Key receiver Waden Charles spurns the transfer portal, choosing to "run it back" for UCF next season.
The Knights secured huge news Thursday as true freshman wide receiver Waden Charles announced he will be returning to UCF next season.
Charles hauled in 26 receptions for 290 yards this season while showing he can be a major contributor for seasons to come. Charles posted a cryptic emoji via X on Wednesday which had many UCF fans thinking that he may hit the transfer portal.
One X user, @Knightrofan, wrote "Waden you are loved by this fanbase, let’s keep building something special here." Thursday evening, Charles made his decision.
"Unfinished business!! Let’s run it back Knight Nation…" Charles wrote on X. Charles, a Florida native, was ranked as a 3-star recruit according to 247 Sports. He has always been an impressive athlete.
As a sophomore, Charles was a two-way standout for Boynton Beach Somerset Academy, accumulating 53 receptions for a school record 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, he made 66 tackles while adding three interceptions.
Charles proved as a consistent plug-and-play option for UCF, filling in nicely when his name was called. But, he truly began to make an impact late in the season. On senior night, Charles posted a career-high six receptions for 78 yards.
In the following week against BYU, Charles had 50 yards on four catches. Throughout the season, he averaged 11.2 yards per reception, a promising sign for such a young talent.
Charles is a huge retention for head coach Scott Frost who will now enter the season with a standout young receiver in Charles while retaining other skill position talent like tight end Dylan Wade and Duane "Speedy" Thomas Jr.
For a quarterback room full of questions and uncertainty, Frost can feel better knowing the talent he has on the outside.
