Rebuilding UCF goes far out of area, such as Hawaii and Finland, for recruits
They got the Flying Hawaiian … and the Flying Fin, too.
UCF announced a 20-player signing class on Wednesday, a list that includes the first player in program history from Hawaii in 5-11, 170-pound quarterback McKenzie Milton and the first from Finland in 6-4, 270-pound defensive lineman Chris Mulumba.
First-year head coach Scott Frost signed all 12 of the players he had committed when the week started and added eight more on signing day, including Mulumba.
Perhaps the happiest UCF surprise on Wednesday came when Frost flipped 6-0, 195-pound wide receiver Dredrick Snelson, who won a state title as a senior for Flanagan. Snelson had verbally committed to Minnesota.
Earlier in the recruiting cycle, UCF had secured South Dade running back Jawon Hamilton, who ran for 1,259 yards last season, second-best in the county.
UCF, which finished 0-12 last season, needs immediate help, and this class, ranked 56th nationally by rivals.com, should provide assistance.
SOUTH FLORIDA
Bulls coach Willie Taggart announced an 18-player class, including two recruits that rated four stars by rivals.com.
The Bulls’ recruits are split equally between offense and defense as South Florida looks to build upon its successful 2015 season that included an 8-5 record and a trip to the Miami Beach Bowl.
Miami Central wide receiver Darnell Salomon and St. Petersburg defensive back Craig Watts are the highest-rated players in the class.
Late additions included Southwest running back Trevon Sands, 6-4 wide receiver DeVontres Dukes, cornerback Michael Hampton and junior college offensive lineman Glen Bethel.
South Florida’s class ranks No. 67 nationally, according to rivals.com.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
The Owls’ 19-player class included three late additions — running back Devin Singletary of Delray American Heritage and defensive backs Chris Tooley (Orlando Oak Ridge) and Da’Von Brown (Royal Palm Beach).
FAU lost two previously committed players: American High defensive back Antoine Webster, who signed with Massachusetts, and Lakeland Kathleen defensive end Francisco Nelson, who signed with Arizona.
The Owls, who finished 3-9 in each of the past two years under coach Charlie Partridge, were left with a recruiting class that is — if nothing else — well-balanced positionally. Rivals.com ranks FAU’s class No. 80 nationally.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Coach Terry Sims signed 28 players, one of the largest Wildcats recruiting classes in years.
Building on the momentum of a 9-2 season in his first year as coach, Sims loaded up with eight defensive backs, seven offensive linemen and five receivers.
Sims signed 22 players from Florida, including four from Jacksonville Raines. Nine of the players are from junior colleges.
FLORIDA A&M
FAMU, which went 1-10 last season under first-year coach Alex Wood, had not announced its recruiting class as of press time.
Around the state
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
QB – Anthony Cruz, 6-5, 210, Globe Tech (J.C.)
QB – Jabari Dunham, 6-3, 210, Leesburg
RB – Marcus Levy, 5-11, 215, Nassau (J.C.)
RB – Julian Robinson, 5-11, 205, Dixie County
WR – Steffon Francois, 5-11, 165, Hollywood McArthur
WR – Tyrell Washington, 6-3, 205, Vero Beach
WR – Trevor Laurent, 5-10, 165, Seffner Armwood
WR – Jordan Rivers, 6-2, 175, Jacksonville Raines
WR – Dajuan Jackson, 5-11, 185, Jacksonville Raines
TE – Michael Boland, 6-5, 235, Lackawanna College (J.C.)
OL – Jerry Beauchamp, 6-4, 275, Naples Barron Collier
OL – Jaylen Funches, 6-5, 310, Lackawanna (J.C.)
OL – Chris Adams, 6-4, 300, Lackawanna (J.C.)
OL – Kevin Richardson, 6-4, 305, Seffner Armwood
OL – Keldrick Cesar, 6-4, 310, Miami Edison
OL – Jamal Savage, 6-6, 320, Plant City
OL – Job Buissereth, 6-4, 325, Nassau (J.C.)
DL – L’Dre Barnes, 6-3, 290, St. Petersburg Farragut
LB – Jacquan Holt, 6-4, 195, Jacksonville Raines
LB - Daniel Palmer, 6-2, 250, Dean (J.C.)
DB – Antonio Collier, 6-1, 175, Hollywood McArthur
DB – Trevor Merritt, 5-10, 185, Melbourne Viera
DB – Sam Marc, 6-0, 170, Miami Norland
DB – Jamaal Burgess, 6-0, 185 West Hills (J.C.)
DB – Davonte Lawrence, 6-0, 190, Jacksonville Raines
DB – DeAndre Bozeman, 5-10, 175, Highland (J.C.)
DB – Isaiah Richard, 6-3, 175, Ocala Vanguard
DB – Simeon Brown, 6-1, 175, Deerfield Beach
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
QB – Steven Frank, 6-4, 225, Oswego (Illinois)
RB – James Charles, 5-10, 200, St. Thomas Aquinas
RB – Devin Singletary, 5-9 200, Delray American Heritage
WR – Antonio Hadden, 6-2, 200, Fort Pierce Central
WR – John Mitchell, 6-4, 195, Tallahassee Chiles
TE – Harrison Bryant, 6-5, 225, Georgia Military
TE – John Raine, 6-2, 230, Westminster Christian
OL – Ean Biancardi, 6-5, 285, Lake Wales
OL – Brandon Walton, 6-5, 300, Seminole
DE – David Belvin III, 6-3, 235, Palmetto-Florida
DT – Kevin McCrary, 6-2, 265, Daytona Beach Mainland
DT – William Davis, 6-0, 265, Fort Pierce Central
LB – Leighton McCarthy, 6-3, 205, Wekiva
LB – Chandler Ferguson, 5-11, 225, Delray Beach Atlantic
LB – Bradley Clement, 5-11, 225, University School
LB - Rashad Smith, 6-0, 180, Homestead
DB – Korel Smith, 5-10, 175, Miramar
DB – Chris Tooley, 5-11, 180, Orlando Oak Ridge
DB – Da’Von Brown, 6-0, 185, Royal Palm Beach
SOUTH FLORIDA
QB – Chris Oladokum, 6-2, 185 Tampa Sickles
RB – Elijah Mack, 6-0, 215, Punta Gorda Charlotte
RB – Trevon Sands, 5-11, 170, Southwest
WR – Darnell Salomon, 6-3, 210, Miami Central
WR – DeVontres Dukes, 6-4, 205, Tampa Wharton
OL – Glen Bethel, 6-6, 300, Arizona Western
OL – Christion Gainer, 6-6, 310, Panama City Bay
OL – Logan MacDonald, 6-4, 270, Davenport Ridge
OL – Michael Wiggins, 6-3, 290, Lakeland Lake Gibson
DE – Tramal Ivy, 6-4, 245, Butler County C.C.
DE – LaDarrius Jackson, 6-4, 245, Hinds C.C.
DE – Frank Johnson, 6-5, 235, Hinds C.C.
LB – Mi’Cario Stanley, 6-2, 225, North Fort Myers
LB – Andre Polk, 6-4, 210, South Fort Myers
DB – Michael Hampton, 6-1, 180, Tampa Hillsborough
DB – Craig Watts, 6-0, 190, St. Petersburg Farragut
DB – Josh Dunn, 6-0, 195, Lake Wales
DB – Armunz Mathews, 6-0, 190, Tallahassee NFC
UCF
QB – McKenzie Milton, 5-11, 170, Miliani (Hawaii)
RB – Jawon Hamilton, 5-9, 195, South Dade
RB – Adrian Killings, 5-9, 155, Daytona Mainland
WR – Jaquarius Bargnare, 5-8, 200, Orlando Dr. Phillips
WR – Dontay Mayfield, 6-1, 195, Miami Gulliver
WR – Dedrick Snelson, 6-0, 195, Flanagan
OL – Aaron Dowdell, 6-4, 320, Creekside (Ga.)
OL – Jordan Johnson, 6-3, 280, Jacksonville Ed White
OL - Boman Swanson, 6-4, 275, South Dade
OL – Christian Beard, 6-4, 285, Trinity Valley C.C.
DL – Josh Odigie, 6-4, 255, Orange Coast C.C.
DL – Joe Sanders, 6-4, 255, LaGrange (Ga.)
DL – Chris Mulumba, 6-4, 270, Finland
DL – D.J. Davidson, 6-5, 315, Desert Ridge (Ariz.)
LB – Monterious Loggins, 6-0, 220, Wakulla
LB – Eric Mitchell, 6-1, 225, Miami Central
LB – Nate Evans, 6-1, 240, New Orleans John Curtis
DB – Bryon Brown, 6-1, 165, Miami Norland
DB – Richie Grant, 6-0, 165, Choctawhatchee
DB – Brandon Moore, 6-1, 175, Sanford Seminole
Walter Villa
This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 12:08 AM with the headline "Rebuilding UCF goes far out of area, such as Hawaii and Finland, for recruits."