(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review | Video by Victor Tan, Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
Aug. 28, 2017 at Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership
Availability: HC Scott Frost
HC Scott Frost
- Last season, the University of Central Florida finished with a 6-7 record, a six-win improvement from the 2015 season.
We’re just farther along this year. The players are more comfortable with scheme. I think they do a better job of communicating. They understand what we want better. They were quicker to pick up the game plan this year because they’re understanding of what we’re trying to get done on both sides of the ball. I think we’re a little deeper this year, which helped us practice better, and I think the mentality and the togetherness of the team has improved from a year ago. So I’m looking forward to seeing these guys play.
- UCF hosts Florida International University on Thursday at 6 p.m.
- The Panthers welcome a new coaching staff, including head coach Butch Davis.
To be honest with you, we’re taking a lot of guesses. These guys are new coaches. They’re coaching—they’re coming from different places on the offensive side and their defensive side, so we’re doing the best we can to piece together what we think they’re gonna be running. That being said, our players are gonna have to be ready to adjust in the middle of the game. They could come out and run something completely different than what we’re expecting. Usually, our schemes on offense and defense should account for any kind of new look that we’ve been getting, but we might have to make some adjustments in the first and second quarter, and our guys have to be on their toes.
Yeah, I mean, defensively, we’re looking at North Carolina; we’re looking at Tulsa from back when their coordinator was there; we’re looking at Memphis from when their defensive coordinator was there. I know, offensively, they’re taking a look at a bunch of different things, too. That’s why I say our guys are gonna have to be ready for any kind of look they see. Our defense gives us a lot of looks that should prepare our offense. Our offense gives our defense a lot of looks that should prepare them. There’s not much that we haven’t seen on both sides of the ball from what an offense or defense can line up. We just have to make the adjustments and execute.
- Davis has National Football League experience, totaling 24-35 all-time record.
Butch was my head coach when I played for the Cleveland Browns in 2001.
I was there for about 13 weeks and then went up to Green Bay from there. Thought it was a very tightly run organization. I didn’t get to know Butch very well while I was there, but I did get a chance to play under him. He’s had a great career, and I’m sure he’ll have his guys ready.
- Frost expects offensive lineman Tyler Hudanick to be “really close” to being ready, if not available, for Thursday’s game.
Tyler’s coming along. He’s really close. If he’s not gonna be ready, he’s gonna be really close. Been pleased with him the last week or two as far as his progress. We’re trying to bring him along. He made a big difference on our offensive line when he was in last year. We’re looking forward to him being 100 percent.
- For the Knights, the Thursday night matchup in Week 1 is the first and only Thursday game. The Knights’ only other non-Saturday game is a Friday night matchup against the University of South Florida on Nov. 24.
Well today’s practice was a Wednesday practice for us. We started our week, really, on Saturday with what would have been a Monday practice. Yesterday was a Tuesday for us, and today’s a Wednesday. Really, at this point in the week, as far as a Thursday game is concerned, our practice, our hard work is done. From here on out, it’s a matter of getting everything dialed in mentally and making sure we’re good on our assignments and all the little details. So our guys are gonna have some mental sweats from here until game day to try to make sure they know their assignments and know the game plan inside and out. I think our guys are prepped and ready. We’ve had a couple good days.
- Frost is confident in his returning group of receivers.
Yeah, we’re gonna be young again at some positions. Receiver, I think, we’ve had a lot of freshmen that have come in and done a good job, and I think those guys are gonna play. We have Tre’Quan [Smith] coming back and Cam Stewart coming back and [Dredrick] Snelson coming back. So we have some guys with some experience, but there’s gonna be some young guys that we lean on, too. It’s a credit to them for coming in and learning it and picking it up and being competitive with the older guys. Most of the other positions, I think we’re gonna be a lot more veteran. We have two running backs in Taj [McGowan] and [Jawon Hamilton] that have played and know what they’re doing. We have a quarterback with experience; we have three tight ends that have all played. So, as far as the skill positions are concerned, we feel like we have some really good depth. We just have to keep bringing some guys along.
Well, obviously, Tre’Quan has done a great job in this camp. I think he’s improved from last year. I’m looking forward to watching him play. Dredrick Snelson’s done a good job changing who he is. He’s lost some weight, he’s leaner. He looks like he’s running faster. Doing a better job. Cam Stewart obviously played last year and has done a good job in camp. Gabe Davis is special kid. He came in and, right away, as a freshman, was one of our hardest-working players. He gives everything he has in practice. He cares. He’s done an unbelievable job in camp getting himself into the mix. Manny Greene had the benefit of spring ball this offseason, which helped him a lot. He’s got some juice. He can run. Has done some things. Needs to keep working on being more consistent. Marlon Williams has done some really good things, too. So, he’ll play a role definitely before the season’s over. And then Otis Anderson has been really good for us, too. He had spring practice as well. He’s done a great job. He’s learned the running back spot and the receiver spot. So he gives us another guy that we can move around and try to get the ball to.
- For Frost, deciding between his two true-freshman quarterbacks as a backup will be difficult.
I think both true freshmen have done a good job of coming in and competing. They’re both gonna be really good players. They’ve shown us things in camp that lead us to believe that down the road, we’re gonna have two really good quarterbacks in those two kids, Noah [Vedral] and [Darriel Mack Jr.]. The tough part, for us, is one of ’em has to be back-up in Week 1, so we’re gonna have to make a decision on which one of those guys to put in the game. It’s important for us to get one of those guys reps if they’re gonna be our backup for the entire season so we can start getting ’em ready. Get him some meaningful snaps in case they need to go in when it matters in a game. So we’re gonna have to make that decision, here, pretty soon.
Yeah, you know, if we’re behind, if we’re ahead, or if something bad happened, we’d put one of them in. So we’re gonna have to make that decision here soon going into this first game as to which guy we’re gonna play and which we’re gonna redshirt. We may end up having to play both of ’em. I think both of ’em are gonna be capable, but we have a big decision to make before Thursday.
- Frost has been coaching since 2002. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Yeah, you know, when they changed camp and took two-a-days from us, we took—everybody had to come up with a new strategy for how to work their training camp, try to get their practices in and keep their team fresh. We decided to give guys some days off in the middle of camp, so it’s been a little less intense camp, a little less of a grind ’cause we’re not going day after day after day. But it’s worked out from the standpoint that, knock on wood, we’re healthier than we have been coming out of a camp as long as I can remember coaching. So we have all guys up and ready to go. All hands are on deck right now. I think our team’s fresh and ready to get started.
- For Frost and his team, the second-year head coach said they want to simply play someone other themselves.
I think our guys are just excited to play. We’ve been hitting each other for a month. We started camp early because of the rule change, so we were still in summer school when we started. It’s been a lot of practices. I love the fact that we’re playing on a weeknight. Looking forward to seeing our campus show up, students show up. It’s a Thursday night. I expect a huge part of the campus to be in our stadium and loud and rocking and rolling. I think our players will feed off that. So it’s gonna be an exciting night Thursday.
- Last season, Griffin won American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
- Griffin plays with one hand.
Shaquem’s earned every bit of attention that he’s gonna get. And he’s earned it, not just with his play last year, but in his practice this year. He’s stepped his game up even more. That being said, I hope they double team him and give him a lot of attention ’cause we got some other guys that can beat you on that front, on defense. He’s the leader on that side, and he’s done a great job of being a catalyst for us and being a motivator for us. You can’t put too much attention on him with some of the other guys we have on the field. So I’m looking forward to seeing that unit play.
- After starting most of last season as a true freshman, sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton will retain his spot at the helm.
- Milton threw for 1,983 yards, 10 yards and seven interceptions with a 113.0 quarterback rating last season.
McKenzie’s done a lot of work. Getting him that experience last year is gonna help us this year. We kinda threw him into the fire last year, and I think he was an example of maybe our whole offense last year. We were young, we were a little inexperienced, but we were in close in a lot of places and a lot of plays. We need to execute better. I think McKenzie’s improved his mechanics. He’s been a lot more consistent in practice. There were a lot of plays last year that he made. There were also some easy ones that he misfired on or made a wrong read. If he can be consistent with the ball and get the ball to the people when they’re open and getting the ball in the right spot, his play-making ability’ll do the rest.
- With the Knights’ team-leading defense graduating players like Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin, there have been uncertainties with the 2017 defense.
- Frost has seen players occupy those gaps.
Yeah, I think a lot of the guys that were back-ups last year that have had to step into bigger roles this year have really improved themselves as players. Chequan Burkett and Pat Jasinski are great examples. They look like different guys out through this year, and I think they’re ready to carry the load. Tre [Neal] and [Kyle Gibson] in the back end have done an unbelievable job. They look ready to play, and then we’ve gotten some new guys that are gonna add depth and be playmakers for us, too. Those two positions are an example. Outside back is an example. Titus Davis has worked really hard and has had a great camp. Dedrion Bacote’s had a great camp. It kinda goes on and on on defense that, I think, we’re not just playing well, but there’s a lot of guys playing well, and I think our depth is gonna be a big factor for us this year.
- 19 USF defeated the San Jose State Spartans 42-22 on Aug. 26.
- San Jose State held a 16-0 lead after the first quarter, but the Bulls scored 28 unanswered in the second.
We were working on Saturday. It was a work day, but we got a chance to watch a little bit of ball.
We watched the San Jose-USF game. Yeah. I thought San Jose came out early on and did some really good things, and then USF’s talent kinda took over. You know, you watch Game 1s, and it’s kinda hard to judge where everybody is off Game 1, and coaches always talk about the most improvement that takes place between Week 1 and Week 2. So it’s way too early to make a judgment, but I watched the game on TV, and I’ve already watched the coach’s cut.
You can prepare your team as well as you think you can, as well as you possible can for Game 1, but you never really know where you are until the first kickoff happens. I think our guys are ready. We’re prepared. I know we’re a lot more ready than we were a year ago, but you find out a lot when the ball gets kicked off.
- Frost’s excitement for the new season derives from his love for the team.
Yeah, I mean, for a football coach, you love football. And the games are the best part. Preparing for the games is the most important, but the games are the most fun. We’ve been looking forward to this since the end of last year. I think our players gave everything they had in the offseason. The biggest thing I have to say about being is excited is I love this team. This is a lot tighter-knit group. A lot of guys that do everything you ask ’em to do. A lot of guys that love the game, and they showed on the practice field. It’s a bunch of guys that care about each other and makes it a fun group to coach.
- For Frost, his team has enough self-motivation for Thursday’s game.
I don’t believe that much in rah-rah speeches. If I have guys that need a rah-rah speech to get excited to play football, then I have the wrong guys. So, there’s not gonna be much talking being done before the game. Our guys are gonna be prepared and ready, and then it’s just a matter of going and out executing. I don’t think I’m gonna have to do much to motivate ’em. They’re anxious to play a football game.
- Last season, Frost helped his team to a bowl appearance in his first season after the Knights lost every game in 2015.
We have a challenging schedule this year. We’re looking at this first game and this first game only. But I want players that think they’re gonna win every game. So, we’re gonna focus on this one and nothing beyond that. I want our players, this year, to expect to win. I think going out Thursday, they’re gonna expect to play well and come out on top. The team coming in probably is going to expect the same thing. But I know our guys are gaining confidence through their success on the field and through their improvement. And we’ll see when the ball gets kicked off and the plays start happening, but we’re a lot better football team.
- The Knights and Panthers have split the last two meetings.
- In 2015, FIU defeated UCF at then-Bright House Networks Stadium on a game-winning blocked field goal.
- UCF won 53-14 in Miami in 2016.
Well, last year, we played FIU, and we had a bunch of fans down there. It was an easy trip for our people to make. We have a lot of kids from South Florida. So I think getting to play in front of your home folks is always special. I think they’re a good series when we can play those people. Both programs are a challenge. They both have a lot of talent. I’m sure FIU will come in with a lot of South Florida kids and some Central Florida kids that are anxious to play in their home state as well. So it’s a special deal, and it’s a great opener for us.
- UCF will not sport any new uniforms on Thursday.
No [new uniforms for Thursday]. We have a couple new things that we’re gonna roll out this year, but, for the most part, the guys liked our look last year, and we’re gonna keep building off that. We’re not gonna be able to change completely our style every year or every game. And to be honest with you, that’s the last thing on my mind. I want our players to play well. Hopefully I could put ’em in overalls and coveralls and they would play well. But, you know, guys love to look good, and I think Nike and our university has done a good job of putting ’em in things that make ’em feel good and wanna go out and play well.
- For Frost, he’s seen Milton improve on managing the easy plays during this preseason.
We have a good game plan for him. He’s gonna be really familiar with it. We wanna see him be efficient. We wanna see our offensive line give him a bunch of time to operate. And if we do those two things, I think he’ll have a good game. Really looking forward to just seeing him be efficient and be accurate. He made some really good throws last year, like I said, and there were some others where his mechanics broke down or our protection broke down, and we missed on some easy things that should’ve extended drives. Those are the kind of plays, when it’s easy, that you have to make, and he’s been making ’em all in camp. And so if that carries over to the game, he’s gonna have a good day.
- Starting in 2017, student sections will be located in both end zones.
Listen, I love having everybody at the game, but the more students we can get in there, the better we’ll be. Having students on both sides will help us regardless of which direction we’re going as an offense or a defense. I want our students to wanna come. That’s what college football’s all about is student-athletes that are going to class with the rest of the student body and then going out and performing on Saturdays and having students from our campus show up and have spirit and cheer ’em on. If we could fill the whole stadium with students, I’d love it.
- The offensive line will be led by its tackles.
Yeah, the offensive line’s come a long way. You’re never quite where you wanna be at any position, but I think we have a bunch of guys that are working hard and made a bunch of improvement. Our two tackles, Aaron [Evans] and Wyatt Miller, are doing a great job in this camp. Jordan Johnson’s come a long way since we moved him to center. We have more depth there, too. A lot more guys that have played and we feel comfortable putting into a game. So, they’ve had a tough go of it, honestly, in this camp trying to block our front seven. And that’s a challenge every day, and they win their share, but those guys are on defense are coming. I think those guys are looking forward to hitting somebody in another color jersey.
- For Frost, there have been at least five players who have stepped up for the guard and center positions.
Yeah, we’ve had a lot of guys step up. Chavis Dickey has really improved himself from a year ago. Jake Brown’s come along this fall camp and done a lot of good things. Sam Jackson’s done some good things. Luke Palmer has done some good things. Tate Hernly’s there for us. There’s a lot of guys that I think we can play, and we’ll keep evaluating that week by week, but, as a unit, I think we made some pretty big strides up front.
For more on the Knights, as they prepare to take on FIU on Thursday, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
