National Signing Day is just a day away, but George O’Leary and his coaching staff have already assembled a very respectable recruiting class. According to 247Sports, UCF has the third best recruiting class in the AAC at this point, with four-star wide receiver Tristan Payton headlining the class.
However, the Knights still have a chance to improve their recruiting class, especially if they can get a few more commitments that will help replenish their depleted secondary.
1. Brandon Scott, Safety
Getting a commitment from Scott would be huge, as he would immediately fill a void left by the departure of UCF’s entire starting secondary. Among those lost is safety Clayton Geathers, who was named the All-AAC first team during his final season in Orlando.
Scott, a three-star recruit out of Destrehan, Louisiana, has the potential to be a suitable replacement. However, the Knights are locked in a battle with Bret Bielema and the Arkansas Razorbacks over his commitment. Scott took his official visit to UCF on January 16, and visited Arkansas two weeks later. Just yesterday, he took to Twitter to drum up some enthusiasm from Knights fans.
https://twitter.com/BScott_40/status/562464745580929024
Though 247Sports has UCF as the slight favorite to land Scott at this point, Arkansas is still very much in the running and it’ll be interesting to see which way he goes on Wednesday. Getting him would certainly be a huge win for O’Leary and his coaching staff.
2. Antonio Howard, Cornerback
Staying in the secondary, the Knights are in the running to land cornerback and former West Virginia commit Antonio Howard, who announced Monday afternoon that he would not be playing for the Mountaineers after all.
Just decommited from West Virginia gotta do what's best for me I will announce Wea I'm going for college on signing day Wednesday at 11am
— Antonio Howard (@speedyhoward) February 2, 2015
After de-committing from West Virginia, Howard told Scout.com’s Corey Bender that he’s narrowed down this choices to UCF, Marshall and Miami (FL).
After de-commiting from #WVU, Hialeah-Miami Lakes DB Antonio Howard tells me he's down to #Miami, #UCF & #Marshall: http://t.co/bT4eB0y7ir
— Corey Bender (@Corey_Bender) February 2, 2015
Speed and ball skills are areas of strength for the three-star Miami native, and getting a commitment from Howard would obviously help the Knights fill that secondary void. Though the 247Sports Crystal Ball has Marshall as the favorite to land him, UCF is still definitely in the running.
3. Aaron Covington, Cornerback
Yet another recruit that could help fill that huge void left by the departure of the entire UCF starting secondary, the battle over Covington has turned out to be an extension of the UCF-USF rivalry.
The Knights and the Bulls have both given offers to Covington, who hails from Seffner, Florida. Toledo and Massachusetts have each given him offers as well, and it’s not known which way he’s leaning at this point. He took official visits to both of the aforementioned schools last month.
Like the other two recruits on this list, he would be a nice addition for UCF and would help boost what has already been a solid recruiting class for the Knights.
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