The list of prep prospects planning on making their way to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Florida football’s 2022 season-opening game against the Utah Utes continues to grow. Among the many adding their names to the roster of attendees is four-star safety [autotag]Jaylen Heyward[/autotag] out of Rockledge, Florida, who is one of the top players at his position in the 2024 class.
The 5-foot-11.5-inch, 180-pound defensive back made his second stop in Gainesville for the program’s Friday Night Lights event at the end of July, which gave him increased face time with co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] — the coach most involved in his recruiting — as well as others.
“I talk with Coach Toney the most, but I also talk with Coach Jamar Chaney and Coach [William] Peagler,” he told Swamp247. “Coach Toney is a really good DC and I love the way he runs a defense. Low-key, he runs a really similar defense to my high school, so it’s really easy to buy in and understand it.”
The rising junior released his top 12 schools list back in June, with the Gators along with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks and Tennessee Volunteers included as major players for the young student-athlete. He holds 33 total offers heading into his fall campaign.
Heyward is ranked No. 45 overall and No. 5 at his position in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 42 and 3, respectively. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Florida far in front for the safety’s talents with an 89.6% chance of landing him.
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