The second in a position-by-position preview of the UCF football team heading into fall camp:
Read more UF position preview: Running back
TODAY: RUNNING BACKS
What to expect
The Knights’ rushing attack had its moments last season, but never quite developed an identity as a unit. The departures of starters Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon, who exhausted their eligibility, meant the program would need to find fresh new faces to fill the depth chart.
Enter Duke Watson and Landen Chambers.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Watson demonstrated an explosive running style during his time at Louisville, averaging 8.9 yards per carry as a freshman in 2024. While a lower-body injury limited the Georgia native to just 158 yards in seven games last season, Watson is healthy and ready to make an impact.
Chambers is coming off a career season at Central Arkansas, where he rushed for 1,273 yards on 242 carries with 10 touchdowns. At 215 pounds, the Texas native has a different running style than his counterpart, making him the perfect complement to Watson in the backfield. Chambers will be relied on heavily in short-yardage situations as the bruising running back.
The duo will join returners Taevion Swint, Agyeman Addae and Chance Nixon.
Swint, a former four-star recruit from Osceola High School, is back after missing all of last season after tearing his meniscus during fall camp. Before his injury, the Orlando native was battling for snaps not only in the backfield but on special teams in the return game.
Addae, a walk-on, impressed coaches with his work ethic and versatility, particularly late in the season. He became a valuable asset out of the backfield as a receiver and even tossed a touchdown pass on a trick play in a game last season.
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Also joining the group are freshmen Kaj Baker and Arthur Lewis IV. Baker is considered one of the fastest players of the group, while Lewis is known for being one of the strongest.
What they’re saying
“Last year, we were just trying to figure out who we were. Now we kind of have more of an identity and are trying to figure out little wrinkles that we can fix with that.” — UCF running backs coach Jimmy Beal.
Returnees
Taevion Swint
Agyeman Addae
Chance Nixon
Arrivals
Duke Watson (Louisville), junior
Landen Chambers (Central Arkansas), redshirt junior
Kaj Baker (Somerset Academy), freshman
Arthur Lewis IV (Bartram Trail High), freshman
Departures
Myles Montgomery (eligibility): 705 yards rushing, 4 TDs; 182 yards receiving
Jaden Nixon (eligibility): 554 yards rushing, 7 TDs; 88 yards receiving
Stacy Gage (transfer to LSU): 63 yards rushing, TD; 5 yards receiving
Tyler Wrenn: 8 yards rushing; 11 yards receiving
Projected depth chart
RB1 — Duke Watson
RB2 — Landen Chambers
RB3 — Taevion Swint
RB4 — Agyeman Addae
Previous position breakdown
Quarterback
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