Lakeland Christian standout Ty MontsDeOca chooses the Knights over Power Four rivals, bolstering Scott Frost’s local recruiting surge with a versatile, 282-pound force for the future trenches.
This past weekend was a very successful one for head coach Scott Frost and the Knights, as multiple 2027 prospects committed to the program.
Ty MontsDeOca, who announced his decision to join UCF on Monday, is the first offensive lineman to join the 2027 class.
MontsDeOca, who chose UCF over programs like Wake Forest, Colorado, and West Virginia, plays his high school football at Lakeland Christian School.
He continues the trend of local recruiting for Frost and his staff, as the Knights have found success in bringing in Floridian players.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 282 pounds, MontsDeOca has the size to play the interior or exterior of the line, giving offensive line coach AJ Blazek flexibility.
In an interview with 247 Sports, MontsDeOca talked about what went into his decision.
"I told Coach Blazek I was committing probably a couple of weeks ago, a month. I just love, I like that place the best. It's close to home. Coach Blaz is an amazing coach. He's extremely personable," MontsDeOca said. "I talked to some of the guys and I heard nothing but great things about him from the players. Having Coach Frost back was a big part of it, too, and just knowing I'm gonna be able to get developed, coached, and have fun where I'm at. I feel like I had a really close connection with everybody."
This feeling of inclusion and connectivity has been a theme for new recruits, showing a culture developing within the UCF program.
For MontsDeOca, he said he feels that this decision will allow him to develop close to home and continue to capitalize on the momentum heading into his senior campaign.
"It's close enough to where if I want to go home, I can go home, but it's far enough away to where I'm not right at the house. Being able to stay in Florida means I don't have to adapt to any other weather changes or anything," MontsDeOca told 247. "I think I'll fit really well, just because the way their offense is and the way my high school offense is now are pretty similar in terms of scheme and what they try to do. We're all kind of into the same things."
After losing key pieces on the offensive line this offseason, offensive tackle Preston Cushman is the lone returning starter along the trenches, which means MontsDeOca could have a quicker avenue to playing time than other position groups - especially with his size and athletic upside.
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