Florida football legacy could follow his father’s footsteps

Like father, like son? Florida is hoping that Ben Hanks Jr. will end up a Gator, just as his dad did in the 90s.

Family ties can mean a ton when it comes to recruiting, and the Florida Gators are pursuing the son of former outside linebacker Ben Hanks, who totaled 320 tackles over four seasons in Gainesville.

[autotag]Ben Hanks Jr[/autotag]. is a bit quicker than his old man, and he’s being recruited as one of the top cornerbacks in the 2025 class. Florida is one of many schools hoping to get him on campus, and Hanks’ family history should help to some degree, according to a recent interview he gave to Gators Online.

“It’s not too far from home. Also, my father played there, so that would be great if I went and followed in his footsteps,” the younger Hanks said. “Also, just the culture and staff. Everything is just amazing at the University of Florida.”

Hanks has reached out to defensive back coach Corey Raymond. Most prospective UF corners take a special interest in Raymond thanks to his stellar record of producing NFL talent. Hanks is no different and says that Raymond plays a big role in his recruiting process.

The senior Hanks isn’t pressuring his son to follow the same path he did, though. The family intends to take their time and look at all available options before making a decision.

Hanks is a consensus four-star recruit, ranked highest by 247Sports at No. 58 overall and No. 8 among cornerbacks in the class of 2025. The On3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted average from all four major services, places him at No. 114 nationally and No. 10 among th

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1369]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions