Reeling from Saturday’s 17-14 loss to Navy, UCF football received positive news on the recruiting trail Monday.
Estero defensive back Jason Duclona announced his oral commitment to the Knights on social media.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect becomes the 12th high school recruit pledged to UCF in the 2023 recruiting cycle and the first since Mosley High School (Lynn Haven) tight end Randy Pittman joined the class in October.
Duclona originally committed to Rutgers in June but backed off that pledge near the end of September around the same time the Knights, as well as Mississippi State, offered him a scholarship.
He’s been at UCF multiple times throughout the season for unofficial visits including when the Knights beat then-No. 20 Cincinnati on Oct. 29 in Orlando.
Duclona ranks as the No. 63 athlete in the 2023 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite ratings which combine prospect rankings listed by major recruiting services.
His brother, Jonas, a senior cornerback at Naples High School, is verbally committed to Cincinnati.
Jason Duclona helped Estero reach the first round of the playoffs before the team lost to DeSoto County on Nov. 11.
As a senior, Duclona played on both offense and defense. At receiver, he caught 23 passes for 520 yards and 7 touchdowns in 9 games.
At cornerback, where UCF is recruiting him, Duclona totaled 33 tackles to go along with 6 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. He also blocked a punt.
All verbal commitments are nonbinding until December when the early signing period opens and they can become official.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
