UCF brings in 17 recruits on National Signing Day

Coach+George+OLearys+2014+recruiting+class+consist+of+nine+players+from+Georgia%2C+seven+from+Florida+and+one+from+New+York.

Ty Wright / Valencia Voice

Coach George O’Leary’s 2014 recruiting class consist of nine players from Georgia, seven from Florida and one from New York.

UCF’s Fiesta Bowl celebrations are long over with and now the focus shifts to the 2014 season.

The process started on Wednesday when the Knights announced the signing of 17 recruits to solidify their 2014 recruiting class. UCF’s recruiting class consisted of quarterback Tyler Harris, linebacker Errol Clarke, Oviedo wide receiver Chris Davis Jr. and defensive back Chris Williams.

Williams may have been the biggest catch of the recruiting class, as George O’Leary and his staff were able to get him to switch his commitment from the University of Alabama, to come to Orlando the day before National Signing Day.

UCF also  grabbed a pair of junior college transfers in Clarke and defensive lineman Lance McDowdell. Coach O’Leary expects both Clarke and McDowdell to contribute off the bat for the Knights.

“This isn’t a sightseeing tour,” said O’Leary during his National Signing Day press conference.

But Harris will be the freshman who will have the most eyes on him come Spring practice, as the quarterback out of Blackshear, Ga. will be one-of-three single callers who will look to replace Fiesta Bowl MVP Blake Bortles under center.

Harris threw for 2,800 yards as a senior and had 21 touchdowns through the air, while adding six more on the ground. He’s a four-star recruit and was listed as the No. 12 pocket passer in the country by ESPN.

In front of Harris will be Justin Holman, who was Bortles back up last season, and Pete DiNovo, who played on the scout team and was third on the depth chart after Tyler Gabbert transferred out.

O’Leary’s recruiting class comes heavily from the state of Georgia, with 9-out-of-17 recruits hailed from Florida’s neighbor to the North.

All-in-all UCF’s 2014 recruiting class consists of four defensive linemen, four defensive backs three offensive linemen, two wide receivers, two linebackers, and one quarterback and running back.

UCF’s 2014 recruiting class:

Tyler Harris               QB   Ga.

Errol Clarke               LB   Fla.

Joey Connors            DE   Ga.

Chris Davis Jr.          WR   Fla.

Chavis Dickey            OL   Ga.

Jordan Franks           LB   Fla.

Kyle Gibson                DB   Fla.

C.J. Jones                    RB   Fla.

Lance McDowdell     DL   N.Y.

Wyatt Miller               OL   Ga.

Tre Neal                       DB   Ga.

Luke Palmer               OL   Fla.

Jamiyus Pittman      DL   Ga.

Mike Rogers               DB   Ga.

Tre’Quan Smith        WR   Fla.

Chris Williams          DB   Ga.

A.J. Wooten               DL   Ga.