Speedster Chase Williams brings a flawless defensive record and elite baserunning to Orlando, filling a critical void left by recent MLB Draft departures in the Knights’ outfield.
The UCF Knights bolstered their outfield depth in the transfer portal with the addition of Florida State transfer Chase Williams.
Williams is a versatile outfielder, starting 31 of his 37 appearances for the Seminoles (19 at left field and 12 at center field). The 5-foot-10 outfielder is a defensive stalwart, committing zero errors throughout the season.
He led the team in stolen bases (17), and that ability played a crucial role in some of Florida State's victories. Williams also logged multi-hit games in five of his last seven games, showing his productive at-bat.
UCF adds much-needed outfield help after Andrew Williamson (St. Louis Cardinals) and John Smith III (New York Mets) heard their names called in the 2026 MLB Draft.
INCOMING TRANSFERS:
Chase Williams
- Previous School: Florida State
- Position: OF
- Height and Weight: 5-foot-10, 176 pounds
- Hometown: Elmore, Ala.
- 2026 stats: .269 batting average, 35 hits, 8 runs, 12 RBI; 1.000 fielding percentage, 52 putouts, 1 assist
- Year(s) of eligibility remaining: 1
Ethan Puig
- Previous School: Appalachian State
- Position: 3B/1B
- Height and Weight: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds
- Hometown: Miami, Fla.
- 2026 stats: .326/.378/.438 slash, 45 RBIs, 46 runs scored, 12 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs
- Year(s) of eligibility remaining: 2
Ryan Taffe
- Previous School: Siena
- Position: RHP
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
- Hometown: Delmar, NY
- 2026 stats: 14 appearances, 20 hits, 22 runs, 16 earned runs, 22 walks, 32 strikeouts, 162 batters faced, 2-1 win-loss record, 3.82 ERA, 1.846 WHIP
- Years of eligibility remaining: 1
Riley Leatherman
- Previous School: North Carolina
- Position: RHP
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds
- Hometown: Maple Grove, Minn.
- 2026 stats: 1 appearance, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 19 pitches thrown
- Years of eligibility remaining: 3
Cade Brown
- Previous School: Georgia Tech
- Position: UTL
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
- Hometown: Lilburn, Ga.
- 2026 stats: .250 batting average, .650 OPS, 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 RBI, .250 SLG%
- Years of eligibility remaining: 2
Manny Lantigua
- Previous School: Florida State
- Position: RHP/INF
- Height and Weight: 6-foot, 197 pounds
- Hometown: Delray Beach, Fla.
- 2026 stats: 1-0 win-loss record, 6 appearances, 2.45 ERA, 5.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
- Years of eligibility remaining: 3
Alejandro Ludeiro
- Previous School: Lipscomb
- Position: C
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds
- Hometown: Pembroke Pines, Fla.
- 2026 Stats: 27 starts, .268 BA, 22 hits, 12 RBIs, .354 OBP, .341 SLG
- Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2
Shamaar McDuffie
- Previous School: Kennesaw State
- Position: INF
- Height and Weight: 5-foot-11, 160 pounds
- Hometown: Hampton, Ga.
- 2026 stats: .289 batting average, .708 OPS, 22 runs, 44 hits, 16 RBI
- Years of eligibility remaining: 1
Jackson Miller
- Previous School: Wake Forest
- Position: OF
- Height and Weight: 6-foot, 195 pounds
- Hometown: Palm Beach, Fla.
- 2026 Stats: .304 BA, 31 hits, 22 RBIs, .374 OBP, .451 SLG.
- Years of eligibility remaining: 2
Sachem Ramos
- Previous School: Florida Southern
- Position: RHP
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds
- Hometown: Woodacre, Calif.
- 2026 stats: 6-3 win-loss record, 14 appearances, 3.92 ERA, 78 innings pitched, 34 earned runs, 31 walks, 84 strikeouts, 336 batters faced
- Years of eligibility remaining: 1
Jake Gorelick
- Previous School: Stetson
- Position: RHP
- Height and Weight: 6-foot, 190 pounds
- Hometown: Miami, Fla.
- 2026 stats: 1-2 win-loss record, 7 appearances, 9.64 ERA, 9.1 innings pitched, 10 earned runs, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts, 48 batters faced, 2.250 WHIP
- Years of eligibility remaining: 2
Andrew Lepine
- Previous School: Stetson
- Position: RHP
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds
- Hometown: Winter Springs, Fla.
- 2026 stats: 0-1 win-loss record, 23 appearances, 4.88 ERA, 4 saves, 27.2 innings pitched, 15 earned runs, 9 walks, 23 strikeouts, 125 batters faced, 1.466 WHIP
- Years of eligibility remaining: 2
Talan Bell
- Previous School: Clemson
- Position: LHP
- Height and Weight: 5-foot-10, 185 pounds
- Hometown: Oviedo, Fla.
- 2026 stats: 13 appearances, 5 starts, 7.82 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 13 walks, 1.618 WHIP
- Years of eligibility remaining: 2
Colin Priest
- Previous School: Clemson
- Position: INF
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-3, 260 pounds
- Hometown: Mount Dora, Fla.
- 2026 stats: .240 batting average, .887 OPS, 36 runs, 47 hits, 12 home runs, 52 RBI
- Years of eligibility remaining: 1
Cooper Clapp
- Previous School: Middle Tennessee
- Position: INF
- Height and Weight: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds
- Hometown: Savannah, Tenn.
- 2026 stats: .320 batting average, 42 runs, 63 hits, 12 home runs, 34 RBI
- Years of eligibility remaining: 1
OUTGOING TRANSFERS:
Jordan Lodise
- Position: INF
- New School: Georgia Tech (entered portal June 3, committed June 7)
- Height and Weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
- Hometown: Brunswick, Ga.
- 2026 stats: .243 batting average, .738 OPS, 38 runs, 45 hits, 5 home runs, 29 RBI
- Years of eligibility remaining: 3
Kiernan O'Neill
- Position: INF
- New School: ?
- Height and Weight: 5-foot-10, 185 pounds
- Hometown: Coconut Creek, Fla.
- 2026 stats: N/A -- played no games
- Years of eligibility remaining: 4 -- redshirted
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