The 2023 recruiting cycle may have just officially kicked off a few years ago, but Florida coach Billy Napier and his staff are going full steam ahead to try to build relationships with prospects.
One of the main targets will be four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc. The 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound prospect from Osceola (Kissimmee) is the No. 86 player in the country and No. 12 DL, and he plans to be on campus the weekend of March 5, according to a report from On3’s Gerry Hamilton.
That will be a busy recruiting weekend for the Gators, who will have a number of targets taking visits. LeBlanc, a blue-chip in-state prospect, will be one of the major ones.
He was in Miami this weekend for the Under Armour All-America Camp and has committed to play in the 2023 All-American Bowl.
. @getrightderrick getting ready to compete at the UA Camp in Miami. https://t.co/FwFojqquiQ pic.twitter.com/ZkChiupmlx
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) February 20, 2022
LeBlanc picked up an offer under the previous staff and officially visited UF several times during the fall. He also made a trip in January to meet with the new staff, so this will be his second time visiting with them.
He also picked up an offer from Oklahoma on Friday and plans to visit the Sooners on March 24. He also has offers from other top programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia.
Recruiting in the trenches will be key if Florida is going to compete with the most talented teams in the SEC, and it’s clear that Napier and Co. are making that a priority in their first full recruiting cycle.
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