A leg injury will force UCF starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee to miss multiple weeks, coach Gus Malzahn said Monday. With Plumlee sidelined, South Florida transfer Timmy McClain will start against Villanova in Week 3.
Plumlee suffered the injury in the waning minutes of UCF’s 18-16 win over Boise State. The senior’s right knee bent awkwardly as he was hit while trying to slide on a zone-read keeper on first down. Plumlee stayed in the game, but was visibly unable to put weight on his right leg. The effort was enough to set up a game-winning 40-yard field goal from kicker Colton Boomer.
The injury will not require surgery, but it is expected to keep Plumlee out as UCF prepares for a historic stretch to open its tenure as a Big 12 program. The Knights play their first conference game on the road against No. 15 Kansas State on Sept. 23. UCF returns to the Bounce House on Sept. 30 for the Big 12 home opener against Baylor.
I think this pretty much guarantees a loss against KState, but there wasn’t a ton of hope in the first place. Hopefully other than that, McClain can hold things together until JRP comes back. Hell, maybe we’ll get lucky and he still has the same playmaking ability but without the completely nonsensical occasional desicions.