Bargnare: Family and fun the focus of UCF visit
Jaquarius Bargnare was blown away during his weekend official visit to UCF.
The Dr. Phillips speedster was already in the fold, having committed to Scott Frost in December, and says he's even now more excited to be a Knight. That's something he didn't think was even possible.
"The visit actually wasn't what I thought it would be," Bargnare said. "I didn't think it would be as fun as it was. We bonded with a lot of the kids being recruited and the players on the team now. We saw a lot of things. It was just awesome to be there. I didn't think it would be that fun."
Bargnare recapped everything that happened.
"We got there on Friday at like 12 o'clock," Bargnare said. "We checked into the hotel, dropped off our stuff. After that we went around campus. Visited the business school, stuff like that. Talked to a lot of different coaches and got to know the staff. That night we all ate together as a family. We actually ate at the stadium and then went off with our hosts."
That dinner was held inside Bright House Networks Stadium's open-air club area, the Carl Black & Gold Cabana. His host was wide receiver Jordan Franks.
"On Saturday we did more of the school tour and the facility tour," Bargnare said. "We had lunch at Burger U right there in the middle of the city. We got to play basketball with a couple of the boys and had a good time on the court. After that we went to the hotel and got a quick nap, then we went off to the basketball game, UCF vs. ECU. Then we went to Epcot. That was amazing. It was something different. I definitely didn't expect that."
UCF does have some history with the Mouse. Walt Disney World Resort President George Kalogridis is a UCF graduate and he helped to facilitate Magic Kingdom parade after UCF won the Fiesta Bowl.
"The coaches told us on Friday we'd be going to Epcot on Saturday night," Bargnare said. "We got there around 7 and ate dinner there. We saw one of the shows. It was a real nice place. They had a special room for us. Everyone was there - the recruits, our parents, the whole coaching staff. It was a real nice setup. We had some steak, some corn, some real good Italian bread, green beans. Mickey Mouse ice cream. Then after that we were able to walk around and saw the fireworks show. You'd put on these glasses and every time you'd look at the lights Mickey Mouse would pop up."
During Saturday's locker room tour, the visitors did the usual routine of trying on jerseys and posting for pictures. They were told what they'll be wearing in 2016 will be much different though.
"We're getting new jerseys," Bargnare said. "I think there's supposed to be gray ones and white ones? I don't know. But we're getting new jerseys, cleats, all that. Coach Frost came in from Oregon so things are going to be a lot different. He's already said there will be new things so I'm excited for that."
The highlight of the weekend for Bargnare was becoming closer with other members of his incoming freshman class as well as the current players.
"All of us commits actually have a group chat that we're in so we already knew each other," Bargnare said. "We got a couple other boys committed to us today also, Jawon Hamilton and Nate Evans. We all got to bond. Boman (Swanson), Dontay (Mayfield), Malick (Mbodj), all of us. The current players too. When I went on my unofficial visit I had met Nick Patti and Tristan Payton and they remembered us. It was pretty nice meeting some of the boys."
Bargnare said there actually wasn't much talk about football during the visit. The Knights are recruiting him as an offensive athlete that could play a variety of roles, whether it be receiver, running back or return specialist.
"We all spoke with Coach Frost this morning before we left," Bargnare said. "Everything was really more about family and school wise. It wasn't about football. The other visit was more about the football side. Frost was just asking how I felt about everything and how the weekend was for me. He answered any questions I had. I know I've got to come in and put in the work. Nothing is going to be handed to me. I've got to go and work for it, but it's there."
His focus is now set towards National Signing Day, graduation and then late June when he and the other signees will enroll for summer school.
"This weekend solidified a lot," Bargnare said. "I didn't think it would be this fun. I had a great time. I got to spend time with the boys and bond more with the players already there. It was real fun being around the guys. The recruits and the players, everything felt like a family. There's a real love there. UCF is where I really want to be for the next four years."
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