ORLANDO — The early signing window slammed shut Friday, Dec. 5, meaning UCF will need to attack the transfer portal for impactful producers and wait two more months to potentially unearth a few hidden high school gems.
Head coach Scott Frost said his group of 13 high school signees is emblematic of his staff’s strategy — hunting for elite traits, prioritizing in-state talent and leaving room to address immediate needs. But will it be enough to drag the Knights out of the bottom half of the Big 12 and into contention for a title?
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The nation’s two leading recruiting services — 247Sports and Rivals/On3 — seem skeptical. Both ranked UCF’s signing class 14th among the conference’s 16 programs, ahead of Colorado and Oklahoma State, and well outside the top-50 overall. It’s a disappointing outlook for a school located in such fertile recruiting ground, and with a stated intent to spend up to the revenue-sharing cap.
The News-Journal reached out to several prominent figures in the recruiting space for their thoughts on UCF’s 2026 signing class: 247Sports national analyst Brian Dohn and director of recruiting Andrew Ivins, The Athletic staff writer Manny Navarro and USA TODAY Co. Florida reporters Jon Santucci and Nick Wilson.
Who is your favorite player in UCF’s 2026 recruiting class?
Alhassan Iddrissu, who hails from Ghana and attends St. Thomas More in Connecticut, is one of UCF’s highest-rated 2026 recruits.
Dohn: I like the (Alhassan) Iddrissu kid because his story is so compelling. This is a kid that hasn’t been home in five years, came to the States as a basketball player and is now going to be a Power Four football player. His dad passed away last winter, and he was never able to go home. His story is a reminder that no matter how big the dollar signs are, there is still some compelling stuff going on.
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He’s got the body, he’s a really impressive kid, he could play inside or outside depending on how much weight you want to put on him. The injury sucks, but those body (types) aren’t everywhere, so it made sense to take him.
Ivins: I’ve always kind of been a Rocco Marriott guy, dating back to his sophomore year. I always felt he had flown under the radar and was a Power Four-caliber talent. I think it’s him. He’s got the size, and he’s been an elite tester. He’s gone 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, 4.1 in the short shuttle, 35 inches in the vertical jump. I’ve always been really big on him. I love the multi-sport stuff; he’s an all-state baseball player as well. The biggest thing is the year-over-year improvement. He really cut down on the interceptions and improved in every key statistical category. It’s really hard to scout that position; but if it’s me, I’m going to bet on a kid that’s big, athletic, smart and a winner.
Rocco Marriott, one of two 2026 quarterback signees for UCF, helped Platte County reach Missouri’s Class 5 championship game.
Navarro: It feels like it really hasn’t changed much in terms of additions since the summertime, aside from the quarterback, Marriott. I know Missouri was in on him. I like guys that play multiple sports; he’s a baseball guy. I went to the Butch Davis school of evaluation, and I think guys like that are better in the long run. Looking at the list right now, I would probably say Marriott, but it’s not an overwhelmingly impressive class. They’re clearly setting themselves up to very involved in the transfer portal.
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Santucci: St. Thomas More (Conn.) defensive end Iddrissu. I’d go with the edge rusher with that upside. You can’t teach size. He’s a little bit of an unknown, obviously, coming out of Connecticut. But the size gets you noticed. If he can stand out, he could get on the field early.
Wilson: It would have to be Kaj Baker. If he wasn’t 5-foot-7, he would be going to Georgia, probably. He’s one of the most electric athletes in this class, period. His getaway speed is as elite as it comes. He’s a bona fide track star. His size is a problem, and how he survives Power Four football is a legitimate question. But when he’s in the open field, there are few people on the planet that can touch him.
Who could be UCF’s hidden gem or sleeper in the ’26 class?
Martin County defensive back Amarion Queen, who flipped his commitment to UCF from South Florida in June, could be a steal for the Knights.
Dohn: Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) linebacker Matthew Occhipinti. I know him well because that’s where I’m based. He’s got the size to come in and play quickly. There was some talk that West Virginia would try to come get him late. To me, he’s got some throwback to him, and he can fit the run gaps. The Big 12 has some space players, so he’ll have to prove that. But his measurements, the way he attacks the game, and seeing him in person intrigues me.
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Ivins: Minersville Area (Pa.) quarterback Dante Carr. I thought this time last year that UCF had to get the quarterback position correct. The fact UCF is one of the few schools that’s taking two high school quarterbacks says a lot. He’s a tough, PA kid. … I love the idea of Dante Carr. I think it’s a savvy get for them, and hopefully it sets up for them where he’s not thrust into action right away and he can grow within the program.
Navarro: Maybe Carr. He’s got good size to him; 6-3, 200 pounds. He’s started for multiple seasons and got enough experience. Maybe he’s one of those guys that sits for a year or two and comes out of nowhere, sort of like Pitt’s quarterback, Mason Heintschel.
Santucci: Martin County defensive back Amarion Queen. No hesitation. I like him a lot, seen him multiple times. I like the way he plays; he’s got a little bit of an edge to him. He can play a couple different positions on the back end. I’ve seen him at corner, receiver, safety. He’s got some work to do, but I like the package and there’s a lot (UCF) could really build off of.
Wilson: Olympia defensive back Ja’Cari Jackson. From his tape, it seems like he has really solid technique and understanding. He’s looked good in coverage, but the question is the competition Olympia has played. He could shock everybody or take a while to develop, but the tools are there. (Editor’s note: Jackson is verbally committed to UCF, but plans to sign in February)
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Who is the biggest loss among UCF’s decommitments or flips?
Dec 5, 2025; Birmingham, AL, USA; Jackson’s Keeyun Chapman (6) returns a punt for a touchdown against Anniston at Protective Life Stadium in the AHSAA 4A State Championship game.
Dohn: I did like Jackson (Ala.) wide receiver Keeyun Chapman. He was early on in the process. The other one, to me, is Jayden Curtis. He’s got some size, some position flexibility along the D-line. I found him to be just a really intriguing kid. There’s a lot of room for growth there. His athleticism really flashed with his get-off. At some point of his career, he was an edge guy. I think he moves inside. And he’s young; I don’t think he’s 18 yet.
Ivins: Sarasota Booker wide receiver Tyren Hornes. When UCF had it ripping and roaring under Frost the first time, there was a lot of in-state playmakers at those skill positions. I think UCF needs to get back to that, and I think Hornes is one of the top offensive weapons in the Sunshine State this cycle. He’s put up video game numbers, was great on the camp circuit. He can play inside/outside, has juice, sticky hands. He can be a dynamic guy in the Big 12.
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.
Navarro: Chapman. That one kind of sucks. He’s a big receiver, and the kind of guy you could see going to UCF and lighting it up with his size. I think he’s going to end up being the best of the decommitments.
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Santucci: Chapman. He flipped a year ago, but the way this class has gone, that’s a position they clearly haven’t solidified. They’ve looked at Florida guys and are still looking at Florida guys. He’s a 6-4 receiver with speed, definitely the kind of guy where you’re like, ‘Oh crap, how did we miss out on him?’
Wilson: My first instinct is Hornes. I can see why UCF had a hard time keeping him because week over week he just kept getting better. He has all the physical tools to play in the SEC or the Big Ten. He’s sorely missed in this UCF class.
What is your major concern with UCF’s strategy in the ’26 cycle?
Preston Hall, the son of former NFL fullback Ahmard Hall and a linebacker from Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point, signed with UCF on Dec. 3.
Dohn: You know what Frost wants to run, and you know they’re going to get speed. I would just like more depth on the line of scrimmage, more bodies. You’re talking about a Big 12 team. … Thirteen commits going into signing day? I don’t care about the portal. The analytics say the most consistent way to build is through the high school ranks, and it’s the cheapest way. You don’t have to pay a kid big until he produces. You’re getting that season at a discount if he produces.
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Ivins: It’s pretty clear that they’re going to go all-in and refresh the roster with transfers. When do they think they can balance things out and not be so portal-dependent, which is proving to be a costly practice? This season was an exploratory one for them to find out what they had. My big question is what is the plan moving forward? What’s the mix? What’s the equation here? Certainly there are teams that can break through with very expensive payrolls (Texas Tech, Indiana to a degree). At the same time, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami all have multiple true freshmen that played over 200 snaps, whether that be on offense or defense. It’s getting harder and harder to find value in the transfer portal. I just wonder what their investment in high school recruiting is.
Navarro: I went to the symposium in Nashville and spent time talking to general managers and personnel people, and so many schools are turning to this thought of forgetting high school seniors and spending money on guys who have done all the training, gone through the weight room. And I think it’s a mistake. There’s only so many of those guys available. And it always come down to money. I think UCF has punted on recruiting this cycle. When you look at their class, there’s four guys ranked in the top 1,000. You need offensive and defensive linemen, and they’re not going to come cheap in the portal. If you’re going to spend money on high school recruits, do it there. Don’t do it on quarterbacks. Spend your money on big bodies. If you’re going to contend and try to win the conference championship, and you don’t have dudes up front, you’re not going to win.
Santucci: What I would be concerned about is that this is a really small Florida class. This is a class that is not highly ranked. I would ask who are the big impact guys, and who are the Florida guys. There are others that, under the previous staff, they get these guys. I wonder why. Here’s the other thing, too. This isn’t a staff that was just hired; they had a full cycle. Where is the message that is not connecting with kids in Florida? What was it that Gus Malzahn called it, the State of Orlando? Those borders are open.
Wilson: My biggest concern is not so much the swings, but the misses. They’re offering all the people they are supposed to. They still have a footprint in Florida; I see coaches all the time. They know who they are supposed to be going after, but the concern is the lack of interest on the player side. The players they evaluated early decommitted. UCF is a big enough brand to take some swings at some legit four-stars in the state, and it seems like there’s no interest.
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What does this class tell you about UCF’s future under Scott Frost?
Nov 29, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; UCF Knights head coach Scott Frost watches play against the BYU Cougars during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Dohn: Nothing. It’s too early to tell. He won there before. It tells me he wants more people in the quarterback room, and that the program is lacking talent that is ready to go out and play, so they’re going short on high school kids and hitting the portal pretty hard. Anyone who tells you what this class means for the long term is just talking for the sake of talking.
Ivins: When I look at it, I don’t see a ton of day-one impact guys or day-one contributors. I think the portal window is going to answer a lot of questions in regards to what 2026 and beyond looks like. And the second thing is what’s their recruiting base?
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Navarro: It tells me, and I know we’re beating the same subject over and over, that the goal is finding immediate help. They do not have confidence they can win with the guys they have in their building. If they did, they wouldn’t have 12 high school commits; they’d have 25. … To me, it tells me they don’t like those guys, and they can’t wait to develop those guys. They have to use their money to go get some bodies. It will probably take them a year or two to get it, but next year’s class will be the telltale sign of whether they’ll be successful on that front.
Santucci: They’ve got a lot more work to do about their message across the state of Florida. This is not an elite class. We’ve talked over the years about how impressed I’ve been with their previous work. Not all of those guys panned out, and maybe that’s what they are saying, that they’re not concerned with stars. If you look at their decommit list from Florida, and their commit list from Florida, the decommit list has more stars. Where are your impact players, and where is your excitement? You don’t have a Taevion Swint or a John Walker, the guy that wants to stay at home and be a monster. There are a ton of high school players in Orlando; you might not have gotten all of them under Gus, but (UCF) was in a lot of top-eights, top-fives. They didn’t make those lists this year.
Wilson: The trajectory is reassuring. They’re identifying good athletes in their home state and working toward building a roster that, historically, they can compete with. The most important thing any school in Florida can do is keep players home in some capacity. This class being made up of a bunch of really good Florida players is a good sign. I’d like to see them get more, and maybe some that are a bit more highly touted.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Recruiting analysts break down 2026 UCF Knights football signees
