Why Tyren Hornes' recruiting journey circled back to UCF football
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DELAND — Tyren Hornes doesn’t have to keep the secret any longer.
Though the four-star wide receiver from Booker High School in Sarasota signed his paperwork last month, he didn’t formally announce his college decision until Saturday, Jan. 3. At halftime of the Under Armour Next All-America Game, Hornes revealed he’s headed to UCF.
He’ll enroll early and join the Knights this week.
“It was kind of hard for me to keep it quiet,” Hornes said. “Everybody was asking me where I was going.”
What did he tell them the past few weeks?
“‘I don’t know yet. I’ve got my top five,’” he said with a smile. “And I just told them my top five.”
That list included UCF, along with Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss and Louisville.
247Sports ranks Hornes as the 172nd-best player and 23rd-best receiver in the Class of 2026. He is the fourth-highest-rated Knight ever and the best recruit of either of Scott Frost’s tenures in charge.
“I’ve been having conversations with UCF and (wide receivers coach Sean Beckton) for a while,” Hornes said. “I just had a close relationship with coach Frost and his staff, and I loved it there. I felt like a priority when I went there. And it’s family.”
His commitment capped a long recruiting process.
Hornes originally pledged to UCF in April but flipped to Michigan State in June. But in October, he decommitted from the Spartans. They finished 4-8 and fired head coach Jonathan Smith in November.
Meanwhile, Hornes continued to produce for Booker.
During his senior campaign, the 6-foot, 185-pound dynamo caught 54 balls for 802 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping the Tornadoes to the Class 3A semifinals. He closed his career with 136 receptions, 2,434 yards and 35 scores across three varsity seasons.
The Knights kept in constant contact with him, Hornes said, especially after he dropped Michigan State. He visited campus a half dozen times. The program felt comfortable, and he saw an opportunity to get on the field early.
“It was stressful and exciting, but I loved it. This journey, it was great,” Hornes said. “Time to go.”
Officials for the Under Armour All-America Game approached him about waiting until Saturday at Spec Martin Stadium to unveil his decision. He liked the idea.
He kicked off the afternoon by scoring the showcase’s first touchdown, a 24-yard catch-and-run on a pass from Texas A&M commit Jayce Johnson. It was Team Pearls’ only trip to the end zone during a 23-9 loss to Team Roses.
Tyren Hornes finds the end zone to open the scoring 😤
Find out where the 4-star WR will commit coming up on the Under Armour Next All-America Game 👀 pic.twitter.com/696a2siggx
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) January 3, 2026
Overall, Hornes grabbed three receptions for a game-best 68 yards.
In a halftime interview with his family behind him, he declared his college destination, put on a UCF hat and told fans what to expect.
“Big plays, everything. Just stay tuned,” Hornes said. “Catch me at UCF.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Why 4-star recruit Tyren Hornes signed with UCF Knights football
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