Gus Omnibus

[jbcarol]

Gus announces hiring of former Auburn staffer, alum Trovon Reed as new CB coach

by:
Steve Samra

Gus is bringing one of his former players from Auburn to UCF to join the Knights' coaching staff.

On Friday, Gus took to X:



Reed bounced around NFL practice squads and XFL teams before moving into an off-field role for Auburn. Now, he'll be on the sidelines for the first time, working with the coach who played a huge role in his football career.

UCF hiring Miami running backs coach Tim Harris as offensive coordinator...

[jbcarol]

Gus reveals how he discovered Mike Norvell, Drink

by:
Nick Schultz
•

When Gus left Arkansas to become the assistant head coach at Tulsa, he wanted to take Rhett Lashlee with him. The two worked together at Springdale (Ark.) High School, and Malzahn was hoping to hire Lashlee as a graduate assistant at Tulsa.

However, plans changed, and Malzahn had to go in another direction. He turned to Don Struebing, another former assistant at Springdale, to find a name. Struebing led Malzahn to a graduate assistant at Central Arkansas who ended up accepting the position as he kicked off his coaching career.

It was Mike Norvell.

"When I went to Tulsa, I was going to try to take Rhett with me to be the GA," Malzahn told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. "Well, Rhett was going to get married, so he stayed northwest Arkansas. So I said, 'Hey, Don, who do you got?' He said, 'Man, Mike Norvell would be a great GA.' So that's how that whole thing."

Norvell met Struebing at a camp, and he stayed after just to make sure he shook his and made the connection. From there, the chain of events led him to Malzahn, and Norvell wound up getting his first head coaching job about 10 years after joining Tulsa when Memphis hired him. After that, he headed to Florida State, where he turned the Seminoles around over the last few years and won the ACC Championship (though he did not make the College Football Playoff).

If Norvell didn't meet Struebing, though, Malzahn doesn't think he'd have gotten the Tulsa graduate assistant position.

"Mike, smart guy," Malzahn said. "That's just the way Mike is. He always thinks about the little things. ... Don said, 'Man, I just know this guy is going to be a great coach for you. He'll be just like Rhett and all this.' It worked out.

"That's exactly right. I said, man, Rhett, you gotta meet with him, you got to show him exactly how we do it. So they got together and Mike hit the ground running."

Springdale HS also helped connect Gus Malzahn and Eli Drinkwitz
Gus Malzahn's staff at Springdale also included another future Power Conference coach. Eli Drinkwitz served as a volunteer assistant in 2004 and ended up returning to the program after Malzahn left for Arkansas. A former Alma (Ark.) High School star, the two connected when the head coach – Frankie Vines –

As Drink got into coaching, Malzahn remembered him, and brought him aboard at Springdale.

"I was the offensive coordinator of the all-star team, which that was as good as it gets back in the day," Malzahn said. "And his head coach was a legend, and the head coach got to bring the manager. There was a sophomore linebacker named Eli Drinkwitz. So he was my GA or whatever back then, we got to know each other. When he graduated, [he said] 'Hey, Coach, can I come volunteer for you at Springdale High School?' Sure, man.

"He made a good impression for me. So that's how it went down."

In 2010, three years after leaving Springdale, Auburn hired Malzahn as offensive coordinator. He quickly built out his staff, and he found himself again in need of a graduate assistant. That's when he called Drinkwitz –

He went to his house to ask him in-person.

"I went to college, [Drinkwitz] moved up and he was the offensive coordinator and I think in 2009, we needed a GA," Malzahn said. "So I made an in-home visit with him and his wife and talked him into coming to Auburn for $12,000 to be a GA, and he got a chance to help with Cam Newton.

"The rest is history."

[jbcarol]

4-star safety Tony Williams commits to UCF

by:
Hunter Shelton
•

Palm Beach (Fla.) Central four-star safety Tony Williams has committed to UCF.

He chose the Golden Knights over the likes of Miami, Penn State, Arkansas and Iowa.

Williams is the No. 154 overall prospect and No. 14 safety in the 2025 cycle

[jbcarol]

Lake Mary '22 RS-FR QB Gunnar Smith entered the transfer portal.


https://www.on3.com/db/gunnar-smith-47222

[@Blue-Chip]

Makes sense..  They have a Previous Hogville Preseason Heisman Candidate QB.   

[jbcarol]

UCF CB Jarvis Ware enters NCAA Transfer Portal

by: Wade Peery
•

UCF cornerback Jarvis Ware officially entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Friday evening, On3's Pete Nakos reported. He started his career with the Missouri Tigers. In 2022, he racked up 41 total tackles with the Knights.

He appeared in 28 games as a defensive back at Missouri. Ware snatched his first career interception at Florida in 2020, taking it back 59 yards for the score.

Ware had 33 tackles his sophomore year, taking over one of the Tigers' two cornerback slots. In the 2018-2019 season at Mizzou, he also made first year SEC Academic Honor Roll.

He played his high school football at Wekiva High (Apopka).

UCF finished 6-7 overall this year, falling 30-17 in the bowl game. They had a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season, but rebounded nicely to win three of their last five. Their best win of the season may have come when they delivered a 45-3 thrashing of the then 15th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys.

[jbcarol]

KJ Jefferson, former Arkansas QB who transferred to UCF, clears up Fayetteville mugshot going viral

Andrew Olson |


Pillsbury Throwboy

Jefferson explained that he was back in Fayetteville to address a speeding incident.

"I got a speeding ticket last year in May before the season, so I reported to court today," Jefferson said in a video post. "I ended up getting three days of community service. That's why you've seen my mugshot [on social media]; I don't know why they did that for community service.

"I take full accountability for my actions. All the narratives everyone is playing are not true. I had a speeding ticket."

Jefferson was found to be driving 100 miles per hour in a 70-

2023 season was Jefferson's fifth and final at Arkansas

Gus:

"I have been fully aware of this situation that took place in May 2023 prior to his arrival at UCF. Since KJ has been here, he's been a great leader and an exemplary member of our program."



Jefferson'll face at least one familiar foe with his new team in 2024. UCF travels to Gainesville to play Florida on Oct. 5.

Jefferson led the Razorbacks to an upset of the Gators in The Swamp

[jbcarol]

Toledo running back Peny Boone commits to transfer to UCF

by: Dan Morrison
•

Rockets running back Peny Boone has committed to transfer to the UCF Knights, per Hayes Fawcett. He previously played for the Maryland Terrapins.

In 2023, Peny Boone was the MAC Player of the Year. He rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Has 2 to play 2

[jbcarol]

@Hayesfawcett3
BREAKING: Former Ohio WR Jacoby Jones has Committed to UCF, he tells @on3sports


The 6'3 230 WR totaled 53 Receptions for 923 Yards & 6 TDs in the last 2 seasons

Will have 1 year of eligibility remaining

https://on3.com/db/jacoby-jones-149980

[jbcarol]

Young Sheldon

@Hayesfawcett3
BREAKING: Former ETSU Safety Sheldon Arnold II has Committed to UCF, he tells @on3sports


The 2023 1st Team FCS All-American totaled 87 Tackles, 9 TFL, 4 INT, 3 FF, 3 FR, & 2 Defensive TDs last season

Will have 1 year of eligibility remaining

https://on3.com/db/sheldon-arnold-ii-189961

[jbcarol]

Jacksonville State to open 2025 football season at Central Florida

By Creg Stephenson |

Jacksonville State will open the 2025 season with a Thursday night game at Central Florida, the school announced.

Rich Rod's Gamecocks and Gus's Knights are set to square off on Aug. 28, 2025, at FBC Mortgage in Orlando.

[jbcarol]

Central Michigan transfer OL Keegan Smith commits to UCF

by: Steve Samra
•

Former Central Michigan Chippewas offensive lineman Keegan Smith has committed to join the UCF Knights via the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3 has learned.

Smith played high school football at Lumen Christi (MI), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1915 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle.