UCF had about 50 recruits available Friday night at Knights’ annual spring gameand several local players have expressed interest in possibly playing at the Bounce House one day.
One of the interested spectators was Ethan Pritchard, a standout linebacker at Seminole High who is currently committed to FSU.
“I’m 100% committed, but I’m exploring right now,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard, who is currently ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Sentinel’s 2025 Central Florida Recruiting Rankings, said it’s possible he could consider joining the Seminole pipeline to UCF.
That pipeline has run fairly freely in recent years, bringing in players like new Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Gabe Davis, former cornerback Bam Moore, as well as current players, twin quarterbacks Demari and Ja’Cari Henderson, Gabe’s brother. , tight end Jordan Davis and tight end Bam. brother linebacker Kam Moore for UCF in recent years.
“I could definitely see myself playing here [UCF],” Pritchard said Friday night. “I really like the coach [Ted] Roof and how the linebackers rotate, in general…how they rotate them and everyone gets playing time. I’m really enjoying it.”
The Seminole pipeline is certainly intriguing.
“Of course. There are players here that I played with my freshman year, so it would definitely be a lot of fun to play with them,” Pritchard said.
He said the twins are in his ear often.
“Yeah, they don’t really pressure me or anything like that, but they, you know, put it out there every now and then,” Pritchard said. “They’re always saying, ‘Do you know where your house is,’ stuff like that. …but they don’t really pressure me.”
He said staying close to home is certainly appealing.
“Yes, I want everyone in my family to see me play.”
Some other top targets for the Knights are two 2026 linebackers, Apopka’s Kingston Shaw and Ocoee’s Michael McClenton.
Shaw, with his size at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds and growing, will likely end up as a tight end in college and has the speed and athleticism to play anywhere on the defensive edges, whether at defensive end or outside linebacker. .
“I’m really enjoying UCF,” Shaw said. “It’s nice, close to home, a good atmosphere and I have some former teammates that I played with who are now at UCF.
Players like second-year defensive end Kaven Call and cornerback Nikai Martinez.
“Yeah, Kaven has been saying things like, ‘So, you’re coming to UCF?’ Shaw laughed. “I could definitely see myself here [at UCF]. My whole family could come. It would be really cool.”
Shaw missed two games last year but had 56 tackles, six tackles per game. He’s just a blip on the recruiting radar, but he’s sure to explode soon and be Apopka’s next big star.
“Recruiting is going really well right now and is poised to pick up in the spring,” Shaw said. “The first thing, in general [coaches say] I passed the eye test. They like my size, my speed, the way I play on the field.
“I’m really looking forward to next season. I’m really going to have to become a leader. We have a very good schedule and we play a lot of difficult reams. I feel very confident, though.”
Being the Darters’ next big thing might put pressure on Shaw’s shoulders, but he shrugs it off.
“It’s not really pressure when you’re confident,” Shaw said. “I’ve been prepared for this by previous people, so I’ve just developed as a leader. It’s really just passing the baton. And that.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound McClenton has not yet been offered by UCF, but is certainly interested in staying home. He said of all the schools he would consider, UCF is at the top of his list.
Despite averaging 20 tackles per game, easily an Ocoee record, McClenton isn’t on most recruiting boards’ radar. His size will hinder him a bit as he tries to get attention, and this lack of attention can sometimes be confusing, if not frustrating.
McClenton, however, says frustrated is not a word that describes him.
“As long as you trust God, he knows when my time will come and will let me know when that time comes,” said McClenton, who received a Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offer from Marshall. “Right now I’m just a little kid and that’s why a lot of schools ignore me, but at the end of the day, what matters is who plays football… who makes the plays.
“Once they realize that, my recruitment will increase.”
He said he could see himself playing at UCF and that it would be nice to stay home, but being close to home won’t determine his decision.
“It’s important, but it’s not a necessity. I really like [UCF] and I really like the coaches and the way they showed me love,” McClenton said. “I like the way they play, their linebackers and their defensive scheme, and their coaching staff, the way they show recruits and love for me and my family. …and how they are together as a family.”
Chris Hays covers high school and college football as well as college football recruiting. It can be found in X @OS_ChrisHays. He can be reached by email at chays@orlandosentinel.com.
