It didn’t take long for Duke Watson’s redemption story to begin.
On UCF’s second play from scrimmage against Bethune-Cookman last Thursday, Watson took a handoff from quarterback Alonza Barnett III.
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The 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back took a first step and then did what he’s done so many times before, first on the football fields in Georgia and then while in college at Louisville: he ran.
Nine seconds and 64 yards later, Watson found himself alone in the end zone, celebrating with his new teammates.
“Once I saw that hole, I already knew it was a touchdown,” said the junior running back.
It was Watson’s first touchdown since Nov. 8, 2025, but more importantly, it justified the countless hours of sweat, blood and tears that the 20-year-old Watson had put in to get back onto the football field at 100%.
Watson, a former four-star prospect from Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Ga., broke onto the scene with a spectacular freshman season at Louisville, rushing for 597 yards while leading the nation with an 8.9 yards-per-carry average.
But an ankle injury limited him to just seven games last season, rushing for 158 yards on 49 carries. He transferred to UCF in the offseason.
On Thursday, however, Watson looked more like his former explosive self, leading the team with 110 yards on seven carries and a 15.7 YPC average.
“That was really the plan, scoring on the first touch,” said Watson. “That was the talk the whole week, to score on the first touch and the whole (offensive) line, they got it done and we executed.”
Watson’s teammates weren’t shocked by his performance.
“Duke is someone special. We all knew what he could do, so it’s not a surprise,” said redshirt junior running back Landen Chambers, who was third on the team with 56 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Watson wasn’t the only running back making his triumphant return to the gridiron.
Taevion Swint missed all of last season after suffering a meniscus tear in fall camp.
His first collegiate carry came midway through the first quarter, resulting in an 11-yard gain. But it was in the third quarter when the redshirt freshman showcased his true potential.
Swint took the second-half kickoff at the UCF 6 and raced down the left side of the field before being tripped up at the B-CU 37. The 57-yard kickoff return was the longest since Jaden Nixon’s 96-yard return for a touchdown against North Carolina A&T on Sept. 6, 2025.
Five plays later, the Osceola High product outpaced three defenders before plunging into the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown.
“(I’m so) happy to be back out there,” said Swint, who finished with 48 yards on four carries. “It’s been a long year, but there’s nothing like doing it with your brothers.”
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Swint mentioned that he didn’t feel any pressure when he took the field on Thursday, leaning on words of advice from running backs coach Jimmy Beal.
“He tells us, just breathe. Once you breathe and let it out, hold it in for three seconds. Whatever you got to do to get your mind right to make that play, just no pressure,” Swint said.
Watson and Swint weren’t the only running backs to make early impressions as the team rushed for 360 yards on 38 carries with seven rushing touchdowns.
Coach Scott Frost sees Watson and Swint as a perfect 1-2 punch for the Knights.
“Both those guys have big play potential,” said Frost. “It’s fun to get the ball to a guy; if we give them a crease, they get an opportunity to take it the whole way and Duke and Swint definitely both have that capability.”
Swint’s performance has already drawn comparisons to former UCF tailback Adrian Killins, a versatile speedster who helped Frost and the Knights capture a conference title and a perfect season in 2017.
During the offseason, the duo quickly built a strong friendship, united by their shared struggles and a mutual desire to make a triumphant comeback on the gridiron.
“When I first got in here, Swint and I already bonded because I already knew him from high school,” said Watson. “We were always in the top category, so I knew his name. But when I got here, just hearing his story and him hearing mine, we bonded over that.
“We both didn’t have our seasons and we felt like something was owed to us. Working with each other, it’s just made each of us better.”
“Ever since he got here, we’ve just had our talks,” Swint said of his bond with Watson. “We talk about how to manifest (these moments) and sure enough, it happened on the field.”
“You’ve got to respect those guys. If I’m a defensive coordinator, we’ve got to have a plan to make sure that we can contain those guys because it’s easy to get those guys touches,” said offensive coordinator Steve Cooper.
Watson and Swint are ready to write their next chapters to the story when the Knights travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ESPN2).
It’s a familiar foe for Watson, who played against Pitt twice during his time with the Cardinals.
In two appearances against the Panthers, he rushed the ball 25 times for 116 total yards.
“I’m very motivated. I’m familiar with Pitt. So, I’m ready to play against them for a third time and come out with a win,” said Watson.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram at @osmattmurschel. Email: [email protected]. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
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