APOPKA — Isaiah McNish decided in the space of two weekends he was destined to stay a “Florida boy.”
McNish, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle entering his senior year at Wekiva High, visited Connecticut at the start of June and said he hardly removed his headphones. He was all ears, however, when he arrived at UCF and met with head coach Scott Frost and primary recruiter Kenny Martin.
“I loved everything about it — the tours, the food,” McNish said June 8 after concluding his official visit. “I’m glad that I made the decision to stay here.
“The environment, the coaches, it just felt like home. I got super comfortable fast.”
A few hours later, McNish publicized his commitment to the Knights. According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, he is the No. 99 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 123 overall player in Florida. He claims a dozen Division I offers, adding the likes of Georgia Tech, Missouri and Syracuse during the spring evaluation period.
However, he has shut down his recruitment, with intentions to sign in December and enroll in January.
“I ain’t worried about no other place,” McNish said. “They’re not going to get how I am feeling right now.”
Here are five things to know about UCF’s first addition to the defensive line class for 2026.
1. Isaiah McNish plays for former UCF star Doug Gabriel at Wekiva
McNish’s breakout junior season at Wekiva, one in which he totaled 40 tackles and three sacks, coincided with the first on the sidelines for former UCF star Doug Gabriel.
Gabriel ranks eighth in Knights history with 20 touchdown catches, and second only to Breshad Perriman in career yards per reception (19.3). He totaled 97 grabs for 1,869 yards as a receiver and added another 795 yards as a kickoff returner.
The Oakland Raiders selected Gabriel in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft, and he spent four seasons in the league — including 12 games for the New England Patriots in 2006. He recorded 101 catches for 1,550 yards and eight TDs.
“On the field, you’re going to get a kid who has got a lot of passion,” Gabriel said of McNish. “Hard-working, dedicated, loyal; that’s rare to come with. And a kid that, put in any position, is going to excel.”
2. Riviera Beach is Isaiah McNish’s hometown
McNish can be considered one of UCF’s hometown heroes for the 2026 cycle; Wekiva, also the alma mater of Knights defensive end Sincere Edwards, is located less than 30 miles from the Acrisure Bounce House.
However, McNish grew up in Riviera Beach, roughly five miles north of West Palm Beach. He moved with his mother in 2020.
“When I moved here, I ain’t going to lie. I didn’t really want to move up here, for real,” McNish said. “As I started staying around the area, the more safe I felt than I was down there. And there are better coaches, so it has been a lot better for my recruitment and for me as a person.”
3. Isaiah McNish silently committed to UCF a month earlier
While June 8 is the recognized date of McNish’s commitment, he said he truly locked his spot with the Knights a month earlier.
Martin attended one of Wekiva’s spring practices in May, and McNish gave his verbal pledge on the spot.
“We kept it on the low for a little bit,” McNish said. “(On June 8), I just told Coach Frost that I wanted to be a Knight, and it got announced. He was excited. They’ve got game plans already set for me.”
4. Isaiah McNish could be used on offense around the goal line
Among the more interesting tidbits McNish revealed at the conclusion of his official visit was an exit conversation he had with Frost in which they discussed being an asset on both sides of the ball.
He loves to “run the rock,” and spoke with Frost about the possibility of being deployed as an auxiliary blocker and/or short-yardage weapon in the backfield.
“I want to be able to show my athleticism more than just playing D-line,” McNish said. “Running the ball gives me a certain burst of energy.”
5. Isaiah McNish can ‘break one’ as a running back
McNish logged 17 carries last fall for Wekiva, gaining 73 yards and scoring a team-high six touchdowns.
Gabriel brushed off the idea that McNish is strictly a short-yardage specialist for the Mustangs. Opponents have been caught sleeping on a few occasions, thinking McNish would not be a problem past the line of scrimmage.
“He’ll break one. He’s not slow, and he’s real physical,” Gabriel said. “You can see it on his film, even on defense. He’ll get doubled, the run will go the opposite way and you’ll see him taking an angle to go get a guy.
“His motor is just going to keep running.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Meet UCF football commit Isaiah McNish, Wekiva D-lineman and … running back
Reporting by Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
