UCF climbs in On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings

UCF landed a massive win on the recruiting trail Thursday when Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola four-star defensive lineman John Walker chose the Knights over Michigan and Ohio State. He became the highest-ranked prospect to commit to UCF under head coach Gus Malzahn.

Walker’s decision elevated UCF’s 2023 recruiting class to No. 33 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings. The Knights’ group rose 19 spots from No. 52 and now ranks No. 2 in the AAC.

“They had me at top priority. They showed me they need me,” Walker told On3’s Chad Simmons. “You know how people just say I’m this and that just cause they want me to go to their school, but like man, it shows like they really want me. Every office I go to, they have me as the top priority. I’ll be a really big part of their scheme.”

Walker is the No. 90 overall prospect and No. 9 defensive lineman in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 20 player in Florida.

UCF continuing strong summer on the recruiting trail

Even though Walker is the only top-100 prospect in UCF’s 2023 class, the Knights have put together an impressive group. Their class includes four top-500 prospects including Walker, Altamonte Springs (Fla.) Lake Brantley four-star linebacker Andrew Harris, Altamonte Springs (Fla.) Lake Brantley four-star linebacker Michael Harris and Apopka (Fla.) three-star EDGE Kaven Call.

Andrew Harris is ranked as the No. 201 prospect in the On3 Consensus, while Michael Harris is the No. 259 overall prospect. Playing together was a priority for the brothers and they will get that opportunity in Orlando.

“If a school wants us, they have to recruit us both,” Michael Harris told On3’s Chad Simmons in January. “They have to get to know Andrew, they have to get to know me, and they have to recruit us the same. … If a school just recruits me, then we won’t look at them. We are going to make our commitment together, so recruiting us both is very important.”

Both Harris brothers committed to UCF this month, as well as Orlando (Fla.) Boone three-star kicker Grant Reddick. The Knights’ class currently contains just eight prospects in Walker, the Harris brothers, Call, Reddick, Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day School three-star linebacker Troy Ford, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons three-star quarterback Dylan Rizk and Brunswick (Ga.) three-star offensive tackle Jamal Meriweather. Rizk and Meriweather committed within four days of one another in April.