Former four-star DB Jaylen Heyward announces opt-out, will enter Transfer Portal
UCF defensive back Jaylen Heyward announced Tuesday he will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, bringing his Knights career to a close after just two seasons in Orlando.
Heyward, a sophomore from Rockledge, Fla., played in four games this season, contributing primarily on special teams and as a reserve in the secondary, before sustaining an injury during UCF’s Sept. 27 game at Kansas State. He recorded three total tackles during that stretch.
Because he appeared in four games or fewer, Heyward will take a redshirt to retain three years of eligibility.
Heyward was considered one of the top defensive signees in UCF’s 2024 recruiting class and a major recruiting win for then-head coach Gus Malzahn. A consensus four-star recruit and former Georgia commit, Heyward flipped to UCF in August 2023, opting to stay closer to home after being pursued by top national programs.
College football will now have a single winter transfer portal window running from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16..
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