Rising 2027 QB Logan Flaherty commits to UCF: “I'm super excited to be a Knight”
Class of 2027 quarterback Logan Flaherty of Port Charlotte (Fla.) High School announced his commitment to UCF on Tuesday, becoming the Knights’ first commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.
“I think I found a home with UCF, and I’m super excited to be a part of something that’s heading in the right direction,” Flaherty said.
A 6-foot-2, 185-pound dual-threat passer, Flaherty is ranked by Rivals as the No. 21 quarterback nationally and No. 243 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle. He chose UCF over a lengthy list of offers that included Florida State, Miami, SMU, Syracuse, Illinois and others.
Flaherty said his relationship with UCF quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton, who was his primary recruiter, played a pivotal role in his decision.
“Really, it started back in the spring,” Flaherty said. “Coach Milton came down to one of our practices in May, and later that day he offered me. We hopped on a call that night, and from there we built a really good relationship. He’s been the main guy keeping in contact and checking in.”
That relationship strengthened over the summer and during his multiple visits to campus this fall. Flaherty attended UCF’s home games against North Carolina A&T and Kansas, and plans to return this Saturday for the Knights’ homecoming matchup against West Virginia.
“Even though they took a tough loss against Kansas, that was when I kind of knew,” Flaherty said. “They treated me really well on every visit, and I think they’re a program that’s moving in the right direction. I’m super excited to be a part of it.”
UCF’s system was the ‘perfect fit’
Milton, one of the greatest players in UCF history, sees plenty of similarities between his own skill set and Flaherty’s, particularly the ability to make plays on the move.
“He told me I fit them really well,” Flaherty said. “He saw I could make all the throws, but also that I could run. I’m a playmaker with my legs, not just my arm. If you look at all their quarterbacks right now, they can all run. With the system UCF runs, being a dual-threat guy fits perfectly.”
Flaherty added that one of his teachers last year was a die-hard UCF fan and made him watch Milton’s highlights during class, whihe he said helped spark his interest in the program.
“It’s funny, my teacher was a huge UCF and McKenzie Milton fan,” Flaherty said. “She made me go on YouTube during class to watch his highlights. That’s kind of what got me started on UCF. I started looking into Coach Frost, and I saw how Coach Milton thrived in that offense. That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, this is a place I’m really interested in.’”
Flaherty said head coach Scott Frost’s track record of developing quarterbacks was another major factor in his commitment.
“I think Coach Frost is one of the best offensive masterminds in the country,” he said. “He’s had great offenses at Oregon, at UCF, and even at Nebraska he was putting up numbers. I’m excited because he and Coach Milton both said I fit their system well, being able to extend plays, throw on the run, and make things happen.”
Making it official
The decision came together quickly last week.
“My head coach called and said he thought I was ready to pull the trigger,” Flaherty said. “Coach Milton talked with Coach Frost and the rest of the staff to make sure it was the right move on both sides. Then Coach Milton called me yesterday and asked if I was ready. I told him, ‘Yeah, I’m ready.’ That’s when it officially happened.”
The commitment brings an early sense of relief for Flaherty, who said managing recruiting alongside a strong junior season had been both exciting and demanding.
“It’s definitely been a little stressful, balancing football and recruiting, but I’ve tried to enjoy the process,” he said. “You only get to do it once.”
One of the top QBs in Florida
Through seven games of his junior season, Flaherty has thrown for 1,381 yards with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Flaherty and Port Charlotte are preparing for the final stretch of the regular season, including rivalry week against Charlotte High and a district championship showdown with Naples.
“It’s been a really good year,” he said. “We’re 6-1 right now, No. 1 in the district and No. 2 in the region. We’ve got some big games coming up, and I’m excited to finish strong.”
Football wasn’t always the plan for Flaherty, who grew up playing baseball. He was initially following in the footsteps of his father, Dan, a former college baseball player. He didn’t begin playing football until seventh grade, and didn’t start taking quarterback seriously until eighth grade.
“I was a baseball guy growing up,” Flaherty said. “My first year of football I played safety, then I started playing quarterback in eighth grade. I started training seriously, and ever since then, playing at the next level has been my goal.”
Championship aspirations
While Flaherty still has two more years before he arrives to UCF, his goals are already set.
“When I get to UCF, I want to be able to compete for a job right away,” he said. “I don’t want to just be looked at as a freshman. I want to compete, win games, and help bring championships to Orlando.”
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