UCF’s preseason camp has already produced one of its early buzz names, and it’s a freshman. Tyren Hornes, the 18-year-old wideout from Booker High School, has wasted no time making an impression after arriving in Orlando with the highest ranking of any receiver in program history.
Hornes came to UCF as a four-star prospect, and the numbers from his high school career explain the hype: nearly 2,500 total receiving yards and 35 total touchdowns in 32 games for the Fighting Tornadoes. He made his college choice public during the Under Armour All-America Game, a moment he remembers clearly.
“I just wanted to be out there, to let it be known that I’ve come to UCF and it was my home,” Hornes said of the moment captured live on national television.
Now in camp, the 6-foot, 175-pound receiver has been one of the standout performers through the first two weeks. Coaches and teammates have kept coming back to the same idea: the talent is obvious, and the ceiling is real.
“He’s just a really good athlete. He’s got the upside to be a really special player,” coach Scott Frost said.
“It’s just about how quickly it clicks on and how fast they can be reliable and consistent. He’s certainly taking some huge strides and making good plays out there.”
Receivers coach Sean Beckton Sr. has seen the same upward trend, but he’s also trying to make sure the freshman keeps climbing.
“We see the progression of him and the development. Now I’ve got to do a good job of really keeping him and not letting him relax, keeping him ascending up,” added receivers coach Sean Beckton Sr.
Offensive coordinator Steve Cooper, who has watched Hornes since his arrival as an early enrollee in January, likes the way the freshman already carries himself.
“I’m ecstatic that he’s here. I love Ty,” Cooper said.
“He’s come a long, long way since he got here. He’s got great hands and he plays almost like a veteran.
You’ve got to figure out a way to get off man (coverage) or press (coverage) and get great separation. He’s got a real good natural knack of doing that.”
Hornes, for his part, sounds like a player determined to stay grounded while he learns the ropes. He’s not chasing attention, just reps and improvement.
“I just came (into camp) wanting to work,” Hornes said. “I keep my head down every day while taking stuff from the older guys, helping me to get better.”
He’s doing that in a receiver room led by senior Duane Thomas Jr., but one comparison keeps coming up from the coaching staff: Waden Charles. Beckton sees similarities in the way both players arrived and the kind of ability they brought with them.
“He reminds me a lot of Waden (Charles),” Beckton said. “Waden was more of a natural leader when he first got here. Hornes is quiet and you never really hear from him, but he’s very physically gifted.”
Charles became a major part of the offense late last season, pairing with Thomas as one of the team’s top options. He finished third on the team with 26 catches and 290 receiving yards, and put together one of the best freshman seasons at UCF since Gabe Davis in 2017.
That context matters to Frost, who pointed out that Hornes is entering a different situation than Charles did.
“Waden played last year partly because he was doing really well and partly because I don’t think our receiver room was what it needed to be,” Frost explained. “Tyren walks into a little bit of a different receiver room where we’ve got guys coming back. It’s a deeper group, so the competition’s been good at that position.”
Hornes has already been leaning on Charles for help with the playbook and film study. The one thing he doesn’t need much help with is speed.
When asked about his top 40-yard dash time, he kept it simple.
“I don’t know right now, but I’m fast,” Hornes said with a smile.
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