Category: Football Recruiting

5-star 2023 edge rusher to visit Florida this weekend

Malik Bryant, who also has offers from Alabama, Georgia and Miami (among many others), will be on campus this weekend in Gainesville.

Florida still needs to do a lot of work to finish up its 2022 recruiting class, which ranks just 41st nationally and remains the worst class in the SEC, per the 247Sports Composite. There will be a lot of key visitors from this cycle on campus over the next few weeks, but coach Billy Napier‘s team will also be hosting a few top 2023 recruits in the coming weeks.

One that will be on campus this coming weekend is five-star edge rusher Malik Bryant. An Orlando native who attends Jones High School, the 6-foot-2-inch, 235-pound player is the No. 21 prospect nationally on the 247Sports Composite and the No. 2 edge rusher. He announced that he will be in Gainesville this weekend on his Twitter account.

Bryant, who played his sophomore season at IMG Academy before returning to his home school, is one of the most coveted players in the 2023 class, and the Gators will have to fend off some other top suitors if they want to keep him in-state. Among his multitude of offers are Alabama and Georgia, which are considered to be his top schools at the moment alongside UF and Miami, who just hired a coach in Mario Cristobal who is known for his recruiting acumen.

Here’s the evaluation of Bryant from 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.

Promising frame with some bulk already showing in the arms. Should only get bigger over the next few years. A twitchy edge rusher that creates plenty of issues for opposing quarterbacks. Uses quick first step to freeze offensive tackles. Well-timed spin move frequently leads to sacks. Fluid in his movement patterns and able to move laterally in space. Spent time the spring following freshman season playing linebacker on the camp circuit. Transferred into IMG Academy as a sophomore and instantly became one of the team’s top players totaling a pair of sacks against a talented Duncanville squad. Will need to keep progressing, but early body of work suggests that he’s one of the top pass rushers in the class of 2023. Could eventually push for five-star status.

Obviously, this was written before Bryant earned his fifth star, but it shows that he’s a very good athlete. As Ivins mentions, he’ll need to add some bulk at the next level, but he would be a massive get for Napier’s 2023 class, which currently ranks 19th in the nation with just two players committed.

A successful visit with Bryant this weekend could go a long way toward being in a good position to land him entering his senior season.

[lawrence-related id=66861,66837,66762,66741,66712]

[listicle id=66642]

[listicle id=66683]

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

Florida rises sharply in rankings after securing pledge from 4-star RB recruit

Trevor Etienne’s commitment propelled the Gators up 12 spots to No. 41 on the 247Sports composite rankings.

Gators coach Billy Napier had another big recruiting win on Saturday, as Jennings, Louisiana, running back Trevor Etienne announced his commitment to UF at the All-American Bowl over Clemson and LSU. The younger brother of former Clemson star Travis Etienne, the younger Etienne is a four-star recruit and the No. 183 player on the 247Sports Composite.

With his commitment, Florida saw its spot in the 247Sports recruiting rankings rise considerably. It entered the day at No. 53 but rose to No. 41 following Etienne’s announcement.

Etienne becomes the highest-ranked offensive commit in the class, and getting a Clemson legacy from Louisiana to choose the Gators over either of the Tigers squads targeting him is an impressive accomplishment for Napier.

However, he still has a lot of work to do with this class. It remains the worst class in the SEC and currently only has 11 members. Nine of those have already signed — and one has already enrolled in five-star safety Kamari Wilson — while Etienne and three-star Eastside (Covington, Georgia) offensive lineman Jalen Farmer are the only unsigned players.

This class needs to grow and it has a lot of room to, so Florida should continue to move up before and after national signing day on Feb. 2. However, it’s unclear how many more players Napier wishes to add with the number of quality options in the transfer portal (including several Louisiana starters who UF is likely well-positioned for).

This is a recruiting class that ranked outside the top 75 before early signing day in December, so Napier is certainly making progress. But he still needs to do a lot more if it’s going to earn even a respectable finish in the rankings.

[lawrence-related id=66762,66741,66712,66695,66663]

[listicle id=66642]

[listicle id=66683]

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

This 4-star running back just committed to Florida at the All-American Bowl

The Gators got their running back for the class of 2022!

Four-star running back Trevor Etienne committed to the University of Florida during the All-American Bowl pregame show Saturday.

“I have nothing but love for Clemson,” Etienne said. “But I wanted to see something new, do something new for myself. Florida felt like home for me and that’s where it’s going to be.”

Etienne’s brother, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, went to Clemson, but Trevor is set on carving out his own path. He opted to commit to Florida over the Tigers and LSU. Etienne has been silently committed to the Gators since Dan Mullen was the coach, according to 247Sports.

The coaching change worried Etienne but Florida’s hiring of Billy Napier worked out perfectly. Etienne said that he wanted to be coached by Napier and told him so when he heard of the hiring.

“I like what Coach Napier is doing and his vision for the program,” he said. “I see myself being able to help them become a better place and that’s something I want to see myself be part of.”

Florida’s 2022 recruiting class now sits at 11 players (not including transfers), and Etienne fills a big hole at running back. He’s rated No. 183 overall on the 247Sports Composite and is the 15th-best available running back on the list.

[lawrence-related id=66741,66712,66663,66658,66638]

[listicle id=66642]

[listicle id=66683]

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

4-star running back Trevor Etienne discusses upcoming decision

Etienne is weighing all his options for what will be a “40-year decision.”

Florida currently has no running backs committed in the class of 2022, but that could change on Saturday. Louisiana running back Trevor Etienne, younger brother of former Clemson standout and Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Travis, is set to announce his commitment between in-state LSU, his brother’s former team and the Gators at the Adidas All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

UF has made a late push for Etienne’s services, and it seems to be well-positioned heading into Saturday. With Florida’s Billy Napier coaching in Louisiana the last four seasons, the two have a prior relationship, Etienne told AllGators.

“I’m 30 minutes from there so I was there a lot, you know, getting to know him over the phone and in-person like just talking,” Etienne said. “Just keep building that relationship.”

Etienne praised the direction the program is heading in, and he said that the combination of a top-five public education and Napier’s on-field vision makes it an appealing potential destination.

“The education, there? That’s (the) top school in the education, so that’s something that’ll help me in the long run,” he said.

“I love the vision that they have for the program. It’s definitely something that I see myself being a part of. That’s just somewhere I would see myself going.”

But Etienne isn’t going to be starry-eyed about the decision. The No. 183 prospect on the 247Sports Composite, he certainly has had a number of potential suitors. However, he also has an older brother who has been through this process before, and he said the elder Etienne told him to be true to himself in making this “40-year decision.”

“You know, don’t do something based off of what someone else did or has a say so in,” Etienne said his brother told him. “I’m the one that has to live with this decision. And this is a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision. So, this is something you have to live with for the rest of your life.”

Florida will hope to secure the commitment of Etienne on Saturday, and the addition would prove to be a nice boost for a recruiting class that needs a lot of work. If Etienne decides to commit elsewhere, the Gators are still in the running for another four-star Louisiana running back in TreVonte’ Citizen, who hasn’t announced a commitment date but will sign his letter of intent on national signing day.

[lawrence-related id=66695,66663,66658,66638,66630]

[listicle id=66642]

[listicle id=66683]

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

Here’s where Florida stands in ESPN’s recruiting rankings after bowl season

The Gators still have a lot of work to do on the trail before national signing day on Feb. 2.

Florida coach Billy Napier inherited a mess of a transition class for 2022. When he took the job, the team was hemorrhaging commits both from the team’s late-season collapse and the subsequent decision to fire coach Dan Mullen. It looked like UF’s class was shaping up to be one of the worst in years, and it was unclear how much even someone with a reputation as a stellar recruiter like Napier could do to fix it.

It’s been a process, but Napier is slowly turning that class around. He added three blue-chip recruits on early signing day, including a five-star safety in Kamari Wilson and a four-star linebacker in Shemar James who was originally committed to the Gators but left the class. He also avoided losing any further commitments on signing day.

There’s still a lot that needs to be done, though, as Florida’s 2022 class still ranks just 59th in the nation, according to ESPN’s recruiting rankings following bowl season.

ESPN 300 commits: 4 | Previous ranking: 63

SEC rank: 14 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Tony Livingston (No. 209)
Top defensive commit: S Kamari Wilson (No. 14)

This a small class, and new head coach Billy Napier has a lot of work to do, but the Gators came out of the early signing period with some positives to build upon. A late visit right before the dead period went a long way in beating Georgia for five-star safety Wilson, an impact-type defender. They were also able to bring one-time Florida commit and ESPN 300 LB Shemar James back into the fold. Livingston is a high school tight end with a ton of upside as an OT with development.

This would be a disappointing class if it ended today, but with only 10 signees and one unsigned commit, this class has the room to add a lot more. There are several top players Florida is targeting, including four-star Louisiana running backs Trevor Etienne and TreVonte’ Citizen. There’s also five-star linebacker Harold Perkins, who committed to Texas A&M on Sunday but will take an official visit to Gainesville the weekend of Jan. 14.

It may be too late for Napier to make this an elite class, but with a solid haul on national signing day, this shouldn’t be the worst class in the SEC for long.

[lawrence-related id=66663,66658,66638,66630,66622]

[listicle id=66642]

[listicle id=66683]

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

Gators make top 5 for this four-star defensive back

Florida needs to make up some ground on this recruit despite landing in his top five.

Four-star defensive back Jahlil Florence has cut his list of schools down to five and it includes the Florida Gators.

The California recruit announced on Twitter that he’d be focusing on Florida, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon and USC moving forward. He plans to commit on National Signing Day but only has a visit set up with Miami so far, according to 247Sports.

The Ducks earned Florence’s commitment back in August, but he backed off that pledge in December after Mario Cristobal went to Miami. The Trojans already hosted him before the dead period, putting Florida and Oklahoma at the back of the pack.

Although there’s some ground for Billy Napier and his staff to makeup, Florence could easily be a Gator come February. He’s available on Jan. 21 and Jan. 28 for a visit, and Florida should be pushing to get him to the Swamp.

Miami may have Cristobal but they don’t have a defensive backs coach yet, and Oregon’s just got picked up by Colorado. Florida has Corey Raymond, who helped land five-star Kamari Wilson in the early signing period.

Florence is No. 72 nationally on 247Sports’ rankings and he’s the No. 11 corner available for 2022. ESPN, Rivals and On3 have him rated as a four-star recruit as well.

[lawrence-related id=66658,66630,66626,66622,66553]

[listicle id=65957]

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

5-star Texas A&M commit sets official visit date with Gators

Harold Perkins will visit UF on Jan. 14 despite committing to Texas A&M on Sunday.

As expected, five-star linebacker Harold Perkins announced his commitment to Texas A&M at Sunday’s Under Armour All-American Game. Perkins is a consensus top-10 prospect and the No. 5 player in the country, per the 247Sports Composite, and the Cypress, Texas, native chose the in-state Aggies over LSU and Texas.

However, his recruiting process isn’t done just yet. Perkins has not signed and will take official visits before national signing day on Feb. 2. He said before his commitment that he planned to visit Gainesville, and he will in fact take that trip on Jan. 14, according to 247Sports’ Blake Alderman.

Florida offered the 6-foot-2.5-inch, 210-pound player way back in April 2020, but the old staff didn’t gain much ground with him. However, he’s formed relationships already with several on the new staff, namely co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney as well as head coach Billy Napier and defensive analyst Jamar Chaney.

Perkins has also been recruited by five-star UF early enrollee Kamari Wilson, as the two were teammates at the All-American Game in Orlando this week.

Florida certainly has some ground to make up, and getting Perkins to waver on a commitment he made just a few days ago won’t be easy. But he would be the Gators’ highest-rated commit since Martez Ivey in 2015, and they’ll look to sway him on the official visit in just over a week.

[lawrence-related id=66622,66553,66537,66530,66528]

[listicle id=65957]

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

Gators ahead of the pack for this 3-star wide receiver

This guy appears to be all-in on Florida heading into his official visit.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=none image=https://gatorswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Florida football continues to make its push on the recruiting trail ahead of the official visit period starting in just over a week. The latest name to surface is three-star wide receiver Caleb Douglas, who has the Gators out front for his services according to Gators Online.

While the 6-foot-3-inch, 182-pound pass-catcher from Missouri City, Texas, has yet to visit the university’s campus, he appears to be high on making Gainesville his destination after decommitting from the USC Trojans late November. Douglas also has offers on the table from the Baylor Bears, Virginia Tech Hokies and Texas Longhorns, in addition to Florida. However, according to a conversation with Gators Online, the Orange and Blue are currently his primary focus. Here is what he had to say.

“They’re on top; they’re for surely on top. I like that if I was to go there, I would have a chance to play as a freshman because they are not super deep at the wide receiver corps. On top of that, I like the coaching staff. They are very cool. Outside of football, if I want to talk to them, I know I could.”

When asked about other schools in the running, he simply stated, “I haven’t really been considering all the other schools. We’ve been talking and all that, but the vibes are different at Florida, so I don’t even know yet.” The feeling appears to be pretty mutual, as Billy Napier and his staff have made Douglas one of their top priorities considering that he was the very first prep to receive an offer from the new regime.

Douglas will join nearly a dozen prospects on Jan. 14 for their official visit to the University of Florida. There is little doubt that he will like what he sees and hopefully, given his positivity for the new staff so far, he turns out to be a slam-dunk commitment for the 2022 class.

[lawrence-related id=66530,66528,66503,66457,66422]

[listicle id=65957]

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

These four Florida signees plan to early enroll in Gainesville

One signee has already enrolled in five-star safety Kamari Wilson, and he’s expected to be joined by three others.

Florida has a lot of work to be done ahead of national signing day on Feb. 2, but it got off to a good start with an early signing day in December that went better than most expected. We learned on Monday from a report by Gators Online’s Corey Bender that four of those players plan to early enroll in Gainesville.

Five-star safety Kamari Wilson headlines this group, and the team announced on Monday that Wilson had already enrolled at UF. Wilson, the No. 28 overall player in the country (per the 247Sports Composite), was a major early signing day win for coach Billy Napier, as the IMG Academy prospect was previously considered a Georgia lean. He competed in the Under Armour All-American game in Orlando this past weekend.

He’ll be available for spring practice alongside Kamryn Waits, a transfer from Louisiana who played in just three games last year as a true freshman. The monsterous 6-foot-8-inch, 358-pound offensive tackle has four more years of eligibility. Florida announced Waits’ matriculation alongside Wilson’s.

According to the report from Bender, three more Gators signees plan to enroll early in the coming weeks: safety Devin Moore, offensive tackle David Conner and defensive tackle Chris McClellan. Moore was a player who committed on early signing day, while Napier maintained commitments from Conner and McClellan during the transition. Moore and McClellan are four-star prospects who have committed to play in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio this week.

All five of these players will be available when spring practice begins next month as Napier tries to turn things around in Year 1 after a 6-7 finish in 2021.

[lawrence-related id=66422,66406,66393,66355,64901]

[listicle id=66339]

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

Gators should make this transferring lineman a recruiting priority

This former Ragin’ Cajun should be on the Gators’ transfer portal wish list.

Let’s be honest, the Gators are in desperate need of help along the offensive line. The unit was hardly a shining example of discipline despite its carefully manicured veteran status and the team’s depth is pitiful thanks to former coach John Hevesy’s struggles in recruiting.

New head coach Billy Napier’s staff has made a few additions, flipping tackle recruit Christian Williams to a Gators commitment and snagging transferring center Kam Waites from the portal. What do the two have in common? Both were originally slated to play for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns next year, and followed Napier and offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton to The Swamp.

That well isn’t dry, though. Right guard O’Cyrus Torrence has entered the transfer portal after starting for the Ragin’ Cajuns for the past three seasons. Not only does the team have a prime angle for making him a Gator, they should make doing so a priority.

Starting at right guard last season was sixth-year lineman Stewart Reese, who started his career at Mississippi State transferred to Florida with Dan Mullen and Hevesy. Though Reese was a useful player, his eligibility is completely expended, including the extra COVID year for players who were eligible in 2020. Now that he’s out of the picture, there’s a gaping hole at right guard and no obvious successor. Clearly, Torrence would fill a need for the team.

Furthermore, he’s more than just an old pal for Napier and Stapleton. He has real SEC potential. Torrence won All-Conference honors two years in a row as a member of Louisiana’s offensive line and has the physical tools to back it up.

I took the opportunity to watch some of Torrence’s 2021 tape, largely from the App State game, and I came away impressed with his abilities. He’s a mobile guard who routinely breaks into the second level and takes linebackers out of the equation. He also seems competent redirecting bull rushes, especially to his left and into a double team with the center.

That’s not to say he’s without flaw. The weak spot in Torrence’s game is his upper body strength. When a defensive lineman gets the better of him by leveraging him backward, he struggles to recover and almost always loses the rep. Lorenz Lienweber, a Senior Scout at Sports Illustrated’s NFL Draft Bible, expressed the same opinion on Twitter. This isn’t an issue that will go away in the SEC. Because there aren’t too many players who tower over his 6-foot-5-inch frame, though, it’s more of a nagging annoyance than a debilitating problem.

Torrence is familiar with the scheme the Gators will be running and the coaches who will be running it, he has plenty of experience as a starter, and he has the skills to hang in there with almost anyone. That fits what Florida needs to a tee.

With only two years of eligibility remaining, Torrence isn’t a long-term solution to any of the Gators’ problems. Bringing him onto the team is a low-risk proposition, though, which is exactly what the Gators need in the trenches. Sports247 has already logged a Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Florida, but if it hasn’t already happened, making him a priority needs to be a no-brainer for Napier and Stapleton.

[lawrence-related id=66406,66393,66398,66355,64901]

[listicle id=65957]

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