The third in a position-by-position preview of the UCF football team heading into fall camp:
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TODAY: WIDE RECEIVERS
What to expect
When UCF wide receivers coach Sean Beckton Sr. took over the unit last season, it was a blank canvas with plenty of potential but lacking any practical experience. Among the 14 players in the group, only four had ever caught a pass in college.
This time around, Beckton has a group that is anchored by returning starter Duane Thomas Jr., who stepped up as a go-to option in the offense last season at wideout, leading the team with 53 catches for 528 receiving yards.
The emergence of Waden Charles as a true freshman was a pleasant surprise. His 26 catches and 290 receiving yards tied him for second among freshman receivers in the Big 12.
Transfer Josh Derry quickly caught the attention of his teammates and coaches, who raved about his explosiveness and his work ethic during spring camp. The 5-foot-9 Derry spent the past four seasons at Monmouth, where he earned All-American status while appearing in 30 games for the Hawks, finishing with 2,076 yards on 139 catches and 19 touchdowns.
Jonathan Bibbs also arrived via the transfer market after playing at Louisiana-Monroe.
There is also a core of returnees led by Day Day Farmer, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in fall camp. He’s joined by Caleb Rollerson, Jordyn Bridgewater and brothers Carson and Chase Hinshaw.
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True freshman Tyren Hornes was a massive recruiting coup for the Knights, with the four-star product already turning heads in spring camp. Jordan Nunuhua is a midseason addition who could lay the foundation for the unit’s future.
What they’re saying
“The difference between this year and last year is we’ve got some guys that were already in the system, and then the new guys we brought in are guys that really fit, who we believe will fit into our system well.” — UCF wide receivers coach Sean Beckton Sr.
Returnees
Duane Thomas Jr.
Waden Charles
Day Day Farmer
Jordyn Bridgewater
Andrea Parisi
Caleb Rollerson
Carson Hinshaw
Chase Hinshaw
Arrivals
Josh Derry (Monmouth), senior
Jonathan Bibbs (Louisiana-Monroe), redshirt sophomore
Tyren Hornes (Booker), freshman
Jordan Nunuha (St. Louis High), freshman
Zack Palmer (Boone High), freshman
Departures
DJ Black (transfer to South Carolina): 22 catches, 273 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Chris Domercant (eligibility): 21 catches, 212 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Marcus Burke (eligibility): 13 catches, 181 receiving yards
Carl Jenkins Jr. (transfer to Miami of Ohio): 3 catches for 32 yards
Bredell Richardson (transfer to Tulane)
Dwartney Wortham (transfer to Furman)
Projected depth chart
WR1 — Duane Thomas Jr.
WR2 — Waden Charles
WR3 — Josh Derry
WR4 — Jonathan Bibbs
Previous Position Breakdown
Quarterback
Running back
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @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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