NCAA Football: Cincinnati at Central Florida - Source: Imagn

EJ Colson high school stats: Looking back at UCF Knights QB's high school journey following his college debut against Cincinnati

Modified Oct 14, 2024 19:08 GMT

University of Central Florida freshman quarterback EJ Colson debuted against Cincinnati, replacing sixth-year senior KJ Jefferson. Colson, who had previously warmed up with the first team before the game, stepped in for Jefferson, who had started UCF’s first five games, guiding the team to a 3-2 record. Backup quarterback Jacurri Brown also saw playing time in the matchup.

Colson went to Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Georgia, where he showed his dual-threat abilities. In three seasons, he passed for 5,969 yards and 68 touchdowns, adding 1,354 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

Leading Cedar Grove to back-to-back Georgia Class 3A championship games, Colson secured the state title in 2023. That season, he completed 182 of 285 passes (63.8%) for 2,634 yards, 31 touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 868 yards and six touchdowns.

His standout performance in the title game included 259 passing yards and four touchdowns. In 2022, Colson threw for 2,632 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 63% of his passes while rushing for 486 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals, ESPN ranked Colson as the No. 6 quarterback in the nation in the class of 2024.

"Everything that we've seen from him is super impressive, he's a super impressive young man," UCF offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. told 247 Sports.

"Take the football stuff out of it and you see how he handles himself around the building. You're very impressed with him, but what you see when you get out there physically, he's a natural thrower, man."

UCF to start freshman EJ Colson at quarterback against Cincinnati

EJ Colson is the youngest starting quarterback in UCF history. The freshman committed to the Knights in July 2023 and reclassified from the 2025 to the 2024 recruiting class last December.

Former Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games for UCF, has not been doing well in their last two losses, to Colorado and Florida. He has managed 1,012 passing yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions, completing 59.3% of his passes.

With five years of experience at Arkansas, Jefferson entered UCF as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the transfer portal. He has 7,923 career passing yards, 67 touchdowns and 18 interceptions over 39 career starts.

UCF coach Gus Malzahn addressed the quarterback situation earlier this week.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously, last week, I said after the game we need to play better around him [KJ],” Malzahn said.

“He’s gotta play better, too. I mean, we, really all of the above, gotta coach better. It was all of it. So we understand that we didn’t have, what, 300 yards of offense. And before that, we were really rolling. So we’ve gotta be better, really, in all areas.”

UCF next faces No. 9 Iowa State on Oct. 19 at Jack Trice Stadium.