CBS Sports thinks Napier, Gators were winners on early signing day

247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins included Florida among his winners from the 2024 early signing day bonanza.

Florida football got off to a fantastic start to the early signing period on Wednesday, officially welcoming a new gaggle of Gators to the beloved Orange and Blue while rising meteorically up the recruiting rankings.

The action began early with five commits putting the ink to the paper before the 8 o’clock bells chimed. In all, 23 young men signed up to matriculate and play at the University of Florida by the end of the day.

After the dust settled from the opening salvo of the early signing period, 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins offered his winners and losers via CBS Sports, with the Gators included in the former group while ranking the class at No. 10.

“The DJ Lagway effect is real and Florida’s recruiting class going from outside the top 50 of the rankings to knocking on the door of the top 10 in just a few weeks is proof that momentum matters when it comes to talent acquisition,” Ivins begins.

“No, Billy Napier and Co. were not able to grab everyone, but this day shouldn’t be viewed as anything other than a win. Remember, this time last year the Gators tumbled in the recruiting rankings as everyone questioned Napier’s future. Lagway’s play to close out the regular season has helped flip the script.”

READ MOREGators Wire’s 2025 early signing day tracker

Other schools that earned the “winner” designation were the Texas LonghornsOregon Ducks, South Carolina Gamecocks, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Texas A&M Aggies. The “losers” comprised the Clemson Tigers, USC Trojans and Oklahoma Sooners.

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