Knights to tackle critical questions

Things could only get better for the UCF football program when Scott Frost was first hired.

Following a disastrous 0-12 season in 2015, the Knights improved their standing to 6-7 the following season and closed with an appearance in the home-grown AutoNation Cure Bowl last December.

Frost and Co. promised a UCFast and UCFierce system that would accelerate the tempo on both sides of the ball, delivering a more exciting brand of football. He more than delivered on defense, producing the American Athletic Conference’s defensive player of the year in Shaquem Griffin. But the young and rebuilding offense still has a lot of room to improve after finishing No. 113 out of 128 teams in the country last season.

UCF will look to build on the positive momentum as spring workouts begin today. Take a closer look at the top five areas to watch this spring. this spring will be an opportunity for Milton to really own this team. He had a shaky first season as the Knights’ starting quarterback after starter Justin Holman was injured and Milton was thrown into the fire early last season.

Milton had the traits best suited to run Frost’s offense, but he struggled at times under pressure.

UCF coaches will look to see what kind of physical and mental leaps the Hawaii native can make as he prepares for his second year leading the offense.

Last spring UCF had too many quarterbacks, starting spring workouts with seven.

This spring, the Knights barely have enough to field workouts.

Some will get a head start battling for the backup quarterback job, but the question is sure to linger until freshman recruits Noah Vedral and Darriel Mack Jr. arrive on campus this summer.

This will be one of the key groups to watch, with all four 2016 starters graduating. Shaquill Griffin, D.J. Killings, Drico Johnson and T.J. Mutcherson all are gone. Despite the departures, UCF has a deep group of young talent developing and Alabama transfer Shawn BurgessBecker could be one of those breakout stars.