SIGNING DAY ROUNDUP: Meet UCF's first Big 12 class for December early window

The final week of UCF's first signing period as a Power Five program resulted in some truly astounding shifts in momentum.

Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey departed for North Carolina, and defensive coordinator Travis Williams accepted the same position at Arkansas. Head coach Gus Malzahn promoted Addison Williams to fill the vacancy on defense, though the search continues for Lindsey's replacement.

On the recruiting front, the dramatic changes had a fairly minimal effect. Losing four-star twin linebackers Andrew and Michael Harris, both recruited by Travis Williams, was obviously a significant blow. The pair committed to the Knights in July over Maryland and Michigan State.

However, Malzahn's staff kept a number of other high-profile prep prospects on board and completed several significant flips for good measure.

Let's meet the Knights' high school and junior college signees, listed in alphabetical order. For additions, and losses, via the NCAA's transfer portal, check out our Transfer Tracker.

For print, all signings confirmed before 11:30 a.m. are included below:

Kaven Call

Commitment date: Dec. 25, 2021

School: Apopka

Position: Defensive end

Height/Weight: 6-3, 245

Buzz: The Knights' first commit, occurring way back on Christmas Day last year, Call played a major role in the Blue Darters' trip to the FHSAA Class 4M title game. He led Apopka with nine sacks, chipping in a further nine tackles for loss. Call is a consensus three-star recruit, though Rivals has him rated slightly higher (four stars, No. 23 weakside defensive end in the nation).

Johnathan Cline

Commitment date: Aug. 20, 2022

School: Cartersville (Ga.)

Position: Interior offensive line

Height/Weight: 6-4, 290

Buzz: Cline made three visits in the summer — to East Carolina, Memphis and Miami, respectively — but UCF re-entered the picture early in the fall. He committed in August, and used his official visit the following month for the Georgia Tech game. Cline earned All-Region, first-team honors for the second consecutive season, per Georgia High School Football Daily, and is the No. 77 interior offensive line prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings.

Keyon Cox

Commitment date: Dec. 20, 2022

School: Phenix City (Ala.) Central

Position: Offensive tackle

Height/Weight: 6-5, 275

Buzz: Cox narrowed down his choices Monday to UCF, Memphis, South Alabama and UAB. He took an official visit back in June and remained in the picture, though the Knights had previously accepted a commitment from Brunswick (Ga.)'s Jamal Meriweather, who has since flipped to Georgia. That left a vacancy for a high school offensive tackle. Cox, the No. 128 tackle in the country and No. 59 athlete in Alabama per 247Sports, helped Central rush for 2,593 yards and 32 touchdowns this season.

Jason Duclona

Commitment date: Nov. 21, 2022

School: Estero

Position: Athlete

Height/Weight: 6-1, 175

Buzz: Duclona flipped his commitment to UCF from Rutgers last month and was among the official visitors for the weekend of Dec. 9-11. Listed as an athlete in 247Sports' database, Duclona will play defensive back for the Knights. He had a stellar two-way season for Estero, leading the Wildcats in all receiving categories (24 catches, 554 yards, seven touchdowns) and chipping in 21 solo tackles with two interceptions.

Troy Ford Jr.

Commitment date: March 22, 2022

School: Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day

Position: Linebacker

Height/Weight: 6-2, 215

Buzz: Ford stuck with the Knights despite the exit of defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Travis Williams, initially choosing the Knights over Arkansas, Auburn, Missouri and South Carolina. Selected to the All-State first team as a junior by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ford made 79 total tackles with eight TFLs for a star-studded Calvary Day squad that went 11-1.

Braeden Marshall

Commitment date: July 30, 2022

School: Lake Mary

Position: Defensive back

Height/Weight: 5-11, 185

Buzz: Auburn made a late push for Marshall, who grew up a Tigers fan, but he instead held firm with UCF. He'll be a key piece in new defensive coordinator Addison Williams' scheme in the years to come, with the versatility to play slot corner and safety. Marshall trained extensively at UCF's fieldhouse over the summer with current players under the leadership of Drico Johnson, a former Knights' cornerback. Marshall also considered Nebraska, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin.

Ja'Maric Morris

Commitment date: Dec. 19, 2022

School: Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College

Position: Defensive back

Height/Weight: 6-2, 205

Buzz: A native of Timmonsville, S.C., Morris shined as Hutchinson reached the NJCAA national championship game. He snagged five interceptions, broke up six passes and registered two sacks and 3.5 TFLs in 10 games. Morris collected 21 Division I offers and chose the Knights after spending this past weekend in Orlando. He's the No. 12 JUCO player in the country, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Isaiah Nixon

Commitment date: Dec. 21, 2022

School: Lakewood

Position: Edge rusher

Height/Weight: 6-4, 215

Buzz: This had been bubbling under the surface for the last week or so, but UCF was able to win Nixon back from Florida after a summertime flip. Nixon originally committed to the Knights during the team's spring game on April 16 and told On3 Sports' Hayes Fawcett, "I had a way better relationship with the coaches than Florida, and I wanted to play my freshman year." Nixon, a consensus four-star recruit who had 20 TFLs and 13 sacks at Lakewood this season, will be utilized as an outside linebacker in the Knights' scheme.

Tyree Patterson

Commitment date: Dec. 19, 2022

School: Eustis

Position: Wide receiver

Height/Weight: 6-2, 175

Buzz: UCF continued its pursuit of Patterson throughout the year, despite the receiver's initial commitment to Florida in April. He left the Gators' signing class last week, and the Knights swooped in before National Signing Day. He's a big-play threat, exemplified by his junior numbers (20.3 yards per catch 13 TDs). Patterson is the nephew of former UCF cornerback and return specialist Joe Burnett, selected to the university's Athletics Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Randy Pittman

Commitment date: Oct. 8, 2022

School: Mosley

Position: Tight end

Height/Weight: 6-3, 225

Buzz: Pittman, formerly a Florida State commit, bonded with UCF's coaching staff on a solo official visit in mid-June. Mosley utilized Pittman not only as a receiver but as a short-yardage running back. He had a team-high seven rushing touchdowns for the Dolphins, in addition to team-highs in receptions (48) and receiving yards (704) plus a further six TD catches. 247Sports ranks Pittman 36th among tight ends.

Grant Reddick

Commitment date: July 27, 2022

School: Boone

Position: Kicker/Punter

Height/Weight: 5-10, 190

Buzz: Not often do specialists land full scholarship offers, but UCF wanted to keep one of the top-rated kickers in the country close to home. Kohl's Kicking Camps rated Reddick the No. 3 placekicker earlier this year, and he made 3 of 5 field goal attempts for Boone as well as all 24 PATs this fall. UCF made major changes in the kicking game before the end of September, elevating Colton Boomer and Mitch McCarthy into starting roles. Ryker Casey handled kickoff duties. Expect competition for all those spots to remain open entering the spring.

Dylan Rizk

Commitment date: April 21, 2022

School: Cardinal Gibbons

Position: Quarterback

Height/Weight: 6-2, 200

Buzz: Rizk hoisted an FHSAA state championship trophy as a junior, his first season at Cardinal Gibbons. He followed it up with a solid senior campaign, completing 64% of his passes for 1,987 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushing for another 323 yards and five scores. Rizk's stock rose significantly over the last year, and he is ranked 47th among QBs, per 247Sports.

Andrew Rumph

Commitment date: Dec. 20, 2022

School: Palmetto

Position: Defensive line

Height/Weight: 6-6, 285

Buzz: UCF sought to add depth in the defensive trenches in the final days of December and struck it big (literally) with Rumph, who also considered Indiana, Maryland, Miami and UAB. Rumph commands double teams, yet still produced 44 total tackles (16 solo), 12 TFLs and four sacks. Rumph used his last official visit for UCF, spending last weekend in the Bounce House.

John Walker

Commitment date: July 28, 2022

School: Osceola

Position: Defensive line

Height/Weight: 6-3, 310

Buzz: This is, almost inarguably, UCF's greatest recruiting victory ever. Walker fielded nearly three-dozen Division I offers, officially visited Michigan, Miami and Ohio State in the summer and had Florida angling to flip him all the way through mid-December. Yet, he committed to the Knights and stuck with it, already participating in practices ahead of next week's Military Bowl. Walker is one of the best defensive linemen in the country and a fringe top-100 recruit. He totaled 46 solo tackles, 16 TFLs, nine sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles as Osceola reached the Class 4S Final Four.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: National signing day: UCF welcomes first group of Big 12 recruits