two quarterbacks for the rest of the season. Though he did tell Daniels on Wednesday that Brock Hansel and another player could take over in an emergency.

Those quarterbacks have one less wide receiver to throw to, however, as Chris Domercant was also listed as "out" following a hard hit that forced a fumble last week against Texas Tech.

"He got hit pretty good, and he's in a protocol and getting checked by doctors," Frost said of Domercant on Monday. "I think he's got a chance, but we're certainly going to err on the side of caution with things like that."

Meanwhile, defensive back Isaiah Reed, linebacker TJ Bullard and offensive lineman Keegan Smith officially miss back-to-back games with their upcoming absences on Saturday. Linebacker Jayden McDonald is looking likely to join them, getting listed as "doubtful."

After getting ruled out early last week, defensive back Braeden Marshall was initially listed as "questionable" in this week's first report. He joins a pair of seniors in offensive lineman Paul Rubelt and running back Myles Montgomery.

Montgomery said on Monday that he is taking his shoulder injury "day by day."

The Knights kick off their final home game of the season against Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Catch up on more UCF news below:

Walk-On Running Back Steps Up In Injury-Depleted UCF Backfield

UCF Kicker Named Semifinalist For National Award

Scott Frost Assess UCF's Place In Big 12 After Texas Tech Game