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SONS OF UCF LIVE: Paul Lounsberry on UCF Football/Ben Hazel on UCF MBB

On this week's Sons of UCF LIVE, we turn to former UCF Assistant Coach Paul Lounsberry for his perspectives on the latest from UCF Football.

Then, we welcome in former UCF Development Coach Ben Hazel for his insights on UCF Men's Basketball as it wraps up non-conference play.

All this and more on this week's Sons of UCF LIVE ... here.

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***Four-star TE Tayvion Galloway gets "home type feeling" from UCF ⚔️🏈

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Four-star tight end Tayvion Galloway was a longtime commitment to LSU before reopening his recruitment early last week. The Pickerington Central (Ohio) star saw a flurry of new interest, including from UCF and he promptly booked an official visit for this past weekend.

"I had a great time," Galloway said after his UCF trip. "I feel like it's a real genuine relationships down here. Everything they're preaching to me about the family is true. I feel like the whole time I was down here they never tried to throw a recruiting pitch on me. They showed me what they have on the table, what they're offering and what it would be like if I was here. I definitely got the home type feeling from here. I loved it."

Galloway got the full UCF and Orlando experience.

"This is where people come to vacation," he said. "I might possibly make it my home one day... When we first got here, we did a little walking around Universal. We got on the ferry and rode around in that. We got some good food at the Cowfish. I think that's the main thing I did, ate a lot of good food. That's a great thing for me being down here in Florida. The food is a little different than Ohio."

Much of the focus was bonding with the coaching staff, particularly tight ends coach Brian Blackmon.

"It was just a really good time," Galloway said. "We ate a lot of food, so we got to connect over lunch and dinners. Got to really sit down and chat it up. I got to meet the coaches' wives. They've got a real cool family. It's real genuine connections. I feel like everything was just real genuine and how they approached it."

As a junior, Galloway caught 36 passes for 697 yards and six touchdowns. Pickerington Central High School is located just outside Columbus.

"They're telling me the focal point of their offense is going to be the tight ends," Galloway said of UCF. "I feel like I'm a tight end who does a lot. I'm versatile. They were basically letting me know they have plans for me. It's a big opportunity to come in and basically get playing time right away and be able to do my thing as long as I prep myself for that position."

He enjoyed getting to know Gus Malzahn.

"I love Coach Gus," Galloway said. "He's a real genuine dude. He keeps everything real. He's really down to earth too. He has a lot of history behind him. I got to learn a lot about him."

After taking everything in, what does he like about UCF?

"The biggest thing that stands out to me is the family and the genuineness of everybody," Galloway said. "I feel like that's the biggest thing for me. Connections go a long way. They're people who want to have connections more than just football. For the next 40 years of your life, not just the next four."

Galloway will take a midweek official visit to Purdue, scheduled Thursday through Thursday. He said many more schools have reached out, including Miami, Alabama and USC.

"For me, location isn't a big deal at all," Galloway said. "To me, I'd rather be further away. I love being in southern areas or warm great weather like this. I'm a big fan of that. I love the food down here. There's a lot of good hospitality down this way. I love that. I feel like what's going to really factor into my decision is the relationships. Somewhere that's a right fit for me. On the football field, off the football field. I feel like God is going to help me make that decision."

Galloway isn't sure when he'll be ready to make his final decision.

"I'm not putting a time stamp on it," he said. "I'm taking it day by day. God will let me know."

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***Updated Dec. 29: Charlotte LB Nikhai Hill-Green no longer committed to UCF?***

UCF has picked up a transfer commitment in a big-time area of need.

Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green, a former Michigan player who spent the 2023 season at Charlotte, announced his pledge to UCF on Thursday.

Following a redshirt season at Michigan in 2020, Hill-Green became a major contributor for the Wolverines in 2021. He appeared in all 14 games with six starts at linebacker, totaling 50 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one pass breakup.

Hill-Green missed the entire 2022 season due to a hamstring injury. He then transferred to Charlotte, following Biff Poggi who left UM to take the 49ers head coaching job. Poggi was also Hill-Green's former high school coach at St. Frances Academy in Maryland.

In 2023, Hill-Green became a key defensive cog on a Charlotte team that was making the transition to the American Athletic Conference. He finished the season with 73 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 9.0 TFLs, while earning a PFF grade of 69.9.

Hill-Green, who also had an offer from Florida State, will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Linebacker is arguably UCF's biggest portal need as both of their primary starters, Jason Johnson and Walter Yates III, are departing seniors.

Hill-Green is UCF's third overall transfer commitment, joining Samford offensive lineman Jabari Brooks and Cincinnati safety Bryon Threats.

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  • Poll
NIL Commitment/Complaint Poll

What is your ratio of NIL gifting: complaining?

  • I give nothing to NIL but often complain about recruiting

    Votes: 4 8.7%
  • I give less than $500 per year but often complain about recruiting

    Votes: 2 4.3%
  • I give $500- $1000 per year but often complain about recruiting

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I give more $1000 per year but often complain about recruiting

    Votes: 3 6.5%
  • I don't fund NIL but remain optimistic that Frost can win on a dime

    Votes: 8 17.4%
  • I give less than $500 per year, but we can win despite our lack of resources

    Votes: 7 15.2%
  • I give $500-$1000 per year, but don't frequently complain about recruiting

    Votes: 3 6.5%
  • I give more than $1000 per year, but remain positive about the portal

    Votes: 3 6.5%
  • Who cares, CFB is ruined and I'll never pay into this crap

    Votes: 16 34.8%

Just for fun! An analysis of a noob school with limited resources.

Bowl Season

Gasparilla Bowl Florida vs Tulane just showed this image. Mario Williams (Plant City, FL) chose to go to Tulane and pretty much stayed loyal to them, he was a 5 star ranked higher than all these receivers...

The rest of the list ended up as first round picks, hes still at Tulane..man its a feel good story to commit to the G5 school over the blue blood but damn does it change the trajectory of your life if you do. And we are sending John Walker down a similar path for coming here over Ohio State. Man i hope we right the ship if not for the sake of getting future blue chips to no fear coming here

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  • Poll
OT: Humanoid created by Figure AI

Would you invest in this?

  • Yes

    Votes: 25 37.9%
  • No

    Votes: 33 50.0%
  • Maybe

    Votes: 8 12.1%


Curious to know peoples thoughts on this.

Pegasus Pod 248: UCF's roster reset + Why the Frost hire will (or won't) work

Join Bailey Adams and Christian Simmons from the Pegasus Podcast as they react to the latest in UCF Sports.

In this episode, the guys review the current overhaul happening to the UCF Football roster due to the coaching changes and transfer portal window.

Plus: now that UCF has Scott Frost, are we sure this is going to work?

Click here to watch.

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Pegasus Pod 248: UCF's roster reset + Why the Frost hire will (or won't) work

Join Bailey Adams and Christian Simmons from the Pegasus Podcast as they react to the latest in UCF Sports.

In this episode, the guys review the current overhaul happening to the UCF Football roster due to the coaching changes and transfer portal window.

Plus: now that UCF has Scott Frost, are we sure this is going to work?

Click here to watch.

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Around the Kingdom: The first week of Scott Frost 2.0

Join Eric Lopez and Trace Trylko as they debate some of the current topics surrounding UCF Sports.

In this episode, the guys discuss the first week of the new Scott Frost era, which saw some hires and more roster turnover.

Plus: did we hire the right coordinators?

Also: the most important stories and games in 2024, is college football broken, and can Eric and Trace spot the fake bowl games.

Thanks for watching here.

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Around the Kingdom: The first week of Scott Frost 2.0

Join Eric Lopez and Trace Trylko as they debate some of the current topics surrounding UCF Sports.

In this episode, the guys discuss the first week of the new Scott Frost era, which saw some hires and more roster turnover.

Plus: did we hire the right coordinators?

Also: the most important stories and games in 2024, is college football broken, and can Eric and Trace spot the fake bowl games.

Thanks for watching here.

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***Washington OL Gaard Memmelaar commits to UCF***

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UCF has landed its third transfer portal commitment from former Washington offensive lineman Gaard Memmelaar.

It's a huge pickup as the Knights need multiple starter-ready offensive linemen. Memmelaar was the Huskies' starting left guard this past season.

It's been a multi-year development process for Memmelaar, an Idaho native who enrolled at UW in January 2020. He didn't see any game action his first two years in Seattle, then played in four games in 2022. Right when it looked like he was ready to move into the rotation, Memmelaar suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2023 season. Once fully recovered, Memmelaar earned a starting position in 2024.

He has at least one year of eligiblity remaining and possibly a second with a medical redshirt.

Memmelaar, who has officially signed, joins Tulsa defensive tackle RJ Jackson Jr. and Maryland defensive back Brandon Jacob in UCF's transfer portal commitment class.

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***Brandon Jacob commits to UCF***

A one-time top UCF target is returning home to Orlando.

Brandon Jacob, the former four-star Evans defensive back who just finished his freshman season at Maryland, announced his transfer commitment to the Knights on Monday.

Jacob strongly considered UCF out of high school and visited during Bounce House Weekend 2023 before opting for the Terps. At one point, his high school top 12 included UCF, Texas A&M, Penn State, Miami, Michigan, Kentucky, Colorado, Duke, South Carolina, Alabama, Ohio State and Maryland.

As Maryland's top-rated 2024 recruit, Jacob saw immediate playing time as a reserve safety and special teams player, recording nine tackles.

Following his high school official visit, Jacob told UCFSports.com that staying home would always be a strong consideration.

"I could play in front of my family every game," Jacob said last year. "I'd run out of the tunnel knowing my mom is in the crowd. It won't be a problem for her getting here being just 30 minutes from the house. That's huge for me."

Being local, Jacob has followed UCF through the years.

"Growing up in Orlando, of course you're a UCF fan and watch the games," Jacob said last year. "I've been waiting for the time to come with the offer."

Jacob is UCF's second transfer portal of the new Scott Frost era, joining Tulsa defensive tackle RJ Jackson who committed over the weekend.

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