UCF Football National Signing Day Coverage

Check out Ryan’s interview with UCFSports.com‘s Brandon Helwig previewing National Signing Day for UCF yesterday on his weekly radio show, The Sports Report with Ryan Bass:

Here’s an updating list of the athletes that have signed their letters of intent to play for the Knights:

*** NOTE: FOR MOST RECENT COMMITMENTS AND NEWS, SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE ***

7:00 A.M. – Terran Buck (LB, 6-2, 235, College of DuPage, Aurora, [ILL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Enrolled at UCF in Spring of 2010. Chose UCF over Kent State. Attended College of DuPage Junior College and finished his sophomore season with 118 total tackles, 69 solo stops, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and five forced fumbles.

7:00 A.M. – Ray Cottman (LB, 6-2, 225, Glendale CC, Tucson, [AZ]) Rivals rating: **

• Signed with UCF in December for the Spring. He was recruited mainly by new UCF defensive coordinator John Skladany. At Glendale in 2010, Cottman recorded 80 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He was a stud his first season at Glendale, racking up 47 tackles and two sacks.

7:00 A.M. – Joey Grant (DE, 6-4, 245, Lake Brantley, Apopka [FL]) Rivals rating: **

• Enrolled mid-year at UCF. Committed on July 8. Chose UCF over Colorado State, Navy and East Carolina. As a senior, Grant finished with 60 tackles, 42 solo stops, 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

7:00 A.M. Cam Henderson (DE, 6-5, 260, Shades Valley, Birmingham [AL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Teammate of Toby Jackson’s in junior college. Will not officially enroll at UCF until the summer. He chose UCF over Iowa State, Baylor, USF, Arizona, Texas Tech, UAB. He was a four-star prospect and originally signed with Auburn out of Shades Valley and redshirted his lone season with the Tigers.

7:00 A.M. – Toby Jackson (DE, 6-5, 265, Navarro JC, Griffin [GA]) Rivals rating: ****

• Signed with UCF in December. Regarded as UCF’s highest-rated recruit in the 2011 class. Jackson is the No. 12 overall prospect on Rivals.com 2011 Junior College Top 50. He chose UCF over Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas Tech, North Carolina, Southern Miss and USF. In 2009, he had 33 total tackles, 12 solo, six tackles for loss and a sack.

7:00 A.M. – Jose Jose (DT, 6-3, 330, Eastern Arizona College, Miami, [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Former teammate of UCF QB Jeff Godfrey at Miami Central High School. Signed with UCF last season, but was released from his scholarship after an off-the-field issue.

7:00 A.M. – Justin Tukes (TE, 6-5, 230, Worth County, Sylvester [GA]) Rivals rating: **

• Enrolled mid-year at UCF. Tukes chose UCF over Louisville, UAB, Georgia State and Jacksonville State. He was named an all-region and all-metro as a senior, recording 16 catches as a senior for 198 yards with three touchdowns.

7:05 A.M. – Breshad Perriman (WR, 6-2, 180, Arabia Mountain, Lithonia [GA]) Rivals rating: **

• The son of former NFL wide receiver Brett Perriman, the speedster out of Georgia was the MVP of the Elite One Performance Football Camp during his tenure at Arabia Mountain. Perriman timed with a 4.4, 40-yard dash and 36-inch vertical leap. He chose UCF over interest from Miami, Florida State, Cincinnati, FIU and Wyoming.

7:10 A.M. – Tarik Cook (C, 6-3, 294, Stephenson, Stone Mountain [GA]) Rivals rating: ***

• Committed to UCF on June 17. Cook chose UCF over offers from UConn, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, USF and Middle Tennessee. He’s rated rated No. 9 nationally by ESPN, No. 11 by Scout and No. 12 by Rivals at the center position.

7:13 A.M. – Kevin Miller (TE, 6-4, 241, Holy Cross, Delran [NJ]) Rivals rating: ***

• Miller chose UCF over scholarship offers Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia and Akron. He committed on July 8. In 2010, he had 25 receptions, 550 yards receiving, eight touchdowns en route to first team all-conference, all-county, All-South Jersey and all-state. One of his receptions for a touchdown as a 96-yarder against Burlington Township High School.

7:35 A.M. – Demetris Anderson (DT, 6-2, 285, Westwood, Ft. Pierce [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Anderson recorded 63 tackles, seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and two pass break-ups as a senior at Westwood. He was ranked the No. 44 player at his position according to Rivals.com.

7:35 A.M. – Troy Gray (LB, 6-1, 220, North Cobb, Kennesaw, [GA]) Rivals rating: ***

• Chose UCF over schools like Arkansas, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Virginia, Syracuse, Illinois. In 2010, he finished his senior season with 119 tackles and three sacks. Rivals listed him as the No. 56 outside linebacker, while ESPN has him at No. 62.

7:35 A.M. – Terrance Plummer (LB, 6-1, 225, Orange Park, Orange Park [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• In his senior year at Orange Park, Plummer amassed over 110 tackles, five sacks, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. For three years, he led his team in tackles. Committed on Jan 21 to UCF. He’s listed as the No. 70 OLB by ESPN.

7:35 A.M. – Dalton Wertz (DT, 6-1, 295, DeSoto County, Arcadia, [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Strong kid that can bench over 400 pounds and squat 500 pounds. Recorded 64 tackles, seven sacks and a spot on the all-area team during his senior season.

7:56 A.M. – UPDATE: UCF targets DaMarcus Smith (Fri) and Leilon Willingham (Thu) (information is at bottom of post) will not announce today.

8:00 A.M. – Jacques Mackelroy (WR, 6-0, 200, Kathleen, Lakeland [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• As a senior, he recorded 42 receptions for 510 yards and five touchdowns. Mackelroy selected UCF over scholarship offers from Boston College, Louisville, NC State, Purdue, Tennessee, West Virginia, Middle Tennessee and FAU. ESPN rates him the No. 58 wide receiver nationally, while Scout lists him at No. 125.

8:00 A.M. – Thomas Niles (DT, 6-2, 260, Gainesville, Gainesville [GA]) Rivals rating: ***

• He was coached by former UCF DE Bruce Miller at Gainesville. Niles chose UCF over scholarship offers from Arkansas, NC State, Tennessee, FIU. In his senior year, he had 85 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles. He was just as good his junior season, recording 75 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles and six tackles for loss.

8:00 A.M. – Jeremy Davis (CB, 6-0, 170, Milford Academy, Cape Coral [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Originally was headed to the Miami Hurricanes, then committed to UCF.

8:00 A.M. – Mike Easton (S, 6-0, 180, Winter Haven, Winter Haven [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Committed to UCF on June 14. In his junior season, he recorded 80 tackles and four interceptions. He was primarily recruited by Charlie Taaffe.

8:10 A.M. – Jared Henry (S, 6-1, 190, First Coast, Jacksonville [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Originally was headed to South Carolina. He will play all four special teams positions, according to UCF coaching stafff.

8:30 A.M. – Deion Greene (DE, 6-3, 220, Edgewater, Orlando [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• ESPN rated him as the No. 91 defensive end nationally, Greene is a local product who comes with a big body on defense for UCF. He chose UCF over Texas Tech, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Rutgers and USF. “High motor guy and energy player. Reminds me of Bruce Miller. – Jim Panagos, UCF Assistant Coach.

8:54 A.M. – UPDATE: Per UCFSports.com twitter – No UCF hat at the Lamar Dawson announcement? Just seeing UT, UK, USC, Oregon hats.

8:52 A.M. – Kentorious Jackson (DB, 6-2, 198, Georgia Military College, Griffin [GA]) Rivals rating: ***

• Brother of Toby Jackson. Last season at Georgia Military College, Jackson had 30 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. “He’s a pretty verastile player…I think he will fit in nicely with our scheme” – UCF DC John Skladany.

8:58 A.M. – Bruce Dukes (CB, 5-10, 185, Sandy Creek, Tyrone [GA]) Rivals rating: ***

• He tied for the fifth-fastest time at the Atlanta MVP camp last April. Was recruited by Auburn, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Cincinnati and Indiana. He committed to UCF on January 24. He was rated No. 48 nationally by ESPN, No. 57 by Rivals and No. 63 by Scout. In his senior season in 2010, Dukes had six interceptions, four of them were returned for touchdowns, two punt returns for touchdowns, 67 tackles, two sacks and one touchdown reception.

9:27 A.M. Cedrick Thompson (RB, 6-0, 207, Everglades, Mirimar [FL]) Rivals rating: **

• He chose UCF over offers from Kansas State, FAU, Illinois, Western Illinois and Southern Illinois. Last season, Thompson rushed for 800 yards on 155 carries for 16 touchdowns. ESPN lists him at No. 156 nationally at the running back position, while Scout has him at No. 168. His brother, Courtney, is a defensive back at Kansas State. “He’s going to be a 220-plus pound back with us. We are very excited to have him in the program.” – George Godsey, UCF RB coach.

9:50 A.M. – UPDATE: Georige LB Eddie Johson picks Miami over UCF

9:55 A.M. – Willie Mitchell (LB, 6-1, 230, Pine Ridge, Deltona [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Good speed with a 4.5 40 time as a linebacker. Selected to play for the Knights over offers from USF, Wake Forest, Marshall and FIU. He recorded an astounding 123 tackles and five sacks as a senior at Pine Ridge. “We are very excited to have him on board…he wants to basically destroy the guy carrying the ball” – Sean Beckton, UCF DB Coach.

10:22 A.M. – Brandon Bragg (S, 6-1, 190, University, Orlando [FL]) Rivals rating: **

• The local native signed with UCF over Northwestern, Marshall and FIU. He signed with UCF on June 7. Rated No. 135 nationally by ESPN at the safety position.

11:03 A.M. – Rannell Hall (WR, 6-2, 175, Carol City, Miami [FL]) Rivals rating: **

• Hall recorded 26 receptions for 357 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. He also participated in the Dade vs. Broward All-Star Game. He joines the Knights over interest from Cincinnati, Connecticut, Duke and New Mexico. His nickname is “Speedy”.

1:24 P.M. – Miles Pace (LB, 6-0, 237, Miami Central, Miami [FL]) Rivals rating: ***

• Committed on January 25. Chose to be a UCF Knight over offers from Clemson, West Virginia, USF and FIU. Recorded 84 tackles, 22 sacks and three forced fumbles as a senior at Miami Central. He was even better as a junior, securing 125 tackles and 20 sacks, nine forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown. Scout lists him as No. 57 for the middle linebacker position nationally, while ESPN ranks him at No. 93.

1:54 P.M. – UPDATE: Per the Orlando Sentinel, Interlachen RB Kion Williams won’t be signing with UCF today due to academic issues, although he still intends to sign with the Knights after his grades raise.

2:02 P.M. – UPDATE: It looks as though Leilon Willingham could be leaning towards the Knights. Check out UCFSports.com (need a dungeon account) for an exclusive photo.

2:04 P.M. – UPDATE: Rayshon Williams has not responded to multiple texts and has yet to sign with the Knights.

EARLIER POST: Here’s what’s to come for Knightnews.com’s coverage of National Signing Day tomorrow:

• Follow Ryan Bass on twitter (www.twitter.com/TSRUCF) for instant updates on when recruits sign with the Knights.
• A bio of each player who signs with UCF.
• Video of head coach George O’Leary’s press conference at 3 p.m.
• Video analysis of recruits from Ryan Bass and Matt Fontana.

Here’s a list of top prospects to keep an eye on to see if they sign their letter of intent to play for UCF:

DaMarcus Smith – (UPDATE 12:12 P.M.: @jdemling Again, nothing firm but hearing DaMarcus Smith to Central Florida from multiple sources. #NSD) Dual-threat quarterback from Louisville Seneca high school in Kentucky. He’s a four-star prospect that’s rated the No. 11 quarterback prospect in the nation. He’s already verbally committed to Louisville, but the Cardinals are very well off at the quarterback position. UCF needs depth at quarterback, having just Jeff Godfrey and Blake Bortles behind center. Smith would provide that as well as an electrifying playmaking ability.

Leilon Willingham – An OLB out of Colorado, Willingham visited UCF this past weekend with teammate Rayson Williams, who ended up committing to UCF. The four-star prospect will make his decision at 9:30 a.m. EST and he could have an immediate impact with the Knights next season.

Lamar Dawson (UPDATE 9:30 A.M.: DAWSON COMMITTED TO SOUTHERN CAL)- The LB and Kentucky native has narrowed his choices to UCF, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oregon and USC. He is the No. 45 prospect in the country and is a big and physical linebacker at 6-2, 230. He’s rated the No. 3 player at his position and No. 1 player in the state of Kentucky. Naturally, Kentucky is said to be the favorite to land Dawson’s services.