UCF QB Barnett Expected Out Multiple Weeks

UCF starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III is expected to miss multiple weeks after a fairly significant hamstring injury late in the Knights’ 12-7 loss at Pittsburgh on Sept. 12. He was hurt scrambling away from pressure on the final offensive possession, clutched his right leg, and limped to the sideline as coach Scott Frost used his last timeout. Keyone Jenkins came in for the ensuing play, was sacked, and ended the comeback try. Before exiting, Barnett went 20 of 31 for 186 yards, threw a 19-yard touchdown to Waden Charles for UCF’s only score, and led the team with 13 carries for 13 yards on a day the Knights managed just 20 rushing yards total. At his Sept. 14 press conference Frost said Barnett “slipped on the turf and his leg got put in a weird position” and that staff are “re-evaluating to see how long it will be, but he’ll miss some time, for sure.” Frost called the injury “fairly significant,” said he mostly feels bad for Alonza, and declined to name a starter, noting “we have a lot of guys I think are capable” while still assembling the game plan. Jenkins, a Florida International transfer, is expected to start at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 against Georgia State; UCF then opens Big 12 play at TCU on Sept. 26. Barnett, a James Madison transfer, had completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 344 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the first two games.