If UCF and head coach Gus Malzahn are going to be competitive in the Big 12 Conference moving forward, they’ll have to win some in-state recruiting battles.
Like, for example, the one they just won when they got Wellington (Fla.) Palm Beach Central High School wide receiver Waden Charles to flip from the Miami Hurricanes to UCF after Charles decommitted from Miami at the end of May.
Charles, 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, committed to UCF on July 3. Charles is ranked as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.com. He had 53 receptions for 1,067 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2022 in just 10 games. In 2023, he had 30 receptions for 478 yards and 7 touchdowns.
"I'm going to UCF," Charles told Rivals.com. "Just the message the coaches have been giving me and the relationship between coach Malzahn and coach (Tim) Harris. They've been letting me know that if I come in, I'll have an opportunity to make an impact and play early. They run a very explosive offense. They can open up stuff for everybody."
Palm Beach Central QB Caleb Butler throws a touchdown pass to WR Waden Charles, a four-star Miami commit.
— Isaac Edelman (@IsaacEdelman) October 12, 2023
The Broncos lead 7-0 early first quarter. pic.twitter.com/94deUKu0Et
