Categories: College University Athletics

University Welcomes Recruits to Boost Football Program

High school recruits exploring the University of Central Florida during their official visits.

News Summary

The University of Central Florida is welcoming a new group of recruits for official visits, highlighting head coach Scott Frost’s renewed focus on high school talent. Despite a decrease in numbers compared to last year, the visiting players come from several states, emphasizing UCF’s goal to expand its recruitment reach. Notably, the program has secured commitments from three recruits so far, including promising talents. As UCF looks to strengthen its team for the future, several more visits are planned in the coming month to attract more athletes.

Orlando, FL – The University of Central Florida (UCF) is welcoming its first wave of high school recruits for official visits this weekend, marking a significant moment as head coach Scott Frost reestablishes connections in the recruiting landscape. This event comes after a challenging hiring process, and the influx of recruits indicates a targeted approach from Frost to build a competitive team for the future.

A total of nine players are on campus for the visits, a notable 60.1% decrease from the first visit weekend last year, which attracted significantly more recruits under former head coach Gus Malzahn. Despite this decrease in numbers, the recruits hail from various states, including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, underscoring UCF’s efforts to broaden its recruitment footprint.

Historically, UCF has maintained a strong record of securing commitments during the initial visit weekend, averaging 29.9% of visitors over the past four years. The university has been particularly effective, landing 27.7% of blue-chip recruits during this timeframe, which may bode well for the current recruiting effort.

Among the visiting recruits is John Walker, who holds the distinction of being UCF’s highest-rated prospect in the program’s history. His presence signals the potential for strong commitments, particularly given the caliber of talent Walker represents. UCF has already successfully secured commitments from three of the visiting players, including one blue-chip prospect, showing early promise for this recruiting class.

One notable potential recruit is Akande, who initially committed to Toledo. However, after receiving offers from over ten Power Four programs, including Florida and NC State, his recruitment outlook has changed significantly, reflecting the robust interest from major college football programs.

Among the committed players is Kasiyah Charlton, a promising 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle who expressed enthusiasm about his experience during the visit and the impactful interactions he had with the coaching staff. Additionally, Carr, a three-star quarterback from Pennsylvania, has also made a verbal commitment to UCF, becoming the ninth commitment of the class of 2026. Carr’s collegiate prospects are highlighted by his impressive high school performance, which includes 4,069 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes across 31 games.

As it stands, UCF’s recruiting class for 2026 currently holds the 47th national ranking. This comes after a series of new commitments that are expected to revitalize the program. Coach Frost, who has focused heavily on high school recruiting, added 60 players through the transfer market since returning to UCF. This dual approach indicates Frost’s strategy to blend seasoned talent with fresh high school prospects to create a robust team.

Looking ahead, UCF plans to host several more recruits for official visits over the upcoming month. This proactive strategy suggests that the program is keen on capturing the attention and commitments of more high school athletes as it builds toward a competitive future in college football.