Top-100 safety Jaylen Heyward commits to UCF over Miami

After decommitting from Georgia on July 18, there was a lot of buzz around Miami. Jaylen Heyward had visited Coral Gables multiple in the spring before making a stop for an official visit late in June. Even when the four-star safety was still committed to the Bulldogs, the Hurricanes were thought to be a top school.

Not many were talking about UCF. They should have been.

Heyward took an official visit to UCF on June 16, the week before he visited Miami, and he returned to the campus in Orlando on July 28. The 5-foot-10.5, 185-pound safety out of Rockledge (Fla.) is now committed to the Knights.

“I really thought about it a lot since my official visit to UCF,” Heyward told On3. “The official visit changed things for me. It was the best time I ever had on an official visit and I loved the hospitality they showed me and my family.

“UCF is a great school, it is 30 minutes from home, the coaches care about me and when I got back on July 28, I knew that is where I wanted to me.

“I committed to UCF over Miami. Michigan, Auburn and Georgia were in there too.”

Heyward is the second four-star commitment Gus Malzahn has picked up in the last 24 hours. Running back Frankie Arthur committed to the Knights on Monday evening.

The Knights are putting together a very strong recruiting class.

“When Coach Malzahn was at Auburn, he had the blue-chip pieces and he won a championship. He is putting those pieces together with this class. He is getting top recruits, he is building the roster and he is going to take UCF to the championship level in the Big 12.”

Heyward felt comfortable at UCF

UCF didn’t push Heyward to commit. The coaching staff offered the No. 96 prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings his freshman year. They saw him commit to Georgia early, but they never stopped recruiting him.

Relationships were established, they got him on campus around 10 times, and eventually, the Knights landed his commitment.

“It just felt right,” Heyward said. “UCF is close to home, I will play on the biggest platform in central Florida and I will be able to play early and help change the program.

“The coaches gave me time. They let me take my visits, think things over, and over time, I had the idea that UCF was best for me. In the end, it just clicks best at UCF. It is a different feeling there.”

Addison Williams was Heyward’s lead recruiter. David Gibbs was heavily involved as well. Those two coaches played a role in this commitment.

“My relationships with Coach Addison and Coach Gibbs have always been there. They recruited me early, they recruited me when I was committed to Georgia and they are both mentors to me. They know me, they care for me and I love how they have been in the game. The relationships we have are strong.”

Malzahn’s doing big things at UCF

UCF is moving to the Big 12. That is a major move for the program in central Florida. The Knights are 18-9 under Malzahn and Heyward is excited about where the direction of the program.

“UCF is becoming a big-time program under Coach Malzahn,” Heyward said. “He knows how to recruit, he is very hands-on, he is about player development and he knows how to win. Coach Malzahn will have UCF competing for championships in the Big 12.”

Heyward could have stayed in state with Miami. He could have played in the SEC for Auburn or Georgia. Michigan wanted him to play for the Wolverines in the Big Ten.

He saw no reason to leave.

“The vibe at UCF is perfect for me. It is not Miami, it is not Tampa, it is not Tallahassee… it is Orlando. It is always good and it is always hot. And it is the best spot in Florida only 30 minutes from home.

“I could have picked a number of schools, but I want to stay home in Orlando, be close to my family and be that hometown hero at UCF.”