UCF has dipped into the talent pool at Sanford Seminole High once again, looking to keep the successful pipeline going with a scholarship offer to 2025 offensive tackle Max Buchanan.
“It’s a great feeling,” Buchanan told the Orlando Sentinel. “We have a lot of people who were in this past class that have signed on to UCF and they are the home team.”
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Buchanan is the second Seminole freshman to be offered by UCF in the past week. Wide receiver Kenyon Holden received a scholarship offer from the Knights last week. UCF signed three players from Seminole in the 2022 recruiting class in twin defensive backs Ja’Cari and Demari Henderson and linebacker Kameron Moore.
NFL star Gabe Davis of the Buffalo Bills also came through the Sanford-UCF Pipeline, as did former All-AAC honorable mention selection Brandon “Bam” Moore.
Buchanan started seven varsity games this past season for a Seminole team that lost just two games and fell one game shy of advancing to the Class 8A state championship game. Seminole lost to Apopka in the semifinals.
The UCF offer is Buchanan’s fifth Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offer. His others are from Penn State, Iowa State, USF and Troy. Head coach for Troy at the time of his offer was Chip Lindsey, who is now UCF’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
UCF co-defensive coordinator David Gibbs and offensive line coach Herb Hand have been Buchanan’s main recruiters from UCF.
“I feel like recruiting is going as planned right now. It’s going really well,” Buchanan said. “We’re ahead of the game. It’s an amazing feeling, really.
“I’ve just been working hard with training a lot and going to a bunch of camps so I was hoping [the offers] would come. I didn’t think they were going to come this early though.”
Buchanan is coached by his father, Seminole offensive line coach Jordan Buchanan, and he said it provides a unique situation.
“At Seminole they push me to be the best I can everyday, especially my dad,” Buchanan said. “[My dad] is tough on me a lot, but I know he cares for me a lot and it makes for a tighter bond on and off the field.”
Buchanan likes to study NFL offensive linemen like former Notre Dame guard Quinton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts and former Georgia guard Ben Cleveland of the Baltimore Ravens.
With three more high school football seasons remaining, Buchanan said he would like to work on his “strength a lot, and my mobility and speed.”
Buchanan’s versatility as a run-and-pass blocker gives him an advantage when being recruited. Many high school offensive linemen come from one-dimensional offenses and have to learn techniques at the next level. Seminole mixes it up.
“I would say we are very balanced … it really depends on the team we are going against if we are going to be passing or running, so people have to stay on their toes with us,” Buchanan said.
And he loves being at tradition-rich Seminole.
“It’s a great feeling. I know there is nothing better than our school,” he said.
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