Tyren Hornes' explosive play elevates him to UCF's highest-ranked recruit ever, showcasing NFL-ready skills and dynamic potential.
Following yet another standout performance at the Under Armour All-American game in early January, 2026 wide receiver commit Tyren Hornes saw a huge boost in rankings.
Prior to the event, Hornes was ranked the No. 23 wide receiver in the class, but after a touchdown and multiple impressive receptions, he now sits at No. 12, according to ESPN.
This boost in rankings makes Hornes the highest-ranked recruit in UCF history.
According to TheUCReport, "No one climbed higher in the final ESPN 300 update than Tyren Hornes. The UCF commit balled out at the UA All-America game and now ranks as the No. 12 WR in the class."
Hornes announced his commitment to UCF at the same Under Armour All-America event last year. Hornes won MVP of the event, foreshadowing an impressive senior season at Booker High School.
Now, as Hornes looks ahead to college and beyond, national media outlets are taking notice of Hornes' production and skillset.
Early last Thursday, ESPN released an article highlighting the most college-ready and highest NFL-upside players in the 2026 class.
Hornes was chosen as the receiver with the most NFL-upside, as ESPN writers Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill wrote about the traits Hornes possesses.
"Top NFL receivers are smart, tough, dynamic and ultra-competitive. Tyren Hornes meets the criteria. He arrives at UCF with plenty of physical intangibles like excellent ball skills as well as a professional attitude. Get the ball in his hands and he's going to make plays. He's a high-energy player who loves to compete," they wrote. "Hornes is also very light on his feet with excellent agility and suddenness to separate as a route runner. As a pass catcher, he's advanced with quick hands and naturally extends to pluck the ball out of the air. Hornes could line up outside as a vertical threat, or comfortably move inside to the slot, and he's a good open-field runner who could be deployed in bubble screens and jet sweeps as well. He can create mismatches and big-time YAC, which is coveted in both college and the NFL."
These findings reflected the analysis written by Andrew Ivins, 247 Sports Director of Scouting, in the November prior to Hornes' signing.
"Advanced route runner with noticeable juice in the lower half that can make extremely difficult catches while also capitalizing on his catch-and-run opportunities," Ivins wrote.
Hornes gained major traction on the recruiting trail following his MVP performance at the All-American camp, picking up offers from big-name programs like Georgia, Florida State and Auburn shortly after.
"[Hornes} put up video game-like numbers as a junior before reeling in pretty much everything that came his way at an Under Armour Next camp in advance of senior year," Ivins wrote.
Hornes rode this momentum through his senior year, catching 42 passes for 646 yards and nine touchdowns in ten games.
Hornes will join a wide receiver room that is returning a lot of production, including: junior Duane "Speedy" Thomas, freshman Waden Charles and junior tight end Dylan Wade, who set the program-record for yards by a tight-end last season.