The Demon Deacons snatched a local priority from Orlando, leaving Scott Frost’s staff to search elsewhere for secondary depth as a massive defensive rebuild looms for 2027.
UCF was a frontrunner for three-star safety Zy Tassin, a local recruit in its backyard, but Wake Forest made a push over the last week to earn his commitment on Monday.
Tassin joins the Demon Deacons as the 14th class of 2027 commit and the second member of the secondary. Rilee Drew, who committed on April 17th, was the first addition to Wake Forest's secondary.
The 6-foot-2 safety will become a part of a deep secondary, as there are three seniors who will depart after next season. As a result of the Demon Deacons having such young secondary, Tassin will have to compete for meaningful snaps once he arrives in North Carolina.
UCF has lost out on a few recruits in the past few days. UCFRoundtable's Matthew Feldman reported three-star athlete Nazir Pitchford committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks last Sunday.
The Knights losing out on these recruits is tough, especially considering the senior-laden secondary. There are nine seniors in the defensive back room and a rebuild is on the way after next season.
Securing commitments from Tassin or Pitchford would have helped out UCF's depth significantly. Now, coach Scott Frost and his coaching staff must continue recruiting talent to replenish their secondary before its too late.
Three-star safety Kash Kolbow remains the only class of 2027 commit who plays in the secondary. Another tidbit to UCF losing out on Tassin is that he's a local recruit.
Tassin attends Crestview High School in Crestview, Florida. He is a two-way athlete for the Bulldogs, also being the lead play caller as the quarterback.
The 6-foot-2 athlete completed 50-for-105 passes for 724 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Tassin added 590 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns to his totals on 89 carries.
He gets little rest as a two-way player, but his performance doesn't slip on defense. Tassin recorded 21 tackles (10 solo), three TFL, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
It's tough to lose out on an in-state recruit, but commitments aren't always final. The Knights have flipped two recruits before in the class of 2026.
UCF flipped quarterback Rocco Marriott from James Madison and tight end Brooks Hall from South Dakota. The two played together at Platte County in Missouri and continue their partnership in Orlando.
Enrollment for the class of 2027 is far away and the future is uncertain, leaving way for a potential de-commitment. Pitchford de-committed from Kansas State before committing to the program's in-state rival.
The Knights shouldn't close the door on recruiting Tassin, but still prioritize finding more hidden in-state gems to recruit.
Join the Community. Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
