UCF expects most talented group of recruits ever for Colorado game

With Colorado and coach Deion Sanders coming to town, UCF is rolling out the red carpet for an exciting recruiting weekend at the Bounce House on Saturday, expecting numerous prime targets on site.

It is arguably the most talented group of recruiting visitors ever assembled for a UCF game.

UCF has 88 confirmed prospects invited to the Big 12 showdown with the Buffaloes. There will be 22 Orlando-area prospects, including UCF 2025 recruiting class verbal (non-binding) commitments: running back Taevion Swint (Kissimmee Osceola), receiver Jayvan Boggs (Cocoa), offensive lineman Jaquez Joiner (Cocoa), linebacker Malakhi Boone (South Sumter) and defensive lineman Christian Hudson (Daytona Beach Mainland). Swint is ranked No. 3 in the Sentinel’s 2025 Central Florida Super60.

There will be 19 of 21 current UCF commitments on hand. All but two of UCF’s 19 commitments to the 2025 recruiting class will be on campus, along with both of the 2026 commitments.

UCF, since Gus Malzahn was hired as head coach in 2022, has made its most consistent progress in recruiting Orlando area talent. He has landed 22 Central Floridians, including transfers, in three cycles, the most of any coach in Knights history.

Perhaps the biggest name among Central Florida prospects planning to attend Saturday is former Bishop Moore defensive end Jake Kreul, who transferred to Bradenton IMG Academy this summer. A junior, Kreul would have been the top rated 2026 player in Central Florida had he not transferred. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Kreul is the No. 7 DE in the country by 247 Sports, and has 41 FBS scholarship offers.

Another top uncommitted prospect planning to attend is Winter Park’s Ayden Pouncey, a 247 Sports 4-star rated safety. Pouncey, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, is the No. 12 safety in the country according to the 247 composite list that uses multiple recruiting services. He has 32 FBS offers and is No. 6 in the 2026 Central Florida Super60.

Pouncey said UCF is definitely among the teams he is considering and he plans to announce a whittled down list of top teams at the beginning of next year.

“I like them a lot. They are coming up a lot and becoming a top team in the country, so that’s good to see,” Pouncey said. “UCF will be in the top for sure.”

It’s not Pouncey’s first UCF game, but he said this one in particular is exciting because of the spectacle surrounding the Buffaloes and Coach Prime.

“It’s really exciting because if they win this game I feel like it would be a turning point to where they could start bringing in a lot of top recruits and winning big games,” Pounce said. “Just with playing Colorado and all of the hype around Colorado and the top players they have, and Coach Prime. It’s sold out and all of that stuff.”

Pouncey is no stranger to the recruiting game. His older brothers Jordan and Ethan also went through the rigors of being courted by colleges. Ethan ended up at Florida, as did Jordan, after transferring from Texas.

“They have helped me a lot,” he said.

The top-rated area junior slated to attend this weekend’s game is electric receiver Larry Miles. He has helped make Jones, the No. 1 team in.the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll , even better since transferring from West Orange. Miles (5-foot-11, 166 pounds), who is uncommitted and has 17 FBS scholarship offers, is ranked No. 3 in the Sentinel’s 2026 Super60. He has 18 catches for 386 yards and 3 touchdowns in five games, averaging 21.4 yards per catch.

The two top Central Florida offensive linemen will be in attendance, with 2025 Miami commit Max Buchanan of Seminole and 2026 First Academy lineman Chancellor Barclay. Buchanan is the No. 2 in the 2025 Super60. Barclay is No. 6 in the 2026 Super60.

First Academy has seven prospects invited, with Barclay; safety Devin Jackson, who is committed to Florida; receiver Demetrice McCray; receiver Isaac Obrokta; defensive back Danny Odem (North Carolina); defensive back Bam Whitfield and defensive end Alex Willis.

Eight players committed to other schools are expected to attend. Two key targets for flipping are TFA’s Jackson and Tampa Plant athlete Waltez Clark — both verbally committed to UF.

Another coveted prospect targeted by UCF is Eau Gallie’s Xavier Lherisse, a 5-10, 180-pound junior safety with 42 FBS offers.

The visit list

Alphabetical, listed with position and high school (commitments in parenthesis):

UCF 2025 commitments

Gavin Blanchard, OL, Wiregrass Ranch (UCF)

Jayvan Boggs, WR, Cocoa (UCF)

Malakhi Boone, LB, South Sumter (UCF)

Chastan Brown, OL, Northside (Ga.)

Waden Charles, WR, Miami Norland

Darryll Desir, DE, Miami Norland

Mandrell Desir, DE, Miami Norland

Christian Hudson, DL, Mainland

Santonyo Isaac, WR, Tampa Bay Tech

CJ Jenkins, WR, St. Augustine

Jaquez Joiner, OL, Cocoa

Tylon Lee, DL, Miami Pace

Caden Piening, TE, Anderson (Ohio)

Buckeem Stroud, DB, Tampa Bay Tech

Taevion Swint, RB, 2025, Osceola

Cam White, LB, 2025, Seffner Armwood

Tony Williams, DB, Miami Central

UCF 2026 commitments

Keeyun Chapman, WR, Jackson (Ala.)

Juice Gordon, DB, Jackson (Ala.)

Other committed players

Brandon Brown, DL, 2025, Eau Gallie (LSU)

Max Buchanan, OL, 2025, Seminole (Miami)

Jarquez Carter, DT, 2025, Newberry (Ohio State)

Waltez Clark, ATH, 2025, Tampa Plant (Florida)

Devin Jackson, S, 2026, First Academy (Florida)

Derry Norris, DL, 2026, Spruce Creek (Georgia Tech)

Danny Odem, DB, 2026, First Academy (North Carolina)

Dallas Wilson, WR, 2025, Tampa Bay Tech (Oregon)

Non-committed players

Kenyon Alston, WR, 2026, Bishop Moore

Carsyn Baker, RB, 2026, Langston Hughes (Ga.)

Chancellor Barclay, OL, 2026, First Academy

Javari Barnett, RB, 2026, Tampa Bay Tech

Jaydin Broadnax, DB, 2026, West Boca

Lamar Brown, OL/DL, 2026, LSU Lab School (La.)

G’nivre Carr, OL, 2026, IMG Academy

David Coleman Jr., DB, 2027, Seminole

EJ Crownell, RB, 2027, Jackson (Ala.)

Knud ‘KJ’ Davis, DL, 2027, Winter Park

Landon Buckworth, QB, 2026, Jackson (Ala.)

Ja’quez Estera, LB, 2026, Tampa Bay Tech

Kwell Fielder, OL, 2028, Carrollton (Ga.)

CT Foster, DE, 2028, Dutchtown (Ga.)

Bubba Frazier, WR, 2026, Benedictine Military (Ga.)

Asher Ghioto, DE, 2028, Bolles

Kendall Guervil, DL, 2026, Fort Myers

Corey Hadley Jr., DB, 2027, Sandy Creek (Ga.)

LaJesse Harold, DL, 2025, Tampa Gaither

Evan Harvey, DL, 2026, Sandy Creek (Ga.)

Kaden Henderson, LB, 2027, Tampa Jesuit

Javion Hilson, DL, 2025, Cocoa

Landon Holley, QB, 2027, Wesley Chapel

Anthony Howard Jr., RB, 2028, Auburndale

Lasiah Jackson, DB, 2026, Lee County (Ga.)

Amari Jones, DB, 2026, IMG Academy

Luby Jones Jr., LB, 2027, Berkeley Prep

Chauncey Kennon, DB, 2026, Sarasota Booker

Brandon Kinsey, WR, 2026, Miami Immaculata-LaSalle

Breck Kolojay, OL, 2026, IMG Academy

Jake Kreul, 2026, DL, IMG Academy

George Lamons Jr., TE, 2027, Brooks County (Ga.)

Amari Latimer, RB, 2026, Sandy Creek (Ga.)

Arthur Lewis, RB, 2026, S, Bartram Trail

Xavier Lherisse, DB, 2026, Eau Gallie

Jeremiah McCloud, DT, 2025, Lee County (Ga.)

Demetrice McCray, WR, 2026, First Academy

Larry Miles, WR, 2026, Jones

Joshua Moore, WR 2025, West Broward

Malik Morris, LB, 2026, Lakeland

Isaac Obrokta, WR, 2026, First Academy

Nate Owusu-Boateng, DL, 2025, IMG Academy

Da’Ron Parks, OL, 2026, Cardinal Mooney

Xavier Payne, OL, 2026, Jones

Jayden Petit, WR, 2026, Naples First Baptist

Ayden Pouncey, DB, 2026, Winter Park

Kaneilius Purdy, ATH, 2027, Lake Wales

Brady Quinn, OB, 2028, First Baptist

Jarius Rodgers, DE, 2026, Fleming Island

Micah “Champ” Smith, OT, Vero Beach

Xavier Tiller, TE, 2026, Langston Hughes (Ga.)

Brayden Tyson, RB, 2027, Brookwood (Ga.)

RJ Tyson, DB, 2026, Douglas County (Ga.)

Zayden Walters, OL, 2026, Brookwood (Ga.)

Jaelen Waters, DB, 2026, Armwood

Katrell Webb, DL, 2026, Collins Hill (Ga.)

Bam Whitfield, DB, 2027, First Academy

Jalen Williams, CB, 2026, Kell (Ga.)

Tyler Williams, WR, 2025, Armwood

Alex Willis, DL, 2026, First Academy

Somourian Wingo, WR, 2026, St. Augustine