UCF Knights reload on National Signing Day
National Signing Day delivered the UCF Knights football team 17 new players Wednesday, and reloaded the black and gold at several key positions.
“Did we fill our needs, yes,” said head coach George O’Leary. “I thought the coaches did an outstanding job as far as filling the needs, filling the voids.”
The class of 2015 includes student-athletes from seven different states, highlighted by five from Georgia and four from Florida. The biggest haul came at linebacker where the Knights picked up four signees.
The Knights will look to revamp a secondary that loses all four starters from last year, including sophomore cornerback Jacoby Glenn, who declared for the NFL draft after earning second-team AP All-America honors.
UCF also filled needs at receiver after losing junior Breshad Perriman to the draft, as well as senior starters Rannell Hall and J.J. Worton.
“From a talent standpoint, I would say this class is probably the most talented class since I’ve been here,” said O’Leary.
The class is highlighted by a couple of ESPN 300 players, wideout Tristan Payton and defensive back Rashard Causey Jr.
Payton was a first-team all-state selection and an all-conference performer as a senior out of Jacksonville First Coast High School. Causey helped guide powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas to the 2014 FHSAA 7A state championship, on a defense that gave up just 20 points in five games in the playoffs.
The Knights are coming off of back-to-back American Athletic Conference championships, and the recent success of the program has definitely helped on the recruiting trail.
“This program in the last three years has won 31 games,” said O’Leary. “There’s only ten or so teams in the country that can say that.”
Class of 2015: Mid-Year Enrollee
Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | Previous School(s) |
Taj McGowan | RB | 6-1 | 190 | Hallandale Beach, Fla. | Hallandale |
Class of 2015: Fall Enrollees
Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | Previous School(s) |
Rashard Causey | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Miami, Fla. | St. Thomas Aquinas |
Aaron Cochran | HB | 6-3 | 262 | Atlanta, Ga. | Hapeville Charter |
Titus Davis | DL | 6-3 | 230 | Ellenwood, Ga. | Stockbridge |
Marcus Foster | LB | 6-2 | 225 | League City, Texas | Clear Falls |
Quintin Hampton | LB | 6-0 | 235 | Moultrie, Ga. | Colquitt County |
Brendon Hayes | DL | 6-4 | 255 | Laplace, La. | Brother Martin |
Luke Hiers | OL | 6-3 | 285 | Lake Wales, Fla. | Lake Wales |
Tyler Hudanick | OL | 6-5 | 300 | Harmony, Pa. | Seneca Valley |
Pat Jasinski | LB | 6-2 | 218 | Roswell, Ga. | Blessed Trinity Catholic |
Neal Nelson | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Sicklerville, N.J. | Timber Creek |
Tristan Payton | WR | 6-1 | 185 | Jacksonville, Fla. | First Coast |
Bo Schneider | QB | 6-4 | 225 | Dallas, Texas | Jesuit |
Brandon Scott | DB | 6-0 | 185 | New Sarpy, La. | Destrehan |
Cam Stewart | WR | 6-3 | 190 | Snellville, Ga. | Shiloh |
Monte Taylor | DL | 6-4 | 245 | Springdale, Md. | Charles H. Flowers (ASA College) |
D’erren Wilson | WR | 6-3 | 195 | Greenville, Texas | Greenville |