Since Gus Malzahn took over, the UCF Knights have drawn a lot of interest from the surrounding area, which has aided in their rise to prominence. As a result, notable figures like Carl “CJ” Jenkins Jr. have started to recognize UCF as unique.
On his first day in Orlando, UCF head coach Gus Malzahn promised the media that he and his staff will “build something special at this place,” beginning with attracting elite recruiting from the surrounding area to campus. In an effort to keep the top local athletes close to home and firmly establish the Knights as a Big Four program in
Florida, he stated that the first step in that process is to create a 100-mile radius that stretches up to Jacksonville and across to Tampa. It is safe to conclude that college football is getting closer to being a reality given the program’s early-cycle ranking in the top fifteen for recruiting in the class of 2025 and the reorganization of the power league system.
Due to its increasing player appeal, UCF has been able to outperform other elite institutions in recent cycles for players like John Walker, Jaylen Heyward, and Kylan Fox. Carl “CJ” Jenkins, a wide receiver for 3 Star St. Augustine High School (Fla.), is another player who has attracted interest from major universities around the nation. He has made a name for himself as one of Florida’s best outside receiver prospects, combining elite skills with deep threat ability when going after the catch.
Jenkins told me he has been in contact with Arkansas, Louisville, Mississippi State, South Florida, Syracuse, and UCF the most when I had the chance to ask him about which colleges stand out in his recruiting process. “They’ve just been building a relationship because I feel like relationship goes real long ways in recruiting,” he told Knights247 when asked why certain colleges have stuck out. I’ve been concentrating on developing those relationships because I know that I will make informed decisions when the time comes.
I am certain of my choice and have faith in it. Therefore, as of right now, I think the relationships are just really great in terms of recruitment. See who truly mistreats me, who truly is being truthful with me and the program, and it’s just genuinely displaying the greatest affection.”