3-star 2027 LB Ian McDuffie flips from Syracuse to UCF
Three-star class of 2027 linebacker Ian McDuffie committed to SU in April but chose UCF after visiting Orlando over the weekend. Joe Zhao | Daily Orange File Photo
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Three-star class of 2027 linebacker Ian McDuffie has flipped from Syracuse football to UCF, he announced on social media Tuesday. McDuffie initially committed to SU in April but chose the Knights after visiting Orlando over the weekend.
McDuffie — a native of Wayne, New Jersey — is rated as the 59th-best linebacker in the class and the 19th-best player in the state by 247Sports. He was previously SU’s fifth-highest-rated player in its 2027 recruiting class, which now ranks 44th nationally and features 17 commits.
In his junior season at Passaic County Technical Institute (New Jersey), McDuffie totaled 113 tackles, three sacks, five tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Fran Brown and his staff took notice, offering McDuffie on Jan. 24.
When McDuffie committed on April 13, he chose Syracuse over James Madison, UConn, Temple and Monmouth. He took an official visit to SU on the final weekend of May, according to 247Sports, and also picked up an offer from UCF on May 24. He promptly scheduled a visit to Orlando and announced his commitment to the Knights Tuesday.
The Orange still hold 16 three-stars in the class of 2027, but just one linebacker.
