Top High School RB Arthur Lewis IV Shocks Fans with Last-Minute UCF Commitment Flip!

Happy birthday, Artese.

When it comes to making a pivotal decision that can shape the course of a young athlete’s future, it’s never just about the stats or the prestige — it’s about heart, proximity, and that intangible connection. Arthur Lewis IV, an electrifying running back from Bartram Trail, has poured his spirit into the gridiron throughout 2024, racking up mind-blowing numbers and earning high honors along the way. Yet, in a twist that’s as personal as it is strategic, the rising senior has reversed his initial pledge to Liberty, opting instead to embrace a new path closer to home. This move isn’t just a game-day call; it’s a story loaded with family ties, sincere gratitude, and a fierce determination to prove his mettle at the Power Four level. Stick around — you’re about to dive headfirst into Arthur’s heartfelt revelation and what it means for his football journey. LEARN MORECoach (Scott) Frost and his staff are unbelievable. As soon as I stepped foot on campus, it was all real love. You don’t see that anymore in college football.I am fortunate that I will have an opportunity to play college football closer to home, and that she will be able to attend more of my games after I graduate from Bartram Trail.

Lewis (5-foot-9, 190 pounds) rushed 149 times for 1,666 yards and 21 touchdowns during the 2024 season and earned first-team honors on the Times-Union’s All-First Coast team. He added 21 receptions out of the backfield for 244 yards.I believe I can prove everybody wrong — and that I belong on the P4 level. I want to be one of the greatest Knights that has ever played.

But I chose UCF because it’s only two hours away from home, and it was the first Power Four school in Florida to take a chance on me.Lewis verbally committed to Liberty on March 26, but is flipping his commitment elsewhere.

I want to thank the coaches at Liberty, in particular Coach Isaac (co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Newland Isaac) and Coach Nate (director of recruiting communications and strategy Nate Hope), for recruiting me. I felt like I fit very well in their offense, and the campus is one of the best in college football.

Artese is my youngest sister, and my biggest fan. Every time I score a touchdown, I look up in the stands to see her cheering for me, and it motivates me to keep going.I am committing to the University of Central Florida.

Editor’s note: Bartram Trail rising senior running back Arthur Lewis IV has written the following first-person story to announce where he plans to play college football.