UCF adds FCS All-American Josh Derry to receiver room

UCF announced the addition of Monmouth wide receiver Josh Derry to its early January transfer class on Jan. 6, a move that upgrades the Knights' receiving corps with a proven FCS playmaker. Derry finished the 2025 season with 1,123 yards and 13 touchdowns and was named an FCS first-team All-American, credentials that made him one of the higher-rated portal additions in UCF’s early haul.

The portal entry logged Derry’s season statistics, a transfer rating and a short analysis of positional fit that framed him as an immediate contributor rather than a developmental project. For UCF, which has been active in the January window, the pickup addresses an obvious need for game-changing perimeter weapons who can stretch the field and manufacture explosive plays in short order.

This move underscores a familiar fall-to-winter pipeline: standout FCS receivers continue to run to the top of FBS wish lists because they offer polished route trees, reliable contested-catch ability and production against quality opponents. For programs balancing scholarship budgets and roster churn, adding a ready-made target like Derry is often more cost-effective than waiting through a multi-year recruiting cycle.

For the Monmouth program, losing an FCS first-team All-American is the kind of roster turnover coaches expect in the portal era. For the Monmouth-to-UCF narrative, Derry’s jump is proof that strong FCS seasons still create immediate opportunities at the Group of Five and FBS levels. For UCF fans, the practical question is how Derry will fit schematically and how quickly he can sync with the Knights’ quarterback and route timing. The portal listing’s positional analysis suggested fit was a driving factor in the recruitment, pointing to situational snaps and potential early playing time.

January’s transfer window remains a high-leverage period for FBS teams seeking plug-and-play talent, and Derry’s profile checks the boxes most coaches covet: production, accolades and a clear positional path onto the field. Expect UCF to integrate him into spring ball plans and evaluate how his contested catches and touchdown production translate against FBS coverage.

Our two cents? This is a classic win-win of the portal era: UCF gets a proven playmaker, Monmouth continues to build a reputation as a producer of transferable talent, and other FCS prospects gain a roadmap — perform, earn accolades, and the portal can be a fast track to the next level.