UCF football rebuilds running backs group through transfer portal

No position group on the offensive side of the UCF roster — outside of quarterback and offensive line — generated more interest this past offseason than the running backs.

The Knights finished 11th among the 16 teams in the Big 12 in rushing offense last season, after averaging 158 yards per game.

Myles Montgomery led the team in carries (143) and rushing yards (705) while fellow redshirt senior Jaden Nixon had a team-high seven rushing touchdowns on 71 carries with 554 yards. Nobody else on the roster had more than 170 yards.

The departures of Montgomery and Nixon, along with the transfer of Stacy Gage (63 yards), left the running backs group a bit short on depth and experience.

Taevion Swint, who suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp, walk-on Agyeman Addae and true freshman Chance Nixon were the only returners back in 2026. Addae was the only one who saw action, rushing for 50 yards on 12 carries in eight games.

UCF dipped into the transfer market when the portal window opened on Jan. 2, signing a pair of tailbacks in Duke Watson (Louisville) and Landen Chambers (Central Arkansas).

“Really excited about the running backs,” UCF coach Scott Frost said in January. “Duke Watson came here a long time ago out of high school and ended up going to a different school. I watched him and I’ve been excited about him for a long time, just as a player. So getting him is exciting.”

The 6-foot, 180-pound Watson was a 4-star prospect from Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Ga., who originally signed with the Cardinals. He rushed for 755 yards on 116 carries in 19 games, averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

“I have a special place in my heart for Duke Watson,” added Trent Mossbrucker, UCF’s general manager of football player personnel, acquisitions and roster management. “I watched everyone at Duke Watson’s high school football games because we recruited him at the last place that I worked at, so I got to see him perform live when I was there.”

The 5-11, 215-pound Chambers spent three seasons with the Bears program, rushing for 1,449 yards on 274 carries with 11 touchdowns.

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“Landen — his tape really jumped out at me. It got my attention because of his size, his balance and his ability to stay on his feet through contact,” Frost said. “We really didn’t have a big back last year and he’s going to be a little different than the rest of the guys that we have. I’m excited to see him get in our weight room and get bigger, stronger and faster.”

Swint (5-10, 185 pounds) returns after suffering a meniscus injury that prematurely ended his freshman campaign in fall camp.

“Having Swint back is big for us. He was doing great through spring ball and fall camp until we lost him. He’s an X-factor with his speed and his big-play potential,” said Frost.

Also returning is Addae (5-10, 190), who showed moments of promise in limited snaps.

UCF also signed a pair of high school running backs in Kaj Baker (5-8, 160) and Arthur Lewis IV (5-10, 180). Baker was a 3-star recruit from Somerset Academy in Miami, while Lewis was a 3-star standout at Bartram Trail High School in Palatka.

“We’ve got a lot of depth in that room and I’m excited to see the competition,” added Frost.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

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