Spring football is a time for quarterbacks to build chemistry, sharpen their timing, and prove they're the guy. But for UCF's new signal-caller, Alonza Barnett III, the last 15 practices were spent watching from the sidelines.
The UCF Knights held their star transfer out of all spring sessions—including the May 2 open practice—but the redshirt senior insists he'll be ready when summer workouts roll around.
Head coach Scott Frost set the tone early, saying back in March that he planned to "take it slow" with Barnett. By mid-April, there was hope the quarterback might see some live reps. Instead, Frost and his staff decided to pump the brakes entirely.
"It's a new day and age of college football where there's a lot of external factors with monetary things, just being real," said UCF quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton. "We've got to protect our investment."
Milton compared Barnett's situation to that of Miami's Carson Beck, who sat out spring after undergoing UCL surgery following his transfer from Georgia. Beck went on to lead the Hurricanes all the way to a national championship.
Barnett, who enrolled at UCF in January, was the Knights' top prize from the transfer portal. He didn't undergo any offseason procedure, but he also didn't specify the exact nature of his injury. What he did make clear: he's been throwing, running, and lifting weights throughout the spring.
"I'll be back for the summer," Barnett said. "It was just something we were taking a day at a time, and it just got to a point where it was a 'for what, for why.'"
The numbers explain exactly why UCF is so eager to protect their investment. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound North Carolina native was named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year after leading James Madison to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Over the last two seasons, Barnett has thrown for 5,404 yards with 49 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He's also rushed for 1,031 yards and 22 scores, helping the Dukes post a 21-6 record.
Barnett completed 58% of his passes last season, showcasing the kind of dual-threat ability that could make UCF's offense dangerous in 2025. For now, the Knights are playing the long game—and Barnett is already attacking the summer grind.
"He's going to be our dude going into this season," Milton said.