JUST PEACHY: UCF pulls 4-star football recruits Kylan Fox, Qua Birdsong out of Georgia

UCF poached three of the Peach State's prized football recruits to kick off the month of July.

Lagrange Troup County linebacker Qua Birdsong flipped into the Knights' class from rival Cincinnati on Sunday, and highly coveted Loganville Grayson tight end Kylan Fox chose UCF over Florida State, Georgia Tech and Ole Miss on Tuesday afternoon.

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Fox will link up with Grayson teammate Waltclaire Flynn, an All-American center/guard, in Orlando. Flynn chose the Knights on Saturday, capping off the university's first day as fully fledged members of the Big 12.

"I stepped foot on campus and just felt at home immediately," Fox told Clemson Sports' Luke Winstel. "I like what Coach (Gus) Malzahn and (Tight ends) Coach (Brian) Blackmon are doing right now. Coach Malzahn comes from a winning program; he's won a national championship. He knows what it looks like. Now we're in the Big 12, and we're really about to get a chance to put our name on notice."

The additions of Fox, Birdsong and Flynn give the Knights four consensus four-star commits for the 2024 class. For context, the program signed 19 four-star players combined from 2002-23, per 247Sports.

Fox (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) has been the Knights' top target at tight end for the entire recruiting cycle. The Under Armour All-American caught 25 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns as a junior at Grayson, adding two sacks on defense.

"A couple days ago, a week ago, I just felt it in my spirit; that it's time to do it," Fox said. "I called my guys, let them know what was up and called the coaches and told them it was time."

Birdsong (6-2, 195) is an important get after UCF lost Tallahassee Lincoln's Sam Robinson to Rutgers on June 21. He can line up off-ball or on the edge, and he made a habit of bursting into opposing backfield in his junior season at Troup County, the same alma mater as Knights wide receiver Kobe Hudson.

Playing in 11 of Troup's 14 games, Birdsong led his team in total tackles (49), tackles for loss (12.5) and forced fumbles (two). Birdsong stated that his recruitment is closed after originally listing a final five of UCF, Cincinnati, Arkansas, Miami and Michigan.

"Ultimately, Coach Ernie Sims swayed me away from Cincinnati," Birdsong said. "I love the way he recruits, and I love who he is on and off the field. He told me there would be no sugarcoating or nothing, and that he wanted me to start a legacy there, and that I was a perfect fit for their scheme."

UCF has its sights set on another pair of Georgia prospects who will commit later this week: Fairburn Langston Hughes slot corner/safety Jakob Gude (July 6) and Atlanta Westlake safety Christian Peterson (July 8). The Knights also remain locked in battles for three more blue-chippers within Florida, as well — Evans safety Brandon Jacob, Tampa Catholic interior offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis and Blountstown defensive tackle Artavius Jones.

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Jacob (6-2, 175) listed the Knights in his final five Monday night and plans to commit on July 20; Maryland, Miami, Ohio State and Texas A&M are the other teams vying for the Orlando native.

Pierre-Louis (6-4, 315) told Rivals on Monday that UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon are the schools he's focused on from his original top-10, released at the conclusion of his official visit to Orlando on June 4.

Pierre-Louis is one of four players Fox wants to join him in Orlando — along with Rockledge safety Jaylen Heyward (Georgia commit), Carrollwood Day wide receiver Bredell Richardson and Miami Central wide receiver Lawayne McCoy (Florida State commit).

With the additions of Fox, Birdsong and Flynn, UCF has climbed 13 spots in the 247Sports' overall team rankings since the start of the month. The Knights currently sit 51st with 10 verbal commits.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF football: 4-star Georgia recruits Kylan Fox, Qua Birdsong commit