Keyone Jenkins needed help off the field during UCF’s game against Baylor on October 30, forcing Alonza Barnett III, who hadn’t played since Week 2, to immediately warm up and re-enter the game. It was a gut punch for the Knights, seeing their starting signal-caller go down, and a sudden, high-stakes return for Barnett.
A Scary Hit Puts Jenkins On The Sideline
This whole situation unfolded on the Knights’ opening drive of the second half. Jenkins was trying to escape pressure, doing his thing, when he took a hit on a screen pass. The pass was dropped by running back Duke Watson, and Jenkins stayed down after the contact. You never want to see that, especially your starting quarterback. He was eventually helped off the field and went straight into the medical tent. Talk about a brutal turn of events. To make matters worse, Baylor then extended their lead to 27-6 with 10:07 left in the third quarter before Barnett even officially stepped in.
Barnett’s Unexpected Call Back To Action
Barnett hadn’t played since the Knights’ Week 2 game way back on September 12 at Pittsburgh. He was listed as a game-time decision for this Baylor matchup, nursing a hamstring injury. So, to be thrown into the fire after that long absence, and after their opponents just padded their lead, is a tough spot for anyone. But the game doesn’t wait, and with Jenkins in the tent, Barnett was the next man up.
What’s next for UCF? With Keyone Jenkins’ status uncertain after that hit, all eyes are on Alonza Barnett III. He’s been sidelined since way back in Week 2 with that hamstring, so stepping back into the fire mid-game, down by a ton, is a huge ask. This team needs him to be ready to roll, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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