UCF’s 0-3 start has had effects all around the program. Perhaps more alarmingly, the effect on recruiting could be the worst part of the slow start.
The college football season is always on.
Every little thing could be what tips a recruit to another school or to your school. Everything from gear, facilities, game atmosphere, wins — it all plays a factor.
UCF’s 0-3 start could not be more of a disaster then, especially as UCF tries to set a foundation for the program long term and build off back-to-back conference championships. Injuries might be out of their control, but the way the Knights play and the way the coaches interact with recruits during their biggest struggles say a lot.
And right now, they are not saying a lot.
Osceola cornerback Carlos Becker told Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel that UCF’s performance on and off the field Saturday was pathetic:
“It was pathetic.
“[Secondary coach Travis Fisher] told me to stay after the game and then he just flaked on me. He tells me to come to the game and he’ll talk to me, and I didn’t even get to see him.
“I just thought they didn’t like me. I felt unwanted, like no one even knew me.”
Becker, according to 247Sports.com, has interest from several schools including UCF. He was not seriously considering UCF, Hays reports, but this incident certainly is not going to win the Knigths any favors from the three-star local product.
UCF was already facing some difficulties after quarterback Sawyer Smith flipped his commitment from UCF to Troy. With the quarterback situation at the moment, maybe that is understandable. There may not be room on the depth chart for another two or three years with true freshman Bo Schneider in the mix to start in Justin Holman’s stead.
With George O’Leary’s future very much in question, there is plenty of ammunition for teams looking to swoop in or fighting off UCF for recruits’ attention.
Not all will change. Hays spoke to Tampa Wharton wide receiver DeVontres Dukes who expressed some disappointment in UCF’s start but no change in his opinion of the school or the coaching staff. His recruiting still seems pretty open despite his public commitment.
The Knights have five commitments already. There are certainly lots of other players UCF is still targeting and has sent offers to. As a middling program, the Knights are not going to rack up a ton of recruits. They may be fighting for some scraps.
In that fight, the uninspired way the team is playing and especially the losses cannot be sitting well.
