The offseason progress of UCF’s offensive line was evident the first time the team stepped on the field for spring practice.

“We came out here, we were knocking the defense off the ball,” sophomore center Jordan Johnson said. “They didn’t know what to expect.”

Johnson is hoping to have a similar effect on opponents.

UCF averaged 141 rushing yards and allowed almost three sacks per game last season. The Knights were among the worst teams in the nation in both categories.

“We were young on the o-line last year, not very deep and it showed up in the second half of the season,” second year head coach Scott Frost said.

Players say that the offseason weight training program helped them gain confidence. Coaches are imploring them to use that strength to be more aggressive.

“I need those guys to be more physical,” offensive line coach Greg Austin said.

“That’s what we’ve been harping on all spring is those guys coming off the ball in pass protection striking with their hands and being more gritty.”

UCF has four returning lineman that started in last year’s Cure Bowl, but there’s competition for positions. Frost said he hopes to have a rotation of seven to eight linemen.

“These guys have taken that challenge and ran with it this spring,” he said. “We’re a lot better already on the o-line than we were.”

Everyone understands that the line must perform better in order for the offense to be successful.

“If we can get those guys hyper aggressive and coming off the ball and thinking they’re not just going to win, but they’re going to whip someone’s tail on every play, running backs are going to have a lot of fun carrying the ball,” Frost said.