The UCF Knights made program history in upsetting the then-No. 2 BYU Cougars, and a few key players are on the cusp of returning for Friday's Space Game.
Coach Scott Frost said running back Taevion Swint will be back quickly, and linebacker Lewis Carter could be a game-time decision this week. He added that if the senior isn't available against the Baylor Bears, he'll likely be a game-time decision next Saturday against the Kansas Jayhawks.
Swint's injury occurred in practice, and Frost said he started limping after a "nothing play." The redshirt freshman missed his first game of the season, leaving room for Landen Chambers to step up in his absence.
UCF has relied on the speedster to make plays in the run game and on special teams. Swint's rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, and returned seven kickoffs for 209 yards.
He scored his first touchdown in the season opener against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, and the second in the Big 12 home opener against the TCU Horned Frogs.
Carter has missed every conference game this season. He went into the medical tent for a knee injury at the end of Week 3's win over the Georgia State Panthers and was ruled out early for the next game.
The Knights have missed their defensive quarterback, especially in highly contested losses against the then-No. 20 Houston Cougars and then-No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The senior had a career season last year after transferring from Oklahoma. Carter led the team with 92 tackles and set career highs in tackles for loss, sacks, and fumbles.
He became a star at UCF. While at Oklahoma, he was a reserve linebacker and special teams player.
Wisconsin transfer Tackett Curtis, the team's leading tackler, has stepped up in Carter's absence. Curtis has 42 tackles (18 solo, 24 assisted), one sack, one fumble recovery, one pass deflection and two interceptions.
The Knights are getting healthy at the right time. They aim to build on an upset win and collect two more wins to break a two-year bowl drought.
Friday's game against Baylor is one of the more interesting weekday matchups. The program fired coach David Aranda, and Joe Klanderman is the interim coach.
UCF's eight-game Space Game winning streak ended in heartbreaking fashion as Houston caught the game-winning interception against former Knights quarterback Davi Belfort. Aranda's Bears handed the Knights one of their worst losses last season, 30-3.
Frost's squad aims to avenge another loss from last season and turn it into a win, inching closer to a bowl game.
Source: Yahoo Sports







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