Knights land transfer cornerback

UCF, seeking immediate experience and impact at cornerback, gained the services of junior-college transfer

Mike Hughes on Friday. Hughes, a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder, played at Garden City (Kan.) Community College last year and was a teammate with another UCF transfer, LB Gabe Luyanda. Reached via e-mail, Garden City head coach Jeffery

Sims wrote, “Great player, impactful … will take time because he just got there.”

Hughes came out of North Carolina’s New Bern High in the Class of 2015 as a highly regarded prospect and he signed with North Carolina. He played his first season at UNC, appearing at corner and on special teams. He recorded 10 tackles and had three pass break-ups as a freshman, but left UNC in February 2016 after being charged with misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury following an altercation at a UNC frat house on Oct. 4, 2015.

He completed community service and all of the charges were eventually dropped.

Last season he played a big part in helping Garden City win the junior-college national title. He was named NJCAA All-American and had committed to South Carolina. He was unable to finish his associate’s degree in time for enrollment and ultimately landed at UCF.

He will be available immediately as a junior and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Next game: UCF vs. FIU, Aug. 31, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network