South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Move to Big 12 helps Knights host top targets
Back in the Bounce House for the first time in almost a month, UCF hosted top recruits and targets in the
2022 recruiting class Saturday night. As it stands, the Knights have
12 oral commitments but are hoping to land a few more before the Early Signing Period in December.
The acceptance to the Big 12 Conference helps UCF coach Gus Malzahn in a huge way because he can pitch playing in a Power Five league without having to travel out-of-state to top local recruits.
Here’s a look at who was expected to make it to UCF’s campus for the Knights’ game vs. East Carolina:
UCF 2022 commits
Ware County (Ga.) QB Thomas Castellanos
Apopka four-star cornerback Nikai Martinez
F.W. Buchholz (Gainesville) fourstar wide receiver Quan Lee
Berkeley Prep (Tampa) linebacker TJ Bullard
Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood) defensive lineman Jamaal Johnson
Lakeland defensive lineman Keahnist Thompson
Nease tight end (Ponte Vedra Beach) Grant Stevens
Top targets in 2022 class
Milton (Ga.) running back Jordan McDonald: The top running back target for the Knights recently shared his top two schools, and joining the Knights are the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Lake Gibson four-star athlete Sam McCall: The FSU commit seems to be staying true to his pledge to the Seminoles despite
them having the worst start since
1974 after opening 0-4. A few SEC schools, including Alabama, have eyes on McCall.
IMG Academy four-star defensive lineman Dominick James: This is the second time the Bradenton native has been to a UCF game this year which could bode well for the Knights in the long run. While there are top schools in the race to land James, like Ohio State, UCF should be considered a dark horse.
Ocoee defensive lineman Jordan Phillips: Although he’s committed to former UCF coach Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols, UCF is making a strong push to flip Phillips, who was on campus multiple times this summer.
Venice wide receiver Alex Perry: The three-star product holds offers from Purdue, Old Dominion, UT Martin and Morehead State.
In the 2023 recruiting class, UCF is hosting some of the best in the Orlando area including four-star
offensive lineman Payton Kirkland of Dr. Phillips and four-star Osceola defensive linemen John Walker and Derrick LeBlanc.
Miami Norland four-star running back Javin Simpkins, who is committed to Georgia Tech, made the trip north to Orlando. Miami Central’s Lamar Seymore, who is pledged to the Hurricanes, also came.
Circling back to local prospects, Apopka four-star defensive lineman Kaven Call made the short drive to campus, as did IMG Academy fourstar defensive lineman Will Norman.
Lee’s Buchholz teammate, fourstar defensive lineman Gavin Hill, attended as well.
Rounding out the 2023 prospects were Orange Park offensive lineman Roderick Kearney and Cartersville (Ga.) offensive lineman Johnathan Cline.