2026 QB Kane Archer decommits from UCF

Greenwood (Ark.) three-star quarterback Kane Archer has decommitted from UCF, according to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.

Pledged to the Knights since April 29, Archer is now back on the board after UCF added a commitment from four-star QB Rocco Marriott on Nov. 22. Utah is now trending for the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder.

Archer is the No. 971 overall prospect and No. 53 QB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 12 player in Arkansas.

He plays for one of the top high school football programs in Arkansas and is currently amidst an undefeated season and is in pursuit of another state title. Greenwood ranks as the No. 3 team in the Natural State, per the Massey Ratings.

Archer was the 2024 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year and has won two state titles already. Entering the postseason, Archer tallied 44 total touchdowns (24 passing, 20 rushing) and hasn’t lost as a varsity starter for Greenwood.

On Nov. 21, Rivals insider Sam Spiegelman logged a pick in the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine in favor of Utah flipping Archer away from UCF. The QB is in Salt Lake City visiting the Utes this weekend.

More on UCF Recruiting

On Saturday afternoon, the Knights flipped Marriott from James Madison. Rivals ranks the 6-foot-3 gunslinger higher than other recruiting services. He now checks in as the No. 232 recruit and No. 16 QB in the updated Rivals300.

With Archer now out of the mix, though, the class is back down to just 12 commits. St. Thomas More (Conn.) three-star EDGE Alhassan Iddrissu has been a blue-chipper at various points this cycle and has sat atop the UCF class since he committed in June. The Modesto, Calif. native is a top-500 overall prospect.

There’s still two QBs in the class, too, as Minersville (Pa.) Area three-star Dante Carr is behind Marriott as the No. 39 signal-caller nationally. UCF does have five in-state commits in the class, including Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy Charter three-star running back Kaj Baker. The class now ranks No. 66 overall, good for No. 14 in the Big 12, ahead of just Colorado and Oklahoma State.

Other top commits in the class include: Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point three-star linebacker Preston Hall, Neptune Beach (Fla.) Duncan U. Fletcher three-star cornerback Elijah Keys, Brunswick (Ga.) three-star offensive tackle Kasiyah Charlton, Randolph (Mass.) Tabor Academy three-star IOL Amahn Williams and Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep three-star LB Matthew Occhipinti.