The Knights secured their fifth 2027 commit by poaching New Jersey standout Ian McDuffie, a hard-hitting linebacker destined to bolster depth as the program expands its national recruiting footprint.
The UCF Knights' 2027 class has significantly grown in the past week, as they earned a fifth commitment by flipping three-star linebacker Ian McDuffie on Tuesday afternoon.
MagicRoundtable and Knights247 reporter Andrew Cherico broke the news of McDuffie's flip on X. The three-star recruit chose UCF over Syracuse after finishing his official visit to the Bounce House.
He becomes the third out-of-state commit to join the Knights, following defensive back Jonathan Barns (Texas) and tight end Tanner Ehmen (Alabama). Coach Scott Frost and his staff have left lasting impressions on the recruits who visited the campus.
McDuffie is from Wayne, New Jersey, and plays for Passaic County Technical Institute. The 6-foot-2 linebacker had a stellar junior season, tallying 113 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble.
UCF's linebacker core receives another young talent to bolster its depth. The position group is senior-laden, with Lewis Carter, Tackett Curtis, Jahleel Culbreath and Jayden Jennings playing their final college seasons.
The New Jersey native will play alongside Phil Piccioti, Rashad Henry, Preston Hall and Matthew Occhipinti when he arrives in Orlando to don the Black and Gold. He'll add another solid tackler and pass rusher to the roster.
Flipping McDuffie isn't the first time the Knights have accomplished a feat of this magnitude. The program did it last year when four-star quarterback Rocco Marriott flipped from James Madison to UCF.
Marriott became the highest-rated quarterback commit in UCF history and dominated the high school football scene. He led Platte County -- in Missouri -- to back-to-back state championships and undefeated seasons.
Although he isn't competing for the starting quarterback spot with JMU transfer Alonza Barnett III ahead, his future is bright. Marriott possesses a dual-threat skill set that fits with Frost's offensive scheme.
The 2027 recruiting class is growing rapidly for UCF, and it's becoming more diverse with each commit. There is an emphasis on targeting local talent, like running back Omari St. Fort and offensive lineman Ty MontsDeOca, but the program has dipped more into out-of-state recruiting.
Landing McDuffie, Barns and Ehmen bolsters well for Frost and his staff's influence across the country. They have impressed recruits during their official visits, so much so that they earn commitments once the visit is over.
UCF will host several more recruits this weekend, aiming to bolster its recruiting class even further.
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