UCF's first commits - A look back at the last 20 recruiting classes
Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard safety B.J. Crim became the earliest commit in UCF history this past weekend when he pledged during an unofficial visit to campus.
As Scott Frost and staff look to build the rest of the 2018 class, Crim will have the badge of being the first, an honor last year that went to running back Otis Anderson.
So who else has been No. 1 in years past? Here's a look back at UCF's past 20 recruiting classes and the players who were the first to jump on board.
1999 - OL Taylor Robertson - Kingston, Ontario
UCF has had a handful of productive Canadian players through the years with Taylor Robertson being the first. He committed during UCF's 9-2 season in 1998 and enrolled in January 1999. A converted tight end, Robertson earned a starting guard position and was named to the All-MAC second team as a senior in 2002. He went on to have a successful nine-year career in the CFL.
UCF's other early enrollees in 1999? Cornerback Travis Fisher and wide receiver Thad Ward, brothers and Tallahassee natives out of Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Fisher, who was one of the top JUCO recruits at the time, had a big UCF career that transitioned into the NFL. He coaches UCF's secondary today. Ward is currently on staff at Illinois.
2000 - (RB Gerard Jackson - Palm Bay, Fla.), QB Jon Rivera - Perth Amboy, N.J.
In the early part of this century, at least for UCF, gaining a summer commitment was more of the exception than the rule. Palm Bay running back Gerard Jackson bucked that trend when he committed to the Knights in June 1999. Unfortunately for UCF, Jackson had academic issues that prevented him from enrolling. Quarterback Jon Rivera, who committed in July 1999, ranks as the earliest commit who did make into school. He saw mostly time as a backup during his career, but did start several games in 2003 after Ryan Schneider was suspended.
2001 - OL Jeff Harper - Palm Bay (Fla.)
Standing in at a massive 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds, Palm Bay offensive lineman Jeff Harper committed to UCF in the summer prior to his senior season with a hope that he would develop into a standout tackle. Unfortunately, he was never able to fully rebound after suffering an ACL tear in his first spring practice in 2002.
2002 - DE Chris Welsh - Cocoa (Fla.)
Welsh had been an early target, offered in the summer before his senior year and eventually committing that October. Following a redshirt year, Welsh would go on to enjoy a successful four-year career, first under Mike Kruczek and then George O'Leary. He was a team captain in 2006, earning All-Conference USA honorable mention honors with 33 tackles, four sacks and seven tackles for loss.
2003- WR Chris Narsesian - Winter Springs, Fla.
A year after signing Brandon Marshall, Narsesian was UCF's next target at Lake Howell High School. He had first committed to Pittsburgh in the early summer before deciding to flip to UCF in July, which was around the time he decided to play his senior season at Winter Springs. His UCF career never got going. He redshirted his first year and tore his ACL the following spring, never returning to the team.
2004 - OL Dominic Ignelzi - Port St. Lucie (Fla.) West Centennial / DB Augustus Ashley - Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast
George O'Leary's first recruiting class came together in just a few short weeks in January 2004. That haul included future NFL players such as Josh Sitton and Leger Douzable, which was remarkable since nearly every player signed was mostly overlooked by others (Sitton and Douzable for instance had zero I-A offers). As for the first commits, both Ignelzi and Ashley committed at the conclusion of the first visit weekend, so it's unclear who beat who to the punch. They saw mostly reserve action in the seasons to follow.
2005 - LB T.J. Harnden - Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln
Harden, who overcame a difficult childhood, became one of UCF's locker room leaders during his five years on campus though his on-field action was limited. He was the first football player to receive UCF's "Order of the Pegasus," which is the school's highest student award recognizing academics, leadership and community service.
2006 - LB DaQuwan McNealy - Mount Dora, Fla.
UCF was the first offer for the Mount Dora linebacker, who committed shortly before his senior season. He redshirted his first year, then the following summer saw his football career prematurely end after blood pressure and heart issues were discovered after he fainted using a leg-press machine.
2007 - TE Jake Goray - Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) Choctawhatchee
Jake Goray (and Ereck Plancher) enrolled early in 2007, turning down offers from Houston, FIU, Louisiana-Lafayette and Middle Tennessee. Goray redshirted his first season and then never saw game action in his subsequent two years on the team.
2008 - DE Robert Pritchard - Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett
Pritchard committed in the summer of 2007 when he received his first offer from UCF. He never saw game action in his four years on the team. In the summer of 2012, Pritchard suffered a massive stroke. The road to recovery was arduous, but three years later in 2015 he was able to walk across the stage to accept his master's degree in criminal justice.
2009 - (OL Evan Swindall - LaFayette, Ga.) / CB Corey Ammons - Miami (Fla.) Archbishop Carroll
Evan Swindall of LaFayette, Ga., was the first to commit in May of 2008 but he would eventually flip to Ole Miss. He had a very successful career for the Rebels, starting at center from his sophomore through senior seasons. The second commit that cycle was Corey Ammons, a cornerback from Miami. His time at UCF was brief as he spent just one semester in Orlando before transferring to FIU. He didn't appear to last long at FIU either as he later ended up at a junior college in New York. It's not clear if he played football after that.
2010 - LB Cody Ralston - Calhoun, Ga.
Ralston of Calhoun, Ga., committed in March 2009 after attending the junior day. He saw limited action in four years on the team, including the Fiesta Bowl season of 2013. He did earn Scout Team Player of the Week honors prior to the USF game in 2013.
2011 - LB Willie Mitchell - Deltona (Fla.) Pine Ridge
Mitchell committed in March 2010 just as his recruitment was beginning to heat up, USF and Wake Forest being among his other early offers. He was mostly a reserve contributor his first two years and appeared poised for a bigger role as a junior in 2013, but saw his season curtailed due to a team suspension. He worked his way back and returned in 2014, recording four tackles in 11 game appearances.
2012 - WR Taylor Oldham - Daytona Beach (Fla.) Warner Christian
Oldham turned UCF coaches' heads during a standout camp performance in the summer of 2011, earning an offer while drawing comparisons to J.J. Worton. He committed shortly thereafter. He played behind some great receivers in his early years, then had injury issues before breaking through in 2016 as a redshirt senior with 35 catches, 366 yards and a touchdown. His best game was at UConn, catching four passes for 72 yards, which helped the Knights secure the road victory.
2013 - RB Micah Reed - Crestview, Fla.
Reed was one of the more heralded recruits of UCF's 2013 class, committing over a host of schools that included Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Louisville, Mississippi State and others. UCF signed two other running backs that year, Will Stanback and Dontravious Wilson, and Reed became entrenched as the third option at best, prompting him to transfer to Kennesaw State for his final two years of eligibility. His top moment at UCF came late in 2014, when both Stanback and Wilson were injured, as he rushed for 112 yards in a win against SMU.
2014 - RB C.J. Jones - Daytona Beach (Fla.) Atlantic
Jones, who committed early over FAU, South Alabama, Troy and Western Michigan, redshirted his first year and then saw extensive action during the winless campaign of 2015, making seven starts and leading the team with 93 carries and 339 yards, the high point being a 123-yard performance in the Cincinnati game. Jones saw early action in 2016, which included a touchdown run against FIU, but did not play after the Oct. 1 game at East Carolina.
2015 - WR Cam Stewart - Snellville (Ga.) Shiloh
Stewart, who committed in April 2014, had offers that included Georgia Tech, Indiana and Pittsburgh. Nebraska too, and he visited there during the season but remained committed to the Knights. He was thrown into action as a true freshman in 2015, seeing 11 catches spread over eight games, and became a primary part of the wide receiving corps this past season with 18 catches for 172 yards.
2016 - (WR Phil Benker - Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood), WR Dontay Mayfield - Miami (Fla.) Gulliver Prep
Phil Benker of Jacksonville committed to UCF following a spring visit in March 2015, but reversed course in June when he flipped to Indiana (he redshirted there this past season). The earliest commit to make it into school was Dontay Mayfield, who was the only recruit Scott Frost signed in his first class that had initially committed to the previous staff. Mayfield, who had a long list of offers that included Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, NC State, Rutgers, USF, Syracuse, Virginia and Wisconsin, redshirted this past season.
2017 - RB Otis Anderson - Jacksonville (Fla.) University Christian
The Class of 2017 was the first full recruiting cycle for Frost with Anderson being the first to jump on board, committing last March 17 over offers that included Virginia, Washington State, Northwestern, Illinois and Purdue. He was solid the entire way, graduating high school early and enrolling at UCF this past January.
2018 - S B.J. Crim - Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard
Attending the alma mater of UCF quarterback legend Daunte Culpepper, Brim kickstarted the 2018 class with a Feb. 18 commit during an unofficial visit. Troy and Ohio were other early offers, though Florida, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Iowa State, Tulane and Missouri were among those closely monitoring him.