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On the first day of his junior year, Sincere Edwards wanted the world to know that he's going to be a UCF Knight.

The Class of 2024 four-star defensive lineman from Apopka's Wekiva High School tweeted his decision shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. His recruiter, defensive tackles coach Kenny Martin, put Knight Nation on "boom watch" a few minutes earlier.

Edwards has visited UCF countless times for games and recruiting events. He was most recently at "Knight Splash" in late July and also attended Bounce House Weekend in June as well as "Hometown Hero" this past January.

"I got my UCF offer about a year ago around the time Coach (Gus) Malzahn got here," Edwards told UCFSports.com earlier this year. "Coach (Kenny) Martin is recruiting me... (The visit) was real fun. I like a lot about UCF, just talking and being around everybody. It felt like home. And it's close to home."

As a sophomore, Edwards had 62 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and a blocked punt. He even contributed on offense, scoring four touchdowns.

"I just have fun," Edwards said about his game. "I feel like I can improve my speed though, come off the ball faster. Hand placement, stuff like that. I'm working to get better."

Other early offers included Arkansas, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, NC State, Utah, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Purdue.

Edwards talked about what he liked about UCF in a prior interview:

"I love how new they are," Edwards said. "They're bringing a whole new coaching style. They're trying to win. You can tell they're trying to change the program."

In his eyes, the fact UCF is now a Power Five program headed to the Big 12 is huge.

"Now people won't be able to say there's no competition in the conference they're in," Edwards said. "It'll make a real big impact as far as my recruitment goes."

Edwards is the latest in a string of "Hometown Heroes" - local players from the Central Florida area - committing to UCF. He joins a group that includes 2023 commitments Kaven Call, Andrew Harris, Michael Harris, Grant Reddick, John Walker and Braeden Marshall.

He is also the earliest commitment in UCF history, pledging in August of his junior year. That beats current tight end Jordan Davis, who committed in November of his junior year. Kaven Call, who committed last Christmas, would be No. 3 on the list.

UCFSports.com hopes to catch up with Edwards as soon as possible for more insight into his decision.

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Pitcher Grace Jewell returns to the UCF Softball team as they compete in the Big 12 conference for the first time in 2024. Grace and the rest of the pitching staff will play an important role in helping the Knights take on new competition.

Click here for more from the Sons of UCF.

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Congrats, ELO!

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Pitcher Grace Jewell returns to the UCF Softball team as they compete in the Big 12 conference for the first time in 2024. Grace and the rest of the pitching staff will play an important role in helping the Knights take on new competition.

Click here for more from the Sons of UCF.

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The 2024 UCF Softball team will feature a few new faces, including Stormy Kotzelnick, who will contribute as a utility player. The Knights will need depth and versatility as they prepare to play their first season in the Big 12 Conference.

Click here for more from the Sons of UCF.

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The latest coming out of the event:

lol

This is the counterpoint to the Dawkins amnesty thread, let’s be petty af towards coach Abe who abandoned us for the sec and is doing just AWFUL

And usf sucks as usual

What a finish. Sergio charging and Fun watching Rahm/Nieman feel the nerves late and drop the last two tee shots.

LIV needed this kinda finish with Pebble rained out.

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The Celiscar thread made me go look at some stats. Want a crazy one?

Pace, Threats and Tennison had 21.5 TFLs last year.

Martinez, Wilson, Henderson, Bullard, Thornton, Patterson, Marshall, Yates, Adams and Mask combined had 8.5 TFLs.

Crowd shots:







Some recruits and family members in Sec 203:


UCF added 2 more Courtside Tables recently near the corner but with much better sightlines vs those behind the basket. These 2 new tables replaced a garbage can that use to be located up against the rail of Sec 105. (@Chase the Knight maybe ask for one of these 2 new tables as I think the view from the side court would be a less obstructive view).



UCF did Lights Up! Lights Down! during the 1st half...as some recruits had to leave at halftime to head back home:





For those wondering how teams handle their timeouts using their play boards in the dark...UCF has spotlights set up for both team huddles so coaches can easily communicate their messages and use their boards when the house lights go down.


Also during the 1st half...during another timeout...UCF had a "special" video board tribute (really a "targeted message") to the visiting recruits on how you can live in Orlando (go to UCF) in an area the world comes to visit on vacation....and they showed a rollercoaster video from Universal during this break)







For those wondering how teams handle their timeouts using their play boards in the dark...UCF has spotlights set up for both team huddles so coaches can easily communicate their messages and use their boards when the house lights go down.


Also during the 1st half...during another timeout...UCF had a "special" video board tribute (really a "targeted message") to the visiting recruits on how you can live in Orlando (go to UCF) in an area the world comes to visit on vacation....and they showed a rollercoaster video from Universal during this break)


Frond Warning:

GDP growth among G7 nations​

Table showing GDP growth among G7 nations with 2023 estimates and 2024 projections. The U.S. has the highest economic growth with +2.5% in 2023 and +2.1% expected in 2024. Among G7 nations, Germany has the least expected growth with -0.3% in 2023 and +0.5% in 2024.
Table with 4 columns and 7 rows.

BTFO doomer economycels the American economy is ****ing undefeated 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Gus will be the guest speaker at the Cocoa football banquet. I think it’s awesome. That is all.*

UCF's first NCAA Tournament team in 1994 will be honored prior to the Saturday, March 2 home game vs. Iowa State. That's also the Space Game.

I'm told Kirk Speraw is planning on being there.

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2 p.m.

Texas at No. 25 TCU (ESPN)
Kansas State at Oklahoma State (ESPN+)

4 p.m.

No. 23 Oklahoma at UCF (ESPN+)
No. 4 Houston at No. 8 Kansas (ESPN)

6 p.m.
Cincinnati at No. 15 Texas Tech (ESPN+)
No. 22 BYU at West Virginia (ESPN+)

8 p.m.

No. 12 Iowa State at No. 18 Baylor (ESPN2)

We know five of the cities already…..Toronto, Edmonton, Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. But which US sites will make the cut?

Here is the guesses from NBCsports.com. Do you agree with the choices? Check out the link to see why they picked these locations.

Ranking potential 2026 World Cup venues​

Host cities

1. New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)
2. Los Angeles (Rose Bowl Stadium or Inglewood)
3. Washington, D.C. (FedEx Field)
4. Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
5. Seattle (Lumen Field)
6. Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
7. San Francisco/Bay Area (Levi’s Stadium)
8. Dallas (AT&T Stadium)
9. Boston (Gillette Stadium)
10. Denver (Mile High)
11. Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)

Missing out
12. Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
13. Houston (NRG Stadium)
14. Nashville (Nissan Stadium)
15. Orlando (Camping World Stadium)
16. Baltimore (M&T Bank Stadium)
17. Cincinnati (Paul Brown Stadium)

A week after Friday Knight Lights, UCF is set to host another mega recruiting event on campus.

Around 50 top prospects will be in Orlando meeting with coaches, touring facilities and then heading over to Addition Financial Arena to watch the men's basketball team take on No. 23. Oklahoma.

The visitors include a couple Class of 2024 signees: QB EJ Colson and DB Jaylen Heyward.

One of the bigger headliners is DB Tae Harris, whom Gus Malzahn personally visited earlier this week.

Here's a look at some of the top names expected:

Friday Night:



Saturday night:

CycloneLarrys fall to 13-8 and 7-4 in Big 12.

They have had multiple Top 25 wins.

UCF (11-9, 2-8) was down by 5 at the half.

Nice win!

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The atmosphere inside the sold-out Addition Financial Arena as the UCF Knights take down the No. 23 Oklahoma Sooners and Johnny Dawkins gets his 300th career coaching win.

SI:

"A scuffle at the end of the first half between OU’s Jalon Moore and UCF’s Theirno Sylla led to Sylla’s ejection."

What's with this guy? He got thrown out for leaving the bench during another scuffle 2 weeks ago, and now this.

Yes.. some visiting fans are helping full up a lot of the seats at games (makes the atmosphere more intense) but hopefully more UCF Fans are getting hooked in Big 12 Hoops and will be come season ticket holders next season.

UCF's Home Big 12 Crowds this season:
Kansas: 9,469
BYU: 9,137
WVU: 8,882

Footnote: Burger U Manager is loving Big 12 Basketball as their place has never been this busy during multiple conf games before. (Place was packed over 90 mins before tip-off followed by a big post-game crowd).

He said the KU Game was almost like a Football Game Day in regards to $$$.