2019 UCF Early Signing Day Commit Tracker

Welcome to the start of the early signing period, otherwise now known as Early Signing Day. Sure, this period lasts through Friday, and there is still that signing day in February, but most of the UCF Knights’ 2020 class will make it official today.

We’re expecting 15 or so players to become Knights, so follow along throughout the day as this post will be updated with information on each player as those signatures roll in. We’ll also mention a few players who turned down or decommitted from UCF despite the coaches’ best efforts to make them a part of this class.

Head coach Josh Heupel will meet with the media this afternoon. Whatever he says about one of his new players, you’ll see it here.

7:01 a.m: Offensive Lineman Paul Rubelt

The 6-foot-10 (!!!) product out of Germany had been committed to Arizona State up until a few days ago, when he flipped to UCF. He also received offers from Florida State and Minnesota, among others.

7:20 a.m: Tight End Tony Forrest Jr.

Forrest becomes the latest Jacksonville native to join the Knights — there are eight players from J-Ville on this year’s roster. And he may not be the only recruit from Jacksonville to sign with UCF today.

He measures in at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds.

7:37 a.m: Tight End Jordan Davis

Another tight end signs, but there is something a little extra special about this signature. It comes from Jordan Davis, the younger brother of Gabriel Davis. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound TE had offers from programs such as Kentucky, Kansas State, Pittsburgh and South Florida.

But was there ever any doubt where he’d end up?

7:47 a.m: Running Back Johnny Richardson

UCF signs yet another undersized, do-it-all back. But Richardson showed tremendous cutting ability in high school, and as you see in the post below, his 5-foot-7 frame didn’t stop him from putting up crazy numbers last season.

7:52 a.m: Linebacker Keenan Cupit

At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Cupit gives the Knights their fourth defensive player in the front seven who is from Virginia or D.C., joining Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, Cam Goode and Landon Woodson.

8:02 a.m: Offensive Lineman Mike Lofton

UCF hopes this 6-foot-2 and near-300-pounder can open up a lot of running lanes for the next four years. Lofton is listed as a guard, but as you can see in the tape below, he was a bulldozer at times when he lined up at tackle in high school.

8:13 a.m: Offensive Lineman Patrick Barnett

Barnett turned down the likes of Florida State and West Virginia to become a Knight. He is 6-foot-6 and a little more than 300 pounds. Between him, Lofton and Rubelt, UCF has already brought in a serious amount of beef along the O-line.

9:17 a.m: Defensive Lineman Kendrick Wilson

UCF picks up another Miami native in this 6-foot-5 defensive end.

9:17 a.m: Defensive Back Davonte Brown

The first real surprise of the day came when Brown, whose father played football for Miami, chose UCF over the Hurricanes as well as the Pitt Panthers. He made his announcement over Instagram

A 6-foot-2 safety from South Florida, Brown received offers from a bunch more Power Five programs, including Iowa State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, etc.

9:47 a.m: Defensive Back Justin Hodges

Another Instagram annoucement, and another get for UCF. Hodges, a 6-foot-2 cornerback out of Fort Lauderdale and a former Miami commit, chose the Knights over Washington State. Miami, Minnesota and Indiana were among Hodges’ final five choices.

About an hour before Hodges made his destination public, the UCF Football Twitter account sent out a clip of Josh Heupel and DBs coach Willie Martinez high-fiving about ... something.

Now we know why they were so excited.

10:31 a.m: Defensive Lineman Kervins Choute

Choute had offers from a host of big-name programs, headlined by the University of Florida. But the 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end verbally committed to UCF back in July and never swayed.

11:03 a.m: Defensive Back Quadric Bullard

Another DB from down south. Bullard is another private school product (Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood) who had some interest from Louisville and Utah State.

11:14 a.m: Defensive Back Devunte Dawson

Dawson is a JUCO product from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, and originally from Hurst, Texas, near Fort Worth, so he should have an immediate impact in the secondary. He announced his intentions to come to UCF earlier this morning.

11:26 a.m: Wide Receiver Ja’Cyais Credle

The highest-rated UCF signee according to 24/7 Sports, Credle has the look of the next great Knights wideout. He is a rangy 6-foot-4 receiver who goes by “Stretch.”

11:53 a.m: Defensive Back Corey Thornton

Yet another DB in this 2020 class, and he’s from Miami to boot. The 6-foot-1 Thornton will slide into a defensive backfield that will have four other Miami natives next season — Antwan Collier, Derek Gainous, Bryon Brown, and fellow Booker T. Washington high alum, Jermaine McMillian

1:38 p.m: Linebacker Quade Mosier

UCF went to Arkansas to get Mosier. The Fayetteville native is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound LB.

3:23 p.m. Defensive Lineman Josh Celiscar

Possibly the final UCF signee to make it official today is this defensive end from Winter Haven. Celiscar picked the Knights over the likes of Virginia Tech. He was committed to Western Michigan up until a few days ago.

3:30 p.m: Offensive Lineman Marcus Tatum

Just as I thought UCF was finished, the Knights have picked up a grad transfer this afternoon. Tatum spent the past four years at the University of Tennessee and started 11 games over the past two seasons. Tatum entered the transfer portal earlier this month. At 6-foot-6, 316 pounds, the Ormand Beach native will look to help out at tackle.

Close, but not Knight

Here are a few players who, at one time, looked like they would sign with UCF but have decided to to take their talents elsewhere:

— QB Mike Wright

He committed to UCF this past summer over Instagram, but he signed with Vanderbilt today. Why? It’s pretty simple: Back in the summer, no one knew that true freshman QB Dillon Gabriel was going to become an immediate star for UCF.

— WR Sam Brown

Brown would have been UCF’s highest-rated signee, per 24/7 Sports ... if he had signed with UCF. But he decommitted last week and chose to attend West Virginia today.

— ATH Dominick Hill

Hill took an official visit to UCF this month, and the Jones High standout made it seem as if he would be joining the Knights at his signing day press conference — until he switched hats. Hill has been committed to South Carolina since June.

— OL Mark Pitts

Pitts, a 6-foot-6 offensive tackle, decommitted from UCF on Dec. 8. The next day, he made it known that he has decided to stay in his hometown of Gainesville and join the University of Florida.