UCF football recruiting: DayDay Farmer flips from Pitt to Knights

One day after UCF kicked off its first fall camp as a member of the Big 12 Conference, the Knights struck gold on the recruiting trail by flipping a top local prospect from another Power Five school.

Melbourne Central Catholic 4-star wide receiver Ric’Darious “DayDay” Farmer, who had been pledged to ACC member Pittsburgh since December, announced on social media Tuesday he’s now committed to UCF.

The 5-11, 160-pound wideout becomes the sixth consensus 4-star to give his word to Knights coach Gus Malzahn in the 2024 recruiting cycle, joining Grayson (Ga.) tight end Kylan Fox and offensive lineman Waltclaire Flynn Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas running back Stacy Gage, Troup County (Ga.) linebacker Qua Birdsong and Langston Hughes (Ga.) safety Jakob Gude.

Farmer is the 14th overall member of UCF’s ’24 class that ranks inside the top 40 nationally and third in the Big 12 behind only Texas Tech and Cincinnati, according to 247Sports.

At Cocoa High School as a junior last season, Farmer led the FHSAA Class 2S champions with 63 receptions, 938 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Farmer is a “productive inside receiver that excels in catch-and-run situations,” 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins wrote in a scouting report. Ivins added that Farmer “should be viewed as a potential difference maker in the slot.”

That’s because Farmer ranks as the nation’s No. 57 wide receiver and No. 52 overall prospect in the state of Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite which combines prospect rankings listed by major recruiting services.

For the Knights, Farmer is the second wide receiver pledged in the ’24 class, following Armwood’s Kason Stokes who pledged in April.

All verbal commitments are non-binding but can become official during the early signing period in December.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.