UCF returns six starters from an offense that led the nation in scoring (48.2 ppg) and was fifth nationally in total offense (530.5 ypg). Quarterback McKenzie Milton was the 2017 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 American Championship and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Milton finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting last season. Running back Adrian Killins led the Knights with 10 rushing touchdowns on his way to all-conference first team honors last season. Center Jordan Johnson (first team) and offensive tackle Wyatt Miller (second team) earned all-conference honors on the offensive line in 2017.

The Knights will have to replace four defensive players who were all-conference choices in 2017, including All-America linebacker Shaquem Griffin and cornerback Mike Hughes, who was a firstround pick in the NFL Draft. Safety Kyle Gibson was named to The American’s first team, while defensive end Trysten Hill was a second-team selection of the head coaches. Gibson led the Knights with four interceptions. Linebacker Pat Jasinski registered a team-high 104 tackles from the middle linebacker spot in 2017.

UCF finished the 2017 season as the nation’s only unbeaten team. The Knights, who went 13-0, became the first FBS team to finish a season without a loss since Florida State went 14-0 in 2013. The Knights finished the 2017 season as the nation’s No. 1-ranked team in the Colley Matrix. UCF has won three American Athletic Conference (2013, 2014, 2017) titles in the league’s first five seasons.