Beads of sweat formed on Dylan Rizk’s brow as he contemplated the question.
He paused for a moment before the interviewers inched closer and closer to the true freshman. It was the type of pressure the young quarterback faced every time he took the field, and as the seconds ticked away Rizk responded … with resounding laughter.
The interviewers — UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee and defensive end Josh Celiscar — doubled over in laughter, too, pleased with themselves at the job they had done. The seniors were on hand for freshman media day, interviewing their teammates for social media and, in most cases, providing some comic relief.
“It takes your mind off football for a bit,” Rizk said. “Everything is not going to be super serious all the time. We have a lot of characters on this team and I love it.”
It’s been a few months since Rizk joined the roster as a midyear enrollee after signing with UCF’s 2023 recruiting class. He spent two years at Cardinal Gibbons High, leading the Chiefs to a 22-4 record while passing for 3,958 yards with 35 touchdowns and rushing for 779 yards and 13 touchdowns.
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Rizk joined a quarterbacks room with incumbent starter Plumlee, transfers Timmy McClain (USF) and Xavier Williams (Charlotte) and walk-ons Brock Hansel and Gunnar Smith. In a short period, he’s already impressed coaches.
“He’s got incredible energy and working his tail off,” said offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw. “Every play is like the Super Bowl for him, which is what I want a quarterback to be like. You see he’s a winner.”
“My approach [this camp] was to come in here and work the hardest,” said Rizk. “I want to learn the playbook because I came here late, unfortunately, in the summer, so I want to learn the playbook and work my tail off and compete every day with the guys.”
Compete is what 6-foot-2 Rizk has done well through the first two weeks of camp. When asked to assess the battle for the No. 2 spot behind Plumlee, the true freshman’s name has come up on more than one occasion.
“We’ve only had him for two months, but the strides he’s taken are incredible,” said Hinshaw. “He’s pressing Timmy right now. They’re battling back and forth, but Timmy is ahead of Dylan with experience.”
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Said coach Gus Malzahn: “They need more reps. The need to play real football instead of just a play and install a play. They need to know what it feels like when you are outside the pocket and to not take a sack and when to throw it away.”
Experience is the best teacher and something Hinshaw, a former quarterback, knows will benefit his young student.
“The challenge is like riding a bike. I can show you how to ride a bike on film. I can show you the bike and spin it in front of you,” Hinshaw said. “I can show you how to pedal when it’s stationary, but everybody falls when you first get on the bike. So, you’ve got to fall as a freshman and go through situational football.
“The biggest thing is retaining that knowledge so when we run those plays again, you learn from other people’s mistakes, not just yours.”
Rizk believes he’s adapted well to the playbook and is looking forward to the potential of the Knights’ offense.
“It’s a defense destroyer,” he said. “We’re going to be able to rip defenses apart with Coach Hinshaw’s offense because there are a lot of different variations and it’s a really good offense.”
Even though he’s in the middle of a competition, Rizk credits the closeness among quarterbacks for helping him adjust to the college game.
“We all love each other a lot and we all help each other when we need it even though we’re battling every day in fall camp,” said Rizk.
He especially appreciates the camaraderie he’s developed with Plumlee.
“He’s always helped me out and kind of taken me under his wing, which is awesome,” said Rizk. He’s been a mentor and I’m learning from JRP all the details and all the things you need to be a great quarterback and leader.”
Email Matt Murschel at [email protected] or follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @osmattmurschel.
