Top-100 IOL Max Buchanan takes UCF official visit

UCF is battling top programs for Sanford (Fla.) Seminole four-star interior offensive lineman Max Buchanan. This weekend, the 6-foot-4 prospect made his way back to the local school for an official visit with the Knights.

Buchanan visited the Big 12 program earlier this year for UCF’s spring game and has felt the love from head coach Gus Malzahn, offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw and Co.

Great Sunday with @UCF_Football heading to universal after lunch @CoachHinshaw @coach_agward5 @BokeyFootball @Recruit_Bokey pic.twitter.com/A46uswxUSD

— Max Buchanan (@MaxBuchana2025) May 19, 2024

“It is barely over 20 minutes down the road, so I have been there a lot. I know a lot of players there. We have seven players from Seminole there and I like the players and the coaches there. I have a personal relationship with Coach Darin Hinshaw‘s (Offensive coordinator) son too, so there is a lot of things that have me liking UCF,” Buchanan told On3 earlier this spring upon announcing his top six schools.

Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Ole Miss and Penn State are also in the mix for Buchanan. He’s already taken an official to Oxford and is set to see each of his other finalists this summer. Those officials will likely play a major role in the blue-chipper’s college decision.

“What is going to separate a school for me will be based on how my visits go,” Buchanan told On3. “I want to see how honest and truthful the people are at each school. Getting along with the players and the people on campus is so important to me. I will only be around the coaches when I am at the facility or practice, so I want to see how I get along with the players. That will be very big for me.

“How I got to six was based on relationships and the coaches being guys I like and that know how to coach. I think I can thrive in each of the six systems, so these official visits are very important.”

Buchanan ranks No. 289 overall, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 ranks Buchanan much higher than other recruiting services, as he checks in at No. 95 overall and No. 7 at his position in the 2025 On300.

UCF owns top class in the Big 12

Thanks to three commitments since April, UCF now has nine pledges in its 2025 class, which ranks No. 22 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big 12, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Cincinnati Anderson three-star tight end Caden Peining and Covington (Ga.) Newton three-star defensive lineman Ryshawn Perry each joined the fold in April. The Knights also landed a pair of pledges in March in the form of Palm Beach (Fla.) Central four-star safety Tony Williams and Cedartown (Ga.) three-star athlete Demarcus Gardner.

Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County Central four-star safety Kendarius Reddick announced a surprise flip of his commitment from Auburn to UCF on Feb. 3. The 6-foot, 165-pounder is a top-100 prospect in the 2025 On300.

“The way everyone looked at me as family as soon as I stepped foot in the facility. It just made me feel more at home,” Reddick told On3’s Hayes Fawcett upon flipping his commitment.

Reddick continues to be flanked by top recruits, including Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola four-star running back Taevion Swint, Williams, Tampa Bay Tech three-star wide receiver Santonyo Isaac and Cocoa (Fla.) three-star offensive lineman Jaquez Joiner.

Swint is the No. 236 overall recruit in the On3 Industry Ranking and is also the No. 16 burner in the 2025 cycle. He committed in April 2023.