UCF coach Gus Malzahn has named John Rhys Plumlee the team’s starting quarterback, Malzahn announced on social media Sunday afternoon.
Plumlee beat out sophomore Mikey Keene and true freshman Thomas Castellanos to earn the job.
“All the way back to spring, I’ve watched every scrimmage — the ones that were live and the other ones that weren’t — just trying to put [together] all of the information to make the best decision,” Malzahn said Saturday before the announcement.
Prior to training camp, the UCF coach aimed to name a starting quarterback following the second scrimmage but an extra week was needed to make the choice.
Malzahn previously said it’s one of the most important decisions the coaching staff will make all year long.
“That’s probably the biggest challenge,” he said a week ago. “The good thing is we’ve got two guys we can win with. I don’t know how many programs around the country can say that, so we feel really strong about that.”
Although Plumlee and Keene each provide their own strengths and weaknesses, Malzahn knew a decision had to be made at one point.
“We’ve got to name a starter,” Malzahn said Saturday. “That will help our team and help our chemistry.”
The Ole Miss transfer brought great speed and athleticism with him from the SEC.
“Coach Malzahn is the type of offensive mind that can use a good skillset. My skillset is pretty unique with my running ability,” Plumlee said at the team’s media day. “He’s had success in the past [at Auburn] with Nick Marshall and guys that have similar abilities to me.”
Although he eventually converted to wide receiver at Ole Miss, Plumlee isn’t far removed from his freshman season in 2019 when he started eight games at quarterback while setting the program’s freshman rushing record with 1,023 yards and 16 total touchdowns.
Plumlee, of course, transferred to UCF in order to play quarterback again.
“Being separated from it for a year, you realize how much you love it,” Plumlee said at media day. “Since I’ve been growing up, I’ve loved playing quarterback.
“When you get out there, it’s moving quickly on you just because you haven’t done it in a year. The more you do it, the more it slows down.”
UCF offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey recently highlighted what he thinks is the best part of Plumlee’s game, noting his explosiveness on the field.
“John Rhys has a lot of upside,” Lindsey said last Thursday. “After not playing quarterback for a year-and-a-half, it’s amazing how much progress he’s made on just the details of playing the position.”
Plumlee becomes UCF’s fifth different Week 1 starter since 2016 joining Justin Holman (’16), McKenzie Milton (’17 and ‘18), Brandon Wimbush (’19) and Gabriel (’20 and ‘21).
It’s a spot Plumlee will have to maintain moving forward.
“Once you play, you have to keep your job, too,” Lindsey said on Aug. 11. “It’s not like whoever we decide is our [starting] quarterback, the other guy is done forever. You better be ready to go.”
For now, Plumlee will lead the Knights onto the field when the season opens in less than two weeks.
