UCF closes June by adding DBs Jashad Presley, Chasen Johnson to '24 recruiting class

UCF bookended its final week before entering the Big 12 Conference with two additions in the secondary for its 2024 recruiting class.

Dr. Phillips safety Jashad Presley chose the Knights over Georgia Tech on Friday afternoon, a week after Seminole cornerback Chasen Johnson flipped from Pittsburgh. Both players have identical composite rankings (0.8585), per 247Sports, and are viewed as consensus three-star recruits.

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Presley, listed at 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds, could end up moving to weakside linebacker in defensive coordinator Addison Williams' scheme. He patrols the box for Dr. Phillips, credited with 28 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks in five games for Dr. Phillips last fall.

"The main thing is family. Coach Addison and Coach Gus (Malzahn) do a great job and are big on manhood and development over there," Presley said. "I feel like Coach Addison knows exactly what's best for me, and that I can play any position on the field. I'll be prepared for anything they have for me."

"Going to UCF is a decision I knew I was going to make for quite a long time. When I take college visits somewhere else, I already want to come home. When I went to UCF, I knew I wanted to stay."

Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback, brings the desired length and speed (10.9 in the 100-meter dash, per HUDL) to the boundary. He's also one of the most dangerous kick blockers in the state, flying around the edge on multiple occasions as a junior to get his hands on the ball.

UCF has built a wall around Seminole High since Malzahn's arrival in 2021, signing linebacker Kam Moore, twin defensive backs Ja'Cari and Demari Henderson and quarterback Timmy McClain — the latter via transfer from rival South Florida.

"That's honestly really cool. It will help with a smooth transition from college. They aren't the only reasons I'm going to UCF, but it's definitely a big benefit and I want to line up alongside them. They're great leaders," Johnson said.

"What appealed to me the most was my relationship with the coaches. And their defense is a lot like what we run (at Seminole); it will be a good, easy transition. Them going into the Big 12 is also something that appealed to me."

UCF is up to 64th in 247Sports' team rankings, with a number of targets set to reveal their commitments in the next few days — including four-star Loganville (Ga.) Grayson teammates Waltclaire Flynn Jr. and Kylan Fox, both of whom took official visits to UCF at the start of June.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF football: Dr. Phillips' Jashad Presley, Seminole's Chasen Johnson commit