UCF Knights football recruiting: Analyzing Scott Frost’s 2026 class
The UCF Knights have received eight verbal commitments, including from six players from Florida high schools, for their 2026 recruiting class.
Jackson, primarily an offensive player, transitioned to defensive back in 2024 and excelled, earning him the scholarship offer.Jackson is a three-star prospect and ranked the No. 144 overall player in Florida by 247Sports.
ORLANDO — At the start of spring camp, head coach Travis Gabriel issued each of Olympia High’s football players a helmet with their names marked in the back on a piece of masking tape. Only one, rising senior Ja’Cari Jackson, noticed tape on the front as well.
Just above his facemask, in all capital letters, he saw the words “UCF COMMIT.” It’s a label Jackson, an Orlando-area native, wears with pride.
Jackson told Rivals he cried when defensive coordinator Alex Grinch pulled him aside after the team’s April 3 spring practice and informed him that UCF was ready to offer him a scholarship. Two days later, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound athlete made his commitment public.
“I was proud of myself because I’ve been working so hard for three years,” Jackson said. “It was a sigh of relief.”
A longtime friend and former teammate of Knights linebacker commit Michael McClenton at Ocoee, Jackson shined in his debut season at Olympia in a variety of roles. Here are five things to know about one of the upcoming “hometown heroes” of the 2026 recruiting cycle.
1. Ja’Cari Jackson had only 1 offer prior to UCF — from Mercer
Scott Frost’s staff has demonstrated a willingness to recruit outside the box and a lack of concern for star ratings. Jackson did not have a 247Sports profile at the time of his commitment, and he held…
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Publish date : 2025-05-09 09:04:00
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