UCF football needs to address these 3 positions at early signing day

UCF football needs to address these 3 positions at early signing dayStory byDaytona Beach News-JournalChris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-JournalSun, November 30, 2025 at 10:06 AM UTC·3 min read

ORLANDO — As college football’s early signing period approaches, UCF seems content on celebrating a relatively small high school class.

The Knights have 13 verbal commits, according to Rivals — boosted by the additions of Platte County (Mo.) teammates Rocco Marriott and Brooks Hall within the last 10 days. Marriott, who replaced Greenwood (Ark.) dual-threat Kane Archer in the class, is a consensus four-star recruit and top-30 national quarterback prospect.

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Still, UCF could stand to be more aggressive in the days ahead to fill gaps — expected and unexpected — for next year’s 105-player roster. Obviously, Scott Frost’s staff will be a major player in the transfer portal for more immediate help, but landing extra foundational pieces or developmental prospects could prove fruitful in the long run.

Here are three positions where the Knights could most use help before the early window closes.

Wide receiver

Booker wide receiver Tyren Hornes (#2) is unable to pull in a pass as he is covered by Seminole cornerback Robert Hampton, Jr. (#7). Hampton was called for defensive pass interference on the play. The Booker High Tornadoes hosted the Seminole High Seminoles Friday night, Oct. 31, 2025.

UCF’s pursuit of pass-catchers has largely proven unsuccessful to this point.

Plantation American Heritage’s Coi Jean-Noel locked in a commitment to Georgia Tech over the summer and has not wavered to this point. Iva (S.C.) Crescent’s Amiri Acker scrapped a planned official visit for Nov. 22, instead went to North Carolina State and committed that day.

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UCF projects to return its three starters at the position — Waden Charles, DJ Black and Duane Thomas Jr. — but the unit sorely needs depth and difference-makers. Its preferred solution is circling back and landing Sarasota Booker’s Under Armour All-American Tyren Hornes, who reopened his recruitment in October after flipping in favor of Michigan State back in June.

Hornes is the No. 172 overall player in the 2026 class, per 247Sports’ rankings — a player its director of scouting, Andrew Ivins, likened to Buffalo Bills receiver Khalil Shakir. Signing him would be a massive in-state win for Frost and position coach Sean Beckton, but it’s possible Hornes could wait to see how all the coaching changes shake out, particularly at Auburn.

Safety

First-year defensive coordinator and safeties coach Alex Grinch found a real gem in Phillip Dunnam, but the Florida Atlantic transfer is out of eligibility. In addition, sophomore Jaylen Heyward and redshirt freshman Jakob Gude opted out and will seek new homes in the coming weeks.

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The Knights flipped Martin County’s versatile senior Amarion Queen from South Florida earlier in the cycle, and they seem intent on more immediate help at the position — in the form of JUCO standout Da’Mare Williams.

Williams, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound North Carolina native currently attending Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, is in high demand. He visited UCF for the Oklahoma State game and also lined up trips to Houston, Kentucky and West Virginia.

This fall, Williams recorded 39 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups.

One other name to monitor could be Winter Park’s E’Shawn Sutton, fresh off a decommitment from Syracuse. Sutton has been a regular visitor this fall, and he snagged five picks for the nearby Wildcats in 2025.

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Defensive tackle

This could be a potentially loaded position group for the Knights in 2025, assuming they can retain their top six rotation options: John Walker, RJ Jackson Jr., Rodney Lora, Derrick LeBlanc, Jeffson Lafontant and Horace Lockett, who suffered a season-ending pectoral tear in September.

But position coach Kenny Martin prides himself on developing talent, and he likes keeping the cupboard full. The Knights had two young interior defenders committed into early August, but Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin’s Jayden Curtis flipped to Ole Miss and Wekiva’s Isaiah McNish reopened his recruitment.

Perhaps UCF takes another run at Curtis if head coach Lane Kiffin departs for another SEC rival, either Florida or LSU. Per 247Sports, Curtis is the No. 76 defensive lineman in the cycle.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF football recruiting needs at early signing day. What to know

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