The Knights face a recruiting crossroads as elite Georgia prospect Caden Waye heads to Orlando, offering a chance to rebound following Connail Jackson’s sudden departure from the class.
UCF is on a recruit roller coaster; they will receive a visit from four-star running back Caden Waye this weekend, and three-star running back Connail Jackson decommitted from the program on Wednesday.
Recruiting high school talent is challenging, evidenced by Jackson's decision. The Knights used resources to recruit the three-star running back and earned a commitment on May 2.
Jackson decommitted a month after his announcement and before his official visit on June 19. With his recruitment reopening, the Sarasota, Florida, native could still recommit to UCF.
The Knights are losing out on another in-state recruit after starting the year strong. They landed athlete Kaneilius Purdy, EDGE Noah Robinson, safety Kash Kolbow and wide receiver Jamal Robinson Jr.
Now, they have lost out on Jackson, safety Zy Tassin (Wake Forest) and cornerback Nazir Pitchford (Kansas). Losing out on in-state recruits could be a concerning sign for coach Scott Frost and UCF.
Although Jackson decommitted, the Knights have a shot at recouping their loss by impressing Waye. The McDonough, Georgia, native is 5-foot-11 and is a four-star, according to 247Sports composite player rating.
He will visit Orlando this weekend and has the program firmly in his top three. Oregon and Southern California are the two other schools competing against UCF for Waye.
"I see myself having potential to be at UCF," Waye told MagicRoundtable and Knights247 reporter Andrew Cherico on Wednesday.
Waye plays for Ola High School and had a dominant sophomore season. He rushed for 838 yards and 15 touchdowns on 150 carries, including three games with 100 yards or more.
The four-star started the season with a 203-yard and four-touchdown performance on Aug. 15, 2025, against Trinity Christian High School. Two games later, he recorded 154 yards against Eagles Landing High School on Sept. 12.
His last 100-plus-yard game came against Stockbridge High School. Waye rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown; his closest performance to 100 yards was 74 yards in Ola's season finale against Cambridge High School on Nov. 14.
Waye also showcased versatility in the receiving game, hauling in 15 receptions for 304 yards and three touchdowns. His best receiving game for the Mustangs came against Union Grove on Sept. 26, catching five passes for 133 yards.
It's a positive sign that UCF is a top-three school for Waye, but luck has not been on the program's side recently. The Knights were a frontrunner for Tassin until Wake Forest made a strong push for him.
Landing a commitment from Waye would mitigate the loss of Jackson, but keeping the four-star running back committed until 2027 signing day is just as important.
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