UCF Announces #BOUNCEHOU23 Early Signing Class

#BOUNCEHOU23 Signing Day Central | Press Conference
 
Headlined by 10 players from the state of Florida and four players from the Orlando area, UCF football head coach Gus Malzahn announced Wednesday the addition of 14 players that have signed national letters of intent to play for the Knights.
 
"It's a big day. It's a big day for our program and our program's future," said Malzahn. "I'm real proud of our staff and the work that they did to get us to this point. I mean, we lost our two coordinators in the middle of last week, which is extremely tough to do and still have this kind of class. We signed one of the better classes in school history, if not the best class in history."
 
Below is the full list of signees.
 

 

Kaven Call, DE, 6-3, 240, Apopka, FL (Apopka)
--Played defensive end/outside linebacker as four-year starter at Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida
--Named top prospect in Orlando Sentinel Super 60 for 2023
--Helped Apopka to Florida state title game three times in his four seasons
--Made 51 tackles, eight sacks, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and two blocked kicks as senior in 2022
--Led Apopka to 11-4 mark and title game of 2022 Florida 4M playoffs vs. Miami Columbus (a 16-13 OT loss) after earlier playoff wins over Boone, Winter Park, Lake Mary (regional final) and Palm Beach Central (semifinal) 
--Made 52 tackles, 12 TFL, seven sacks, one interception as junior in 2021 as Apopka fell to Venice in Florida 8A state championship game
--Made 30 tackles, four TFL, two sacks as sophomore in 2020
--Two-way player who as sophomore helped Apopka make deep run into 2020 Florida 8A playoffs before semifinal loss
--Made 60 tackles as a freshman in 2019 as only rookie starter, with 16 TFL, 15 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles
--High school teammate of current UCF freshman safety Nikai Martinez
--Sister attends UCF
--Played for coach Jeff Rolson
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
 
Johnathan Cline, OL, 6-4, 295, Cartersville, GA (Cartersville)
--Played left offensive tackle at Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Georgia
--Helped team to 12-2 record in 2022, ending in loss to Warner Robins in semifinal of Georgia 5A playoffs following earlier playoff victories against Clarke Central, Cambridge and Coffee
--Cartersville finished fifth in final Georgia 5A rankings
--Helped Purple Hurricanes average 37.4 points, 198 rushing yards per game and score 45 rushing touchdowns
--Named first-team offensive lineman on Region 7-5A team for 2022
--Helped Cartersville to 10-1 mark as junior in 2021, with lone defeat by Warner Robins in second round of 5A playoffs 
--Competed in track and field and was regional qualifier as sophomore in 2021 in both shot put and discus
--Received his first Division I scholarship offer from UCF
--From same hometown as Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback Trevor Lawrence
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
--Played for coach Conor Foster
 
Keyon Cox, OL, 6-5, 270, Phenix City, AL (Central)
--Standout offensive tackle at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama
--Helped team to 10-3 mark as senior in 2022 as Red Devils won Alabama 7A Region 2 title and advanced to state playoff semifinals before one-point loss to Auburn
--Second-team 2022 all-state pick by Alabama Sports Writers Association
--Led Central to final No. 2 7A sate ranking for 2022 by ASWA after No. 3 final ranking in 2021
--As junior in 2021 helped team to 13-1 record that ended in loss to Thompson in Alabama 7A state title game
--Selected for Alabama High School Athletic Association prep all-star game
--Played for coach Patrick Nix
--Also plays basketball
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
 
Jason Duclona, DB, 6-1, 175, Estero, FL (Estero)
--Played cornerback and receiver at Estero High School in Estero, Florida
--Helped Estero to 7-4 record as senior in 2022 and Florida 2S playoffs where Wildcats lost in first round to DeSoto County
--Made 33 tackles, six pass breakups, intercepted two passes and blocked a punt in 2022
--Led team with 23 pass receptions for 520 yards and seven touchdowns as senior, leading team in receiving as both senior and junior
--As junior in 2021 caught 30 passes for 576 yards and six TDs while making 31 tackles, six passes broken up and two interceptions
--Returned punts and kickoffs for Wildcats and handled punting duties as well
--Helped Estero to first district title in 20 years (Class 5A-District 13) and Florida 5A playoff berth as junior in 2021
--Led Estero to 7-4 record in 2021 and first round of playoffs versus Stranahan after winning seven of eight games to finish regular season
--Also competed in basketball—scoring more than 1,000 career points--and track and field at Estero
--Averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in basketball as junior in 2021-22
--Regional qualifier in long jump and triple jump as junior
--Brother Jonas, a senior cornerback at Naples High School, will play football at Cincinnati
--Jason and Jonas faced each other in basketball as freshmen, with Jason scoring 22 points in
--Father Josue is originally from Haiti and moved to Florida in 1980
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
--Played for coach Darren Nelson
 
Troy Ford Jr., LB, 6-2, 235, Richmond Hill, GA (Calvary Day)
--Played linebacker at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia
--Made 79 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries and one sack as senior in 2022
--Claimed 2022 Georgia all-region honors in Region 3-3A
--Led Cavaliers to 11-1 mark in 2022 and No. 2 Georgia 3A ranking before loss to top-ranked Cedar Grove in state playoffs
--Helped Calvary Day finish 12-1, win region title and reach third round of Georgia A Private playoffs as junior in 2021
--First-team all-state pick in 2021 by Atlanta Journal-Constitution for Class A Private schools
--All-region pick made 51 tackles, 13 TFL, four sacks and 13 quarterback hurries as junior in 2021
--Also plays lacrosse
--Played for coach Mark Stroud
 
Braeden Marshall, CB, 5-10, 175, Lake Mary, FL (Lake Mary)
--Four-star cornerback at Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida
--Helped Lake Mary to 8-4 record and 2022 Florida 4M playoff wins over Hagerty and top seed Seminole (12-8) before falling in regional final to second-seeded and state runner-up Apopka
--Credited with 42 tackles for Rams as senior in 2022
--2021 Florida all-state selection as junior after making 28 tackles and intercepting three passes
--Helped Lake Mary to 8-3 record in 2021, finishing with Florida 8A playoff regional semifinal loss to Sanford Seminole
--Has trained extensively with former UCF defensive back Drico Johnson (2012-16)
--Averaged 12.2 points as junior point guard for Lake Mary basketball squad
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
--Played for coach Scott Perry
 
Ja'Maric Morris, DB, 6-2, 205, Timmonsville, SC (Timmonsville/Hutchinson C.C.)
--Transferred to UCF from Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College
--Made 33 tackles, two sacks and five interceptions in 2022, returning two of the interceptions for touchdowns
--Helped Blue Dragons to Jayhawk Conference title in 2022 while earning first-team all-KJCCC recognition
--Previously attended Georgia Military College, making 26 tackles and four interceptions in 2021
--Played cornerback, wide receiver and quarterback at Timmonsville High School in Timmonsville, South Carolina
--Also played basketball in high school
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
--Played for coach Drew Dallas at Hutchinson
 
Isaiah Nixon, DL, 6-4, 215, St. Petersburg, FL (Lakewood)
--Top-flight defensive end for Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida
--Accounted for 56 tackles, 13 sacks, five caused fumbles and three recovered fumbles in 2022
--Helped Lakewood to 9-5 record as senior in 2022, ending in loss to Miami Central in Florida 2M semifinal
--Made 74 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries as junior in 2021
--Led Lakewood to 10-3 mark in 2021 and third round of Florida 4A playoffs
--Made 12 tackles and three sacks playing in six games as sophomore in 2020, also scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery
--Also plays basketball at Lakewood
--Played for coach Cory Moore
 
Tyree Patterson, WR, 6-2, 175, Eustis, FL (Eustis)
--Standout wide receiver at Eustis High School in Eustis, Florida
--Made 49 receptions for 499 yards and five touchdowns in six games played in 2022 senior campaign
--Caught 53 passes for 1,078 yards and 13 TDs as junior in 2021
--Three-time all-area first-team pick
--Made 32 receptions for 614 yards and seven TDs as sophomore in 2020
--Also played basketball for Panthers
--Nephew of former UCF and Eustis star Joe Burnett, a 2022 UCF Sports Hall of Fame inductee and 2008 All-American as cornerback and return specialist
--Played for coach Frank Scott
 
Randy Pittman, TE, 6-2, 225, Lynn Haven, FL (Mosley)
--Versatile athlete who played tight end as well as taking snaps at quarterback, running back, fullback and wide receiver at Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida
--Grabbed 48 passes for 704 yards and six touchdowns as senior in 2022 and also made 50 tackles as defensive end
--Helped Mosley to 2022 Florida 4M playoffs before falling to second seed Apopka in regional final
--Caught 45 passes for 534 yards and four TDs as junior in 2021
--Panama City News-Herald Boys Basketball Player of the Year as sophomore in 2020-21 (averaged 13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.3 steals)
--As sophomore in 2020 earned helped Dolphins finish 4-4 and make Florida 6A state playoffs as he totaled 473 yards of offense and three TDs on 35 catches
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
--Played for coach Tommy Joe Whiddon
 
Grant Reddick, K/P, 5-10, 190, Orlando, FL (Boone)
--Blue-chip kicker and punter for Boone High School in Orlando, Florida
--Kohl's Kicking rates him as five-star kicker and lists him number one nationally
--Helped Boone to 2022 Florida 4M playoffs where team fell to Apopka in regional quarterfinal
--Primarily worked as punter as junior in 2021
--Won Kohl's field-goal competition in summer of 2022 among 300 competitors
--Made three of five field-goal attempts for Boone as senior in 2022 plus all 24 PAT attempts
--Grew up playing soccer and began football kicking as freshman in high school
--Has six other family members who attended UCF
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
--Played for coach Andy Johnson
 
Dylan Rizk, QB, 6-2, 205, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Cardinal Gibbons)
--Top-flight quarterback at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
--Completed 174 of 272 passes (.640) as senior in 2022 for 1,987 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
--Ran 47 times for 323 yards and five TDs in 2022
--Threw for 303 yards in 49-20 victory over Stranahan
--Helped Cardinal Gibbons to 11-2 mark as senior, with both losses coming to American Heritage including in 2022 Florida 2M regional final
--Led Cardinal Gibbons to 11-2 mark and Florida 4A state title as junior in 2021
--Miami Herald All-Broward 5A-IND pick as junior in 2021
--As junior threw for 1,971 yards (169 of 251), 17 TDs and 10 interceptions with .673 percentage
--Ran 58 times for 456 yards and eight TDs as junior in 2021, including 111-yard, three-TD rushing effort vs. Gulliver Prep in playoffs (also threw for 249 yards in that game)
--Transferred to Cardinal Gibbons from Delray Beach American Heritage prior to 2021 season
--Threw for 2,075 yards in eight games as sophomore at American Heritage in 2020—including 442 yards and five TDs vs. Lemon Bay
--Also ran for 298 yards and three TDs in 2020 as sophomore
--Brother Ryan was walk-on quarterback at Miami who threw for 4,772 career yards with 53 TDs over three seasons at American Heritage
--Played for coach Matt DuBuc
 
Andrew Rumph, DT, 6-3, 265, Palmetto, FL (Palmetto)
--Top-flight defensive lineman at Palmetto High School in Palmetto, Florida
--Recorded 44 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, one fumble caused and one recovered as senior in 2022
--Helped Palmetto to 6-4 record in 2022, ending in regional quarterfinal loss in Florida 4S playoffs
--Made 47 tackles, 16 TFL and four sacks as junior in 2021
--Sarasota Herald-Tribune all-area selection in 2021 and 2022
--Played at Palmetto as junior and senior in 2021 and 2022 after transferring from Bradenton (Florida) St. Stephens's Episcopal
--Played for coach Dave Marino
 
John Walker, DT, 6-4 300, Kissimmee, FL (Osceola)
--Four-star defensive lineman for Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida
--Made 79 tackles (46 solo) and nine sacks, caused two fumbles and recovered another as senior in 2022
--Helped Osceola to 10-4 mark and 2022 Florida 4S playoff wins over DeLand, Treasure Coast and Vero Beach (regional final) before falling to Lakeland in semifinal
--Rated 11th nationally among defensive linemen nationally
--Made 77 tackles and 13 sacks as junior in 2021 while helping Kowboys to 9-3 mark and second-round appearance in Florida 8A playoffs
--Claimed Florida all-state honors in 2021
--Expected to enroll at UCF in January 2023
--Signed a scholarship agreement and participated in UCF's pre-bowl workouts
--Played for coach Eric Pinellas