The face of the program

One of the core principles of marketing is promotion, which allows an organization to get its product in front of potential customers. For UCF, the return of head coach Scott Frost offers a potential boon in the area of marketing, as there will certainly be plenty of people who are curious about how this second act will play out. In the world of college football, it is not uncommon for a coach to be the face of a program - as evidenced by Nick Saban at Alabama or Dabo Swinney at Clemson.

However, as I wrote in a previous article, the ability to have players form a connection with the community can create a bond that curates legacies, traditions, and memories. We’ve been pretty spoiled at UCF over the past 7 or so years with players who have transcended to become something unique - the face of the program. From McKenzie Milton, Dillon Gabriel (yes, I know this might be controversial, but I covered that a few weeks back), John Rhys Plumlee, and RJ Harvey, there has been somebody tailored made to take the mantle and represent UCF.

As we turn the page to 2025, I can’t help but wonder: what player is the face of the program right now? It’s not as easy of an answer as you might think, which, one could argue, is what will make this season fun. We will all get to learn in real-time who is ready to rise up and grab our attention. In fact, if you really think about it, the last time we had questions about the face of the program was in 2016, the first, first year of Scott Frost.

So, who are the contenders for the current fact of this UCF Football program? Let’s take a look, in no particular order.

OL Paul Rubelt - While it might seem strange to have an offensive lineman as the face of the program, I think a strong case can be made for Rubelt. But don’t just take my word for it, maybe look at what the UCF content team thinks:

Rubelt has a few things working in his favor to call him the face of the program. First, he has spent all five of his collegiate seasons with UCF, a rarity in college athletics now. Second, his physical stature at 6’10” makes him a bit of an anomaly as far as football players are concerned. Third, he seems to be a man of the people, often seen interacting with fans, smiling, and having fun:

Lastly, he is also pretty good in the classroom, earning President’s List and all conference academic honors. All told, while Rubelt isn’t a skill position player or a human highlight reel, he certainly checks a lot of other boxes.

DT John Walker - One of the first, and arguably the most important, members of the hometown hero movement was Walker, who chose to stay home and build something special at UCF. After earning ESPN’s Freshman All-American status in 2023, Walker was poised for what many believed was a breakout season in 2024.

Unfortunately, after a knee injury suffered in the preseason, Walker did not take the field for the Knights this past season, causing some to wonder about his future with the program. But, true to his word, Walker decided to maintain his hometown hero status for the Knights in 2025:

It would be easy for UCF to transition Walker’s hometown status and profile into becoming the face of the program. Perhaps the last chip that needs to fall into place is on-field work, which we all hope will happen early and often in 2025.

QB Dylan Rizk - It’s pretty typical for a quarterback to be the face of a program, so Rizk would certainly be a prime candidate for the honor. Again, if you look to social media as a guide, there is some recent evidence of his popularity:

There is only one problem: do we know if he is QB1? While it is not uncommon to have a QB as the face of the program, it is definitely uncommon to have a backup QB become the face of the program. That’s not to say that Rizk doesn’t have the charisma or character required, but this is one role where playing time and performance are pretty important. I don’t think we want a repeat of last season, where KJ Jefferson eventually fell to QB4 while also being a captain.

DB Braeden Marshall - The thinking here is similar to John Walker’s case in that Marshall is a hometown hero who is popular amongst the fan base. On the field, Marshall has seen some playing time in his two seasons with the Knights, but unfortunately, his most memorable play might be dropping the ball at the goal line on what would have been a pick-six. In my opinion, it might be too soon for Marshall to ascend to the face of the program spot.

CB Chasen Johnson - I think this is also a bit of a long shot for a few different reasons. First, Johnson hit the portal after the coaching change and actually committed to two different schools before returning to Orlando. While returning helps make bygones be bygones, there might be some who wouldn’t like the optics. Secondly, Johnson didn’t see the field until the second half of the season, and while he has a ton of talent, production and playing time will also be important.

Other options: DE Malachi Lawrence, QB Tayven Jackson, RB Jaden Nixon, RB Myles Montgomery

In the end, deciding the face of the program certainly isn’t the most important priority at the moment, which will likely allow things to play out organically. If I had to take a guess, I would think UCF will take a group approach for the time being while we all watch for the next legendary Knight.

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The iron unkind

In case you haven’t noticed, the wheels of the 2024-25 men’s basketball season are beginning to fall off in a hurry. With their loss on Saturday against Baylor, the Knights now sport a 4 game losing streak, and have been removed from March Madness bracketology projections. However, it isn’t just that UCF is losing games; it is the way they are losing games that has people frustrated. Perhaps our good friend Ben Hazel can sum it up better:

Life doesn’t get any easier for UCF as 8th ranked Iowa State will come to Orlando on Tuesday for what now amounts to a must win for the Knights.

For more basketball coverage, check out these videos from the past week:

If you are a fan of the Knights then you need to check out Alumni Hall. They have a large selection of Knights gear for the entire family. Be sure to check out their 2 for $38 T-Shirt deal, featuring dozens of different designs. Visit in store at 4100 N Alafaya Trail, or find them online:

Now we know

In the world of UCF Football, the Knights 2025 schedule has finally been released. The home slate offers a couple of potentially exciting matchups, including a non-conference clash with the North Carolina Tar Heels, and conference foe Kansas. The road slate this year has some challenges, including a trip to play Kansas State, Baylor, and a Thanksgiving weekend clash at BYU.

For more on the schedule, enjoy this breakdown from Eric Lopez and Trace Trylko from the latest episode of Around The Kingdom:

Plus, Andrew Greig went around campus to get the thoughts of some UCF students on a new Bouncin with Andrew:

The deadline for tax filing is slowly approaching, and if you are in need of solid tax advice, contact UCF Alum Brian Peterson of Peterson Accounting, CPA. With over 30 years of experience, Peterson Accounting is a firm you can trust:

Things are happening at The Plex

The calendar turning to spring means the start of a new season for UCF Softball. Coach Cindy Ball-Malone has a team full of talent and youth, a formula that could make for some exciting games in their second season in the Big 12.

The Sons had wall to wall coverage all week with interviews, profiles, and recaps:

If you are getting ready to get involved in team football, Florida Football Prep is your home for all of your needs. From gear, accessories, apparel, and conditioned football, they literally have you covered from head to toe. Check out their website:

Meet the interns

Matthew Turman is a junior from Tampa, Florida, studying Integrated Business at UCF. He is a proud brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and also the creator of the UCF Report, a platform focused on highlighting UCF athletes and strengthening the connection between fans and the Knights’ athletic community. Matt will be working behind the scenes to create and produce visual content and graphics for the Sons. Follow him on Instagram @matturman.

You can always enjoy all of the Sons content in podcast format on your favorite platform. Find yours, and be sure to subscribe:

The best of the rest

In case you missed anything from the Sons this past week, it’s never too late to get caught up:

Bailey Adams and Christin Simmons looked at the UCF schedule and the latest with men’s basketball in this episode of the Pegasus Podcast:

Sons of UCF LIVE featured an interview with Derek Duke, a contributor for Heartland College Sports, and UCF Basketball Analyst Ben Hazel. Check out the episode here

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Cow of the week

The idea was simple: let’s get together with the interns and enjoy a nice afternoon lunch while we watch the UCF Basketball game. Well, an unnamed eating establishment in Waterford Lakes had other ideas because they don’t have access to ESPN+. Now, keep in mind that this establishment is considered a sports bar, rife with a TV hung on every available wall. Luckily, our crew is resourceful, but shame on your unnamed sports bar!

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We’ll have a full week ahead with the start of baseball, two basketball games, and our first opportunity to talk to Scott Frost and the new coaching staff at a mid-week media event.

Make sure you are following the Sons on all social media platforms and YouTube. Until then, have a great week, and take care of yourself and each other.