Auburn football: UCF offers 4-star WR and Tigers target Omari Kelly

While Alabama has a long history of producing top-notch wide receiver talent–with 2020 Heisman winner Devontae Smith following in the footsteps of fellow Bammers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley–Omari Kelly has not yet decided on a school. Auburn football WR coach Cornelius Williams has been leading the recruitment efforts for the Trussville native, but a new team has entered the sweepstakes for the 4-star wide receiver.

Gus Malzahn’s University of Central Florida Knights are now in on the 2022 recruit.

Malzahn was announced yesterday as the newest head coach of the self-proclaimed 2017 National Champions, who coincidentally defeated his Tigers when he was the voice of the Auburn football locker-room to stake such a claim.

Clearly, Malzahn isn’t screwing around at his new gig.

UCF’s official Twitter account sent out a quote from the new HC on his expectations with the Knights going forward:

UCF now has an advantage in recruiting in the Yellowhammer State. Every high school-aged Alabama recruit knows the name Gus Malzahn, and with the former Auburn football coach having the name recognition to get players interested, the school’s campus–a master plan to have fully renovated the campus will be completed by 2025–and growing legacy could start sealing the deal in landing them.

Being that UCF hails from the Group of Five and not the Power 5, they will always be fighting an uphill battle to make the College Football Playoff. Then again, not having to partake in the annual bloodbath that is the SEC football schedule is a nice alternative path to making the postseason.

Either way, Malzahn swooping in and offering a highly sought-after wide receiver prospect of his former school is a surefire way to make a statement on his first day on the job.

We wish Gus Malzahn luck, but if National Championships and top recruits (that happen to also be Auburn targets) are goals for UCF…then it’s on, Gus.