UCF football recruiting: Knights prepare for final push ahead of December signing period

Until Saturday, UCF is locked in on leaving the American Athletic Conference as champion one last time. The Knights travel to Tulane at 4 p.m. Saturday with a spot in the Cotton Bowl Classic on the line.

However, once the clock reads triple zeroes, head coach Gus Malzahn and his staff will feverishly look to close and put the final touches on an impressive recruiting class.

As things stand, the Knights currently boast four consensus four-star recruits, comfortably a program record for a single year. All four of those players attend high school within an hour of UCF's campus, a clear focus of Malzahn's since taking the job in 2021.

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"We're in a really good spot, recruiting-wise," Malzahn said. "We just need to make sure we finish."

In total, UCF has 12 athletes verbally committed for its 2023 class, currently ranked 54th in the FBS, per 247Sports' composite. Let's take a closer look at that core group, in addition to a number of other targets worth monitoring in the final three weeks leading into the early signing period (Dec. 21).

Commits

Kaven Call, DL, Apopka: Not only has Call been the Knights' longest-tenured commit, making his choice public on Christmas Day of 2021, he has been a pivotal figure in recruiting other talented Central Florida athletes to stay home. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder is enjoying a strong senior year for Class 4M state semifinalist Apopka, tallying eight TFLs, eight sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Johnathan Cline, IOL, Cartersville (Ga.): A long-term interior target who visited Miami and AAC rivals East Carolina and Memphis over the summer, Cline (6-4, 295) locked in his spot with the Knights the day after starting his senior season. The two-time all-region has since made the trip to the Bounce House, using his official visit in September to catch the win over Georgia Tech.

Jason Duclona, DB/ATH, Estero: UCF completed its flip of two-way athlete Duclona last week when he announced his commitment exclusively with the Fort Myers News-Press. Duclona (6-1, 175) shined for an Estero team that won eight games and made the playoffs, catching 24 passes for 554 yards and seven touchdowns while adding two interceptions and six pass breakups on defense.

Troy Ford Jr., LB, Savannah Calvary Day (Ga.): Ford (6-1, 235) has been a frequent visitor despite the four-and-a-half-hour drive time from Savannah, Georgia. He played a key role for a loaded Calvary Day squad that won 11 games before exiting Georgia's Class AAA playoffs last week with 68 tackles, seven TFLs and one sack. Ford, who also plays lacrosse, holds more than 20 Division I offers but has largely shut down his recruitment since pledging to the Knights in March.

Andrew Harris and Michael Harris, LB, Lake Brantley: Presented their sweatshirts for the Under Armour All-America Game near the end of November, twin linebackers Andrew and Michael Harris remain solid in their commitments despite continued advances from both Maryland and Michigan State. The pair combined for 176 total tackles, 15.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks as the Patriots cracked the Class 4M playoffs. Andrew had strong numbers in coverage, too — picking off three passes and batting down three more.

Braeden Marshall, DB, Lake Mary: Marshall pulled a surprise when he committed to UCF in July after previously listing a top-three of Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Those close to him, though, knew the Knights always remained at the top of his list, given his connections to other recruits, current coaches, UCF players and trainer Drico Johnson — a former Knights DB. Fewer QBs tested Marshall in coverage this year compared to his junior campaign, and he registered 42 tackles for the Region 1-4M finalist Rams.

Jamal Meriweather, OT, Brunswick (Ga.): UCF aggressively pursued Brunswick's massive right tackle in the spring, and Meriweather (6-7, 260) announced his commitment on Easter Sunday. He's the lone high school tackle commit to date, a position UCF targeted in the transfer portal in 2022. Current starters Tylan Grable and Ryan Swoboda previously attended Jacksonville State and Virginia, respectively. Brunswick averaged 204.3 rushing yards per game this season, building an 11-game win streak in the process.

Randy Pittman, TE, Mosley: Malzahn's staff chipped away and successfully lured one of the Panhandle's prized players away from Florida State. Pittman (6-2, 230) was the Knights' lone visitor on June 17, he reopened his recruitment a week later and then chose the Knights on Oct. 8, his 18th birthday. "They fought hard for me," Pittman said in October. "The process was amazing. They never gave up on me and kept convincing me to come back down. The environment, the energy they were giving me was just amazing." A true H-back for Mosley, Pittman set team-highs in receptions (48), receiving yards (704) and rushing touchdowns (seven).

Grant Reddick, K, Boone: The No. 3 placekicker in the nation, according to Kohl's Kicking Camps, Reddick's decision to stay home was made easy when UCF offered him a scholarship — as opposed to preferred walk-on spot. Reddick has the leg strength to hit from 60 yards, and routinely thump the ball through end zone for touchbacks.

Dylan Rizk, QB, Cardinal Gibbons: Quarterbacking Cardinal Gibbons to a state title as a junior, Rizk's hopes of going back-to-back were dashed by Plantation American Heritage last week. He fits the dual-threat mold, completing 64% of his passes for 1,987 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushing for 323 yards and five more scores. Rizk (6-2, 210) saw his stock rise over the summer, and he's currently the No. 45 QB in the nation per 247Sports' composite rankings.

John Walker, DL, Osceola: The Knights' top-rated recruit, Walker is regarded as one of the nation's most dominant defensive tackles. Helping the Kowboys qualify for the Class 4S Final Four, the 6-foot-3, 310-pound senior has 40 solo tackles, 13 TFLs, nine sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Florida has persisted in its efforts to flip Walker for the entirety of the fall, and Rivals reported that he plans to use his last official visit to go to Gainesville the weekend of Dec. 9. In June, Walker visited UCF, Michigan, Miami and Ohio State.

Flip targets

Jason Hammond, DL, St. Thomas Aquinas: Before the Knights battle Iowa State on the field for Big 12 play, they will first go head-to-head on the recruiting trail. Hammond (6-3, 285) is twitchy for his size and has been coached up by, among others, Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor for one of Florida's elite programs. He's had a strong senior campaign with 54 total tackles (26 solo), seven TFLs and seven sacks. Hammond has plans to visit both Virginia and UCF in December, having previously taken a trip to Colorado last month.

JC Hart, DB, Loachapoka (Ala.): UCF pursued the rangy, speedy Alabama corner throughout the summer but Hart initially chose to stay home with Auburn. The Tigers endured a 5-7 campaign, and head coach Bryan Harsin was promptly fired when John Cohen took over as athletic director. Hugh Freeze was named Auburn's head coach, so it remains to be seen which current Tiger commits will stay locked in or look elsewhere. If Hart ends up back on the open market, expect the Knights to make a big push.

Jaylen Moson, DB, Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.): Technically, Moson is uncommitted — as of Monday. Philip Montgomery's departure from Tulsa spelled the end of Moson's commitment to the Golden Hurricane, a longtime thorn in UCF's side. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound cornerback leads his region with five interceptions. Moson claimed an offer from UCF following a conversation with assistant head coach/DBs coach Addison Williams in October.

Tyree Patterson, WR, Eustis: Florida's longest active commitment for the 2023 signing class, Patterson (6-2, 175) chose the Gators back in April. However, UCF is lingering in the background as the Gators have since added three more wide receivers to their group — Miami Northwestern's Andy Jean, Gaither's Eugene Wilson III and Boone's Aidan Mizell. Patterson possesses length and field-stretching speed, so he would be a welcome addition for the Knights, who have come up empty at the position to this point.

Malachi Singleton, QB, North Cobb (Ga.): Singleton chose Arkansas over UCF and two other schools back in the summer, but the Knights have not given up hope on their top QB target for this cycle. Singleton, who missed time this year due to injury, caught two UCF games on campus this year. He's booked his official visit with the Razorbacks for this coming weekend. It will be worth monitoring if Kendal Briles' name is linked to any of the head coaching vacancies — he's listed as Singleton's primary recruiter by 247Sports.

Uncommitted targets

DeeJay Holmes, EDGE, Pahokee: Palm Beach County's most dynamic defensive player visited UCF on June 10, and said he felt like a priority of Malzahn and his assistants. Holmes went wild for the Blue Devils this season, compiling a school-record 32.5 sacks, 27.5 TFLs, 117 total tackles and a game-clinching 30-yard, pick-six against Palm Beach Central. Pittsburgh and Wake Forest also maintain an interest, but UCF is likely the team to beat.

Cayden Lee, WR, Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.): Nicknamed "Honeycomb," Lee (5-11, 175) would certainly be a big addition to the Knights' receiving room. He has recorded back-to-back, 1,000-yard receiving seasons for Kennesaw Mountain — setting new single-season personal marks with 74 catches, 1,101 yards and 13 touchdowns. Lee was the Knights' earliest in-season official visitor, attending the Sept. 9 home game with Louisville. He went to Ole Miss earlier this month when the Rebels hosted Alabama.

Andrew Rumph, DL, Palmetto: Down to a final four of Indiana, Maryland, Miami and UCF, Rumph (6-6, 285) is still very much on the Knights' radar. Similar to the other defensive linemen on this list, Rumph produced strong numbers in his final season of high school ball — 44 total tackles (16 solo), 12 TFLs, four sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Rumph visited both the aforementioned Big 10 schools in June.

Transfer portal targets

Josh Braun, OL, Florida: Shortly after announcing his intentions to transfer on Nov. 11, Braun made a trip to UCF for the home finale against Navy. The 6-foot-6, 335-pound Live Oak native played 24 times and made seven starts for the Gators during Dan Mullen's regime, but he suited up just twice this season. Arkansas, Florida State and Oklahoma State are also reportedly in the mix.

Tyrese Chambers, WR, Florida International: One of the most dangerous deep threats in college football during the 2021 season, averaging 23.9 yards per reception, Chambers didn't quite have the same impact for FIU this fall. He caught 51 passes for 544 yards and four touchdowns. The Baltimore native started his college career in the JUCO ranks at Fort Scott (Kan.), then enjoyed a dominant two-year stint at Sacred Heart where he was an FCS All-American and Jerry Rice Award finalist. UCF offered Chambers on Wednesday, but the Knights will face lots of competition — including West Virginia and Louisville.

Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, South Florida: It's impossible not to link Horn to UCF, despite the fact he faced the Knights this past weekend — considering the overwhelming Sanford Seminole influence on the roster. In 23 games for the Bulls, Horn (5-9, 174) caught 67 passes for 959 yards and four touchdowns. He earned All-AAC first team honors as a return specialist, as well. Quarterback Timmy McClain, linebacker Kam Moore, twin defensive backs Ja'Cari and Demari Henderson and Horn won a FHSAA Class 8A title together at Seminole in 2020. The latter three signed with UCF last December, while McClain made the move via the portal in August. It would not be a surprise to see Horn do the same in the very near future, though Penn State made the first move with an offer Wednesday night.

Abdul Janneh, WR, Duquesne: A prized recruit looking to make the leap from the FCS ranks, Janneh (6-3, 180) claimed his most recent offer from UCF on Nov. 21. More than a dozen FBS schools have made a play for the sophomore, who caught 43 passes for 579 yards and nine touchdowns — including one in the Dukes' opener at Florida State. Janneh told 247Sports that he has visits lined up with UCF and Virginia Tech in the coming weeks.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football: Recruiting primer for December signing period