ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Josh Heupel was named the new head coach for UCF Football on Dec. 5. A little more than two weeks later, Heupel was introducing his first group of new Knights. Wednesday marked the first December signing period in college football and Heupel held and pulled together a group of 12 student-athletes he believes will help continue the Knights' positive momentum.
"I'm really excited about the kids we were able to go out and attract to this great university," Heupel said. "I'm really proud of what our staff did in the last 10 days, having the opportunity to really evaluate our current roster, identify some positions of need and then … go out and attract the right types of players.
Heupel's first group of recruits was balanced between offense and defense. The Knights signed six student-athletes slated to play offense and another half dozen targeted as defenders.
"We added some integral parts on the offensive side of the ball," Heupel said. "In particular, we have three mid-year (enrollees who) will be able to help us – a couple offensive linemen and a tight end. On the defensive side, we did a good job of balancing things out. We were able to add key parts at all positions. A couple of those kids are mid-year (enrollees) as well."
Five of the offensive players signed Wednesday were offensive linemen, while one was a tight end. On defense, it was three defensive linemen, one linebacker and two in the secondary. Nine of the 12 play on the line of scrimmage.
"Whenever you're building a program, the (lines are) absolutely critical," Heupel said. "Certainly, up front, you've got to continue to get bigger, stronger and more athletic. You can't have enough big bodies inside your program. Those guys are always going to help you. Any time you can add length and size, it's critical to do that."
The following is a look at each of the 12 newest Knights:
Davonchae Bryant
Defensive End – 6-7 – 240
Pensacola, Fla. – Pensacola HS
Rivals: 2 Stars
247: 3 Stars; No. 64 Weakside Defensive End in Nation; No. 198 Player in Florida; No. 1257 Player in Nation
High School Coach: Mike Mincy
• Named a 2017 Super Senior by the Pensacola News Journal
• Raw talent played just his second season of high school football as a senior
• Also a standout basketball player, scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in a game earlier this season
Edward Collins
Offensive Tackle – 6-6 – 298
Birmingham, Ala. – Ramsay HS
Rivals: 3 Stars
High School Coach: Rueben Nelson Jr.
247: 3 Stars, No. 126 Offensive Tackle in Nation, No. 44 Player in Alabama
• Ranked a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports
• Helped Rams rush for 3.356 yards and 37 touchdowns over the last two years
• Anchored an offensive line that won the 2016 Alabama 6A State Championship
James Collins
Offensive Lineman – 6-5 – 311
Chesapeake, Va. – Oscar Frommel Smith HS
247: 3 Stars, No. 141 Tackle in Nation, No. 32 Player in Virginia, No. 1,629 Player in Nation
Rivals: 3 Stars, No. 28 Player in Virginia
ESPN: 3 Stars, No. 108 Tackle in Nation, No 24. Player in Virginia, No. 140 Player in Region
High School Coach: Scott Johnson
• Played in three Virginia 6A State Championship games
• Reached the State Semifinals as a freshman
• Guided the Tigers to 50 wins during a four-year career
Chis Deloach
Tight End – 6-5 – 250
Columbus, Miss. – Columbus HS – East Central C.C.
247: 3 Stars, No. 8 JUCO Tight End in Nation, No. 25 JUCO Player in Nation and No. 131 JUCO Player in Nation
Rivals: 3 Stars
Junior College Head Coach: Ken Karcher
• Appeared in nine games, made 11 receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns
• Caught three passes on a pair of occasions in 2017
• Played both ways as a junior and senior at Columbus High School
Trevor Elbert
Offensive Tackle – 6-5 – 320
Rockwall, Texas – Rockwall-Heath HS – Ventura C.C.
247: 2 Stars, No. 20 JUCO Offensive Tackle in Nation, No. 30 JUCO Player in Texas, No. 172 JUCO Player in Nation
Junior College Head Coach: Steve Mooshagian
• Appeared in seven games during the 2017 season for Ventura
• Signed with Texas A&M out of high school, but transferred after suffering an injury two years later
• Originally a four-star recruit per Rivals, 247 and ESPN as a senior in high school, also played in the 2015 Army All-American Game
Derek Gainous
Defensive Back – 6-0 – 180
Miami, Fla. – Miami Senior HS
Rivals: 3 Stars
247: 3 stars, No. 105 Cornerback in Nation, No. 190 Player in Florida
ESPN: 3 Stars, No. 75 Cornerback in Nation, No. 159 Player in Florida, No. 436 Player in Region
High School Coach: Sedrick Irvin
• Racked up 43 tackles, 30 solos, with one sack and one interception as a senior
• Posted a personal best time of 11.81 seconds in the 100-meter dash as a junior
• Guided the Stingarees to the Florida 8A State Semifinals in 2017
Eriq Gilyard
Linebacker – 5-11 – 225
Jacksonville, Fla. – Trinity Christian Academy
Rivals: 4 Stars, No. 15 Inside Linebacker in Nation; No. 52 Player in Florida
247: 3 Stars, No. 31 Inside Linebacker in Nation; No. 83 Player in Florida; No. 482 Player in Nation
ESPN: 4 Stars; No. 15 Inside Linebacker in Nation; No. 76 Player in Florida; No. 208 Player in Region
High School Coach: Verlon Dorminy
• Helped lead Trinity Christian to three straight Class 4A state championships and a berth in the 2017 Class 5A Regional Final
• Averaged 11 tackles per game last season, with more than 10 tackles for-loss
• Tallied 8.3 tackles per game as a junior, including 14.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and an interception
Demetreius Mayes
Defensive End – 6-2 – 234
Miami, Fla. – Northwestern HS
Rivals: 3 Stars, No. 24 Weakside Defensive End in Nation; No. 76 Player in Florida
247: 3 Stars, No. 71 Weakside Defensive End in Nation; No. 162 Player in Florida; No. 1064 Player in Nation
High School Coach: Max Edwards
• Led Northwestern to the Class 6A State Championship
• Tallied 59 stops, 10 sacks and three pass breakups as a junior
• Helped lead team that will take part in GEICO Champions Bowl Series
Jermaine McMillian
Defensive Back – 6-2 – 185
Miami, Fla. – Booker T. Washington HS
Rivals: 3 Stars, No. 80 Cornerback in Nation
247: 3 Stars; No. 77 Safety in Nation; No. 142 Player in Florida; No. 969 Player in Nation
High School Coach: Tim Harris
• Broke up 14 passes during his senior season
• Recorded 4 tackles for-loss and a forced fumble in a 2017 victory over Miami Central
• Played for Miami Central in 2016, helping that team advance to the Class 6A Regional Semifinals
Josh McMullen
Offensive Tackle – 6-5 – 290
Decatur, Miss. – East Webster HS – East Central C.C.
247: 3 Stars, No. 16 JUCO Offensive Tackle in Nation, No. 28 JUCO Player in Mississippi, No. 146 JUCO Player in Nation
Junior College Head Coach: Ken Karcher
• Started all 11 games as a sophomore in 2017, earning All-Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges First Team honors
• Played in eight contests as a freshman
• Guided East Webster to Mississippi 2A State Semifinals as a senior in 2015
Eric Seidelman
Offensive Lineman – 6-3 – 283
Orlando, Fla. – Bishop Moore Catholic HS
247: 3 Stars, No. 22 Guard in Nation, No. 216 Player in Florida, No. 1,368 Player in Nation
Rivals: 2 Stars
ESPN: 3 Stars, No. 50 Guard, No. 137 Player in Florida, No. 370 Player in Region
High School Head Coach: Matt Hedrick
• Guided Bishop Moore to the Florida Class 5A Region 4 Semifinals
• Won the 2015 Florida 5A State Championship
• Helped the Hornets win 38 games as a four-year player
Ike Walker
Defensive Lineman – 6-4 – 350
Gainesville, Fla. – St. Francis Catholic HS
247: 3 Stars, No. 48 Defensive Tackle in Nation, No. 208 Player in Florida, No. 1,310 Player in Nation
Rivals: 2 Stars
ESPN: 3 Stars, No. 219 Player in Florida, No. 568 Player in Region
High School Coach: Scott McDaniel
• Racked up 106 total tackles, 55 solos, as a three-year starter, including 5.5 sacks
• Took the Wolves to the Florida Class 2A Regional Semifinals as a senior
• Played on both sides of the ball, ranked as a guard 54th and 89th by 247Sports and ESPN, respectively
Heupel's New Knights
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