It's Transfer Recruiting season!
We're all learning how this process will play out, thanks to the legislation passed last summer that allows players to transfer once during their playing careers and receive immediate eligibility. Transfers are being treated the same as recruits as far as being able to host them on official visits, etc. UCF hosted a few transfers in December and is expecting several more this weekend, most of whom should already be on campus.
At the close of the early signing period, Gus Malzahn said UCF had about 10 scholarship spots left and they've since added three commits (Koby Perry, Terrence Lewis, KD McDaniel) so I'm assuming that means seven spots left (give or take). UCF doesn't have to use all the spots now on spring enrollees as they could hold back some spots for late spring/summer transfers or maybe a high school player that didn't sign early.
Here's a look at the visitors expected on campus this weekend. Please keep in the Dungeon unless the players make their visits public.
Ole Miss QB John Rhys Plumlee
The speedy quarterback from Mississippi looks like the perfect fit for Gus Malzahn's offense. Plumlee made waves as a freshman in 2019, starting eight games at quarterback and becoming a viral highlight sensation for his athletic moves. Against No. 1 LSU that season, Plumlee set the Rebels' single-game quarterback rushing record with 212 yards while scoring four touchdowns.
Matt Corral started at QB the past two seasons, coinciding with Lane Kiffin's arrival in Oxford as head coach, prompting Plumlee to move to WR though he was still engaged in QB meetings.
UCF has been considered the favorite, though Missouri was said to be making a late push.
The Hattiesburg, Miss. native (Oak Grove HS) would have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
olemisssports.com
Virginia OL Ryan Swoboda
A right tackle, Swoboda started every game he played for Virginia the past two seasons (all 10 starts in 2020, 11 of 12 games started in 2021; he missed one game with a minor injury). He earned a very respectable PFF grade of 70.3 in 2021, including a high mark of 86.3 for his game against Miami.
A native of Clermont, Swoboda graduated from Windermere Prep in the 2017 class. He has one season of eligibility remaining as a "Super Senior."
He is said to have a visit to Miami next weekend.
virginiasports.com
East Tennessee State OL Tre'Mond Shorts
Shorts, whose primary spot has been left tackle, earned a spot on three FCS All-American lists following the season as well as the Southern Conference First Team. He ended his ETSU career with 40 consecutive starts. His PFF grade was 84.6 for the 2021 season, an excellent mark.
Shorts was a member of the 2017 recruiting class, graduating from Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Ga. He has one season of eligibility remaining as a "Super Senior."
Nebraska is also in the mix and he has a visit scheduled there next week.
www.etsubucs.com
Auburn WR Kobe Hudson
Hudson was Auburn's leading wide receiver in 2021 with 44 catches for 580 yards and four touchdowns. Details for why he's leaving Auburn aren't clear, though it appears there could have been a clash with Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin given the wording of Hudson's social media posts. Hudson later clarified and said he was kicked off the team.
Though UCF is bringing in three high school wide receivers (Quan Lee, Tyler Griffin, Xavier Townsend), the Knights could use some experience in the wake of Titus Mokiao-Atimalala's recent exodus to the portal.
Recruited by Gus in the Class of 2020, Hudson attended Troup County High School in LaGrange, Ga. He would have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Hudson is said to begin his visit on Saturday.
auburntigers.com
***
Prior Commitments Visiting/Moving In:
Maryland LB Terrence Lewis
Lewis, a five-star prospect in the Class of 2021, announced his transfer commitment to UCF on Monday.
The former Miami (Fla.) Central star enrolled early at Maryland last year, but did not play this past season while recovering from ACL surgery. The knee injury was actually incurred during his senior season and not discovered until he arrived to College Park. He underwent surgery last January.
He was a big-time get considering UCF's lack of depth at linebacker, exacerbated by Tatum Bethune's recent departure to FSU.
ucf.rivals.com
Austin Peay DB Koby Perry
Perry, a safety, dominated this past season at Austin Peay with 85 tackles, eight of those for a loss, one sack, two interceptions and three pass breakups. He was an FCS All-American, the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top FCS defensive player.
Perry, who is from Covington, Ga., began his career at Dodge City Community College, leading his team in tackles as a sophomore. He then signed with Troy, redshirting in 2019 but did not play. He spent the past two seasons at Austin Peay and will have one year of eligibility remaining due to the extra COVID year.
ucf.rivals.com
***
UCF Transfer Commitments (all expected to start classes next week):
OT Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) - 2 years left
DB Koby Perry (Austin Peay) - 1 year left
LB Terrence Lewis (Maryland) - 4 years left
LB KD McDaniel (Kentucky) - 3 years left
Grable and McDaniel visited in December.
***
Terrence Lewis is posting to IG video from tonight's uniform try-on:
Story grabs:
View attachment TLewisVisit01.mp4
View attachment TLewisVisit02.mp4
We're all learning how this process will play out, thanks to the legislation passed last summer that allows players to transfer once during their playing careers and receive immediate eligibility. Transfers are being treated the same as recruits as far as being able to host them on official visits, etc. UCF hosted a few transfers in December and is expecting several more this weekend, most of whom should already be on campus.
At the close of the early signing period, Gus Malzahn said UCF had about 10 scholarship spots left and they've since added three commits (Koby Perry, Terrence Lewis, KD McDaniel) so I'm assuming that means seven spots left (give or take). UCF doesn't have to use all the spots now on spring enrollees as they could hold back some spots for late spring/summer transfers or maybe a high school player that didn't sign early.
Here's a look at the visitors expected on campus this weekend. Please keep in the Dungeon unless the players make their visits public.
Ole Miss QB John Rhys Plumlee
The speedy quarterback from Mississippi looks like the perfect fit for Gus Malzahn's offense. Plumlee made waves as a freshman in 2019, starting eight games at quarterback and becoming a viral highlight sensation for his athletic moves. Against No. 1 LSU that season, Plumlee set the Rebels' single-game quarterback rushing record with 212 yards while scoring four touchdowns.
Matt Corral started at QB the past two seasons, coinciding with Lane Kiffin's arrival in Oxford as head coach, prompting Plumlee to move to WR though he was still engaged in QB meetings.
UCF has been considered the favorite, though Missouri was said to be making a late push.
The Hattiesburg, Miss. native (Oak Grove HS) would have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
John Rhys Plumlee - Football - Ole Miss Athletics
John Rhys Plumlee (10) WR - CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • 2019 True Freshman All-America (247Sports) • 2019 Freshman All-America Second Team
olemisssports.com
Virginia OL Ryan Swoboda
A right tackle, Swoboda started every game he played for Virginia the past two seasons (all 10 starts in 2020, 11 of 12 games started in 2021; he missed one game with a minor injury). He earned a very respectable PFF grade of 70.3 in 2021, including a high mark of 86.3 for his game against Miami.
A native of Clermont, Swoboda graduated from Windermere Prep in the 2017 class. He has one season of eligibility remaining as a "Super Senior."
He is said to have a visit to Miami next weekend.
Ryan Swoboda
virginiasports.com
East Tennessee State OL Tre'Mond Shorts
Shorts, whose primary spot has been left tackle, earned a spot on three FCS All-American lists following the season as well as the Southern Conference First Team. He ended his ETSU career with 40 consecutive starts. His PFF grade was 84.6 for the 2021 season, an excellent mark.
Shorts was a member of the 2017 recruiting class, graduating from Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Ga. He has one season of eligibility remaining as a "Super Senior."
Nebraska is also in the mix and he has a visit scheduled there next week.
Football | Roster | Official Site of East Tennessee State Athletics
Official Site of East Tennessee State Athletics
Auburn WR Kobe Hudson
Hudson was Auburn's leading wide receiver in 2021 with 44 catches for 580 yards and four touchdowns. Details for why he's leaving Auburn aren't clear, though it appears there could have been a clash with Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin given the wording of Hudson's social media posts. Hudson later clarified and said he was kicked off the team.
Though UCF is bringing in three high school wide receivers (Quan Lee, Tyler Griffin, Xavier Townsend), the Knights could use some experience in the wake of Titus Mokiao-Atimalala's recent exodus to the portal.
Recruited by Gus in the Class of 2020, Hudson attended Troup County High School in LaGrange, Ga. He would have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Hudson is said to begin his visit on Saturday.
Kobe Hudson - Football - Auburn University Athletics
Kobe Hudson (5) Wide Receiver - 2021: .): Leading receiver this season with 44 catches for 580 yards, 4 TD … scored his first career touchdown against Akron, a
auburntigers.com
***
Prior Commitments Visiting/Moving In:
Maryland LB Terrence Lewis
Lewis, a five-star prospect in the Class of 2021, announced his transfer commitment to UCF on Monday.
The former Miami (Fla.) Central star enrolled early at Maryland last year, but did not play this past season while recovering from ACL surgery. The knee injury was actually incurred during his senior season and not discovered until he arrived to College Park. He underwent surgery last January.
He was a big-time get considering UCF's lack of depth at linebacker, exacerbated by Tatum Bethune's recent departure to FSU.
UCFSports - Former five-star LB Terrence Lewis commits to UCF
Linebacker Terrence Lewis, a five-star prospect in the Class of 2021, announced his transfer commitment to UCF.
ucf.rivals.com
Austin Peay DB Koby Perry
Perry, a safety, dominated this past season at Austin Peay with 85 tackles, eight of those for a loss, one sack, two interceptions and three pass breakups. He was an FCS All-American, the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top FCS defensive player.
Perry, who is from Covington, Ga., began his career at Dodge City Community College, leading his team in tackles as a sophomore. He then signed with Troy, redshirting in 2019 but did not play. He spent the past two seasons at Austin Peay and will have one year of eligibility remaining due to the extra COVID year.
UCFSports - Koby Perry ready to shine at UCF
Koby Perry was one of the best players at the FCS level. Now the Austin Peay transfer will look to make his mark at UCF
ucf.rivals.com
***
UCF Transfer Commitments (all expected to start classes next week):
OT Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) - 2 years left
DB Koby Perry (Austin Peay) - 1 year left
LB Terrence Lewis (Maryland) - 4 years left
LB KD McDaniel (Kentucky) - 3 years left
Grable and McDaniel visited in December.
***
Terrence Lewis is posting to IG video from tonight's uniform try-on:
Story grabs:
View attachment TLewisVisit01.mp4
View attachment TLewisVisit02.mp4
