Category: Football Recruiting

Florida Gators football No. 7 in latest ESPN 2021 recruiting rankings

Representing a drop of two spots, the Florida Gators, owners of 11 ESPN 300 pledges, slotted in at No. 7 in the nation for the 2021 class.

Compiled by staff writer Craig Haubert, ESPN released their updated 2021 football recruiting rankings on Friday, September 11 (subscription required).

Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, who possesses 16 ESPN 300 commits, held steady at No. 1, followed by Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes and Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers to complete the top-three.

Representing a drop of two spots, the Florida Gators, owners of 11 ESPN 300 pledges, slotted in at No. 7.

Both earning grades of 86 from the publication, Miami cornerback Jason Marshall, Jr. and Loganville, Georgia pro-style quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson are Florida’s highest-rated commits.

Safety Corey Collier, Marshall’s teammate at Miami Palmetto, Fort Lauderdale defensive end Tyreak Sapp, and Powder Springs, Georgia outside linebacker Chief Borders are not far behind, all garnering grades of 84.

247Sports also pegs the Gators’ collection of prospects as the seventh-best nationally, one of the rare occasions where the two services’ rankings align.

Occupying the three spots after Florida, Manny Diaz’ Miami Hurricanes, Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels, and Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs rounded out ESPN’s top-10.

Showcasing why the Southeastern Conference (SEC) is considered the pinnacle of college football, the league had 11 of the 39 schools included in the network’s rankings, including eight in the top-25.

Other notables from ESPN include Tom Herman’s Texas Longhorns at No. 13, Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines at No. 14, Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma Sooners at No. 15, Paul Chryst’s Wisconsin Badgers at No. 17, and Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles at No. 20.

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Florida Gators make SI’s list of top wide receiver hauls in 2021 class

Although none of Florida’s four commits at the position made the SI99, the program still slotted in at No. 2 on the website’s rankings.

Sports Illustrated’s All-American staff released their top-five wide receiver groups in the 2021 class on September 2, with the Florida Gators earning recognition.

Before we dive in, a quick note: Star rankings are courtesy of the 247Sports Composite.

Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, who feature two wideouts in the SI99 – a comprehensive ranking of the publication’s top-99 players in the cycle – led the way.

Orlando four-star slot receiver Christian Leary and IMG Academy five-star Jacorey Brooks, who checked in at No. 42 and 46 on the SI99, respectively, are the Tide’s top-two players at the position in the cycle; Valrico’s Agiye Hall, another four-star, was also mentioned.

Although none of Florida’s four commits at the position made the SI99, the program still slotted in at No. 2 on the website’s rankings.

Ocala four-star Trevonte Rucker, who pledged to the Gators on February 11, is the school’s highest-rated wide receiver in the class, with a trio of fellow four-stars, Loganville, Georgia’s Daejon Reynolds, Jacksonville’s Marcus Burke, and Seffner’s Charles Montgomery, who might also see some snaps at running back in Gainesville, following closely behind.

“Rucker is a prospect we’ve tracked since he was a freshman, and while he currently plays quarterback, we project a similar role to current Gator Kadarius Toney in Dan Mullen’s offense,” SI began of their Florida breakdown.

“Montgomery is another versatile prospect who can play running back, as well as H-receiver for Florida. Reynolds is a thick-bodied receiver with impressive ball skills and body control, plus he can develop into a solid blocker, something Mullen asks of his receivers.

“However, the most intriguing player amongst this group is Burke. At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Burke possesses length and long speed to become a vertical threat for the Gators as an X-receiver.”

The Michigan Wolverines, who, as of September 2, do not have a firm start date for their upcoming season, were No. 3 on SI’s list.

Jim Harbaugh’s program possesses four wideout pledges in the cycle, and two of them made the SI99, headlined by Fresno, California four-star Xavier Worthy, who does most of his damage out of the slot. The other Wolverine to make the cut, Santa Ana, California’s Cristian Dixon, also a four-star, holds the unique distinction of occupying the No. 99 spot on the SI rankings.

Clayton, Ohio’s Markus Allen and East Lansing, Michigan’s Andrel Anthony, both three-stars, are Michigan’s two other commits for offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis, who joined the program in 2019 following a one-year stint on Saban’s staff.

The Clemson Tigers, featuring three wideouts in the SI99, and Oregon Ducks, who hold a commitment from one receiver on the list, rounded out the list.

Manny Diaz’ Miami Hurricanes, Dave Aranda’s Baylor Bears, and Mark Stoops’ Kentucky Wildcats earned honorable mention.

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Safety prospect Kamar Wilcoxson enrolls at Florida, practices with team

IMG Academy four-star cornerback Kamar Wilcoxson has officially enrolled at UF and has practiced with the team as recently as Friday.

IMG Academy four-star cornerback Kamar Wilcoxson, who recommited to Florida on June 19 and later reclassified as a 2020 recruit after foregoing his final year of high school, has officially enrolled at the University of Florida and has practiced with the team as recently as Friday.

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Here is what 247Sports has to say about the talented young defensive back.

Versatile defensive back who could end up at corner or safety in college. Has a safety frame, shows a lot of range and does a nice job making plays sideline to sideline. Shows good ball skills, is a willing hitter and plays with a nice edge to his game. He has the athletic traits to play corner as well and shows both short area quickness, change of direction and long speed. His size and toughness is tailer made for press coverage and he plays with the kind of confidence and swagger you like to see in a corner. Where he ends up positionally will likely be determined by how much size he puts on but you love his versatility, skill set and ability to matchup with the big receivers in college football.

Wilcoxson is among four other safeties in the 2020 recruiting class, with Rashad Torrence II and also earning a four-star rating from both 247Sports and Rivals, while Tre’Vez Johnson earned a three-star rating from the two scouting services, respectively. The 2020 defensive backfield class also includes cornerbacks Jahari Rogers, Ethan Pouncey and — all dually rated as four-stars at their position — as well as Fenley Graham, who holds a three-star rating from 247Sports but a four-star from Rivals.

The talented incoming freshman had the following to say about the early start to his collegiate career in Gainesville.

“I am really exited to go to work with those guys and we have the same aspirations and it’s like everyone wants to see everyone succeed. That is a room I want to be in. I have been taking to Kaiir [Elam] a lot and he’s been telling me how stuff is going to be and the run down.”

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Florida Gators football in the running for two uncommitted five-stars

The Gators already have the No. 5 recruiting class in the country in 2021, but that ranking could potentially get even better.

The Gators already have the No. 5 recruiting class in the country in 2021, but that ranking could potentially get even better.

In a ranking of the top-10 uncommitted prospects in the 2021 cycle, The Athletic listed two five-star recruits that coach Dan Mullen and the Gators are currently in the running for.

Louisiana defensive tackle Maason Smith and Texas defensive end Tunmise Adeleye are each considering UF as one of their top schools, though Florida likely has an uphill battle to land both.

Here’s The Athletic’s summary of each prospect.

NEXT: DT Maason Smith

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Florida Gators in mix for three more 2021 top football prospects

ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren released his latest predictions for the top remaining uncommitted prospects with UF making the cut for 3 of the names.

Currently consisting of 24 members, the Florida Gators’ 2021 recruiting class is ranked No. 6 in America and third-best in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), per the 247Sports Composite.

This grade is already the highest of any of the four classes compiled during head coach Dan Mullen’s tenure, and the program appears primed to add even more firepower to the group.

ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren released his latest predictions for five of the top remaining uncommitted prospects in the cycle on August 26 (subscription required), with the Gators making the cut for three of the names.

According to VanHaaren, the player to watch is Vanguard (Ocala, Florida) four-star strong-side defensive end Bryce Langston, a teammate of fellow 2021 Florida commit Trevonte Rucker, a four-star wide receiver.

“Langston had been committed to Florida since 2018 but decommitted in 2019,” VanHaaren pointed out.

“That was a case in which a prospect made a decision too soon, backed off, but still had interest in the school. The Gators continued pursuing him, and Langston was able to visit campus before the dead period was put in place.

“The lack of any visits might help Florida get him in the end. Without the opportunity to take an actual visit and see a place like LSU in person for a game, that could make a big difference in any recruit’s process.”

Listed at 6-foot-2.5-inches and 250 pounds, Langston is the 247Sports Composite’s No. 11 player at his position in the class and a top-20 player in the state. Echoing VanHaaren’s prediction, the Gators hold all six of his Crystal Ball Predictions, including ones from Blake Alderman and Steve Wiltfong.

One of the other prospects Florida made the shortlist for was Robinson Secondary (Fairfax, Virginia) five-star offensive tackle Tristan Leigh.

NEXT: Read more

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The Athletic complimentary of the Florida Gators’ latest work on football recruiting trail

Florida’s upcoming class now stands at 24 members. Marshall, the lone five-star, is the highest-rated of the group, followed by Tyreak Sapp.

Releasing his latest “This week in recruiting” article on August 12 (subscription required), The Athletic’s Ari Wasserman praised the recent work of head coach Dan Mullen and the rest of his Florida Gators coaching staff on the recruiting trail.

“This week, Mullen enjoyed perhaps his best two days on the recruiting trail as Florida’s head coach,” he began.

“Mullen went into South Florida and landed teammates from Miami (Fla.) Palmetto who both rank in the top-100 nationally: (five-star cornerback Jason Marshall) and four-star safety Corey Collier, the No. 83 overall player. Florida’s class jumped to No. 6 nationally with the two commitments.

“We could make this a discussion about how Miami, which is recruiting quite well this season, missed on two local players who could have vaulted its class into the top-three in the nation. Remember, the Hurricanes have two five-star prospects from Miami committed, including defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, who also plays at Palmetto. The Hurricanes had a chance to do something truly remarkable.

“But you have to give credit to Florida for recruiting these two Palmetto stars. Even though they are much closer to Miami’s campus, they are still in-state prospects for the Gators.”

Florida’s upcoming class now stands at 24 members. Marshall, the lone five-star, is the highest-rated of the group, followed by Collier and Fort Lauderdale four-star defensive end Tyreak Sapp.

A name to watch to join this group is Bradenton four-star defensive end Tunmise Adeleye, who decommitted from Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes on August 11.

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Playing his first three seasons at Katy (Texas) High School, Tunmise plans to suit up for IMG Academy, one of the nation’s premier talent-producing programs, as a senior.

Florida first extended him an offer on January 29, 2019 and have twice secured his presence on campus, first on February 1 for a Junior Day and again on March 7 for an unofficial visit.

Defensive line coach David Turner and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham have been leading the charge on his recruitment.

On the offensive side of the football, Ocala wide receiver Trevonte Rucker and Loganville, Georgia quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and wideout Daejon Reynolds lead the way, with another receiver, Jacksonville’s Marcus Burke, not far behind.

As Wasserman mentioned, this collection of pledges now ranks No. 6 in America, per the 247Sports Composite, trailing only Ohio State, Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers, Mario Cristobal’s Oregon Ducks, and Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers.

Ed Orgeron’s LSU Tigers, Clay Helton’s USC Trojans, and Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines round out the top-10.

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Gators continue roll on football recruiting trail, add 4-star S Corey Collier

Collier is the No. 83 overall player in the cycle, No. 3 player at his position, and a top-15 player in the state per 247Sports Composite.

For the second-straight day, the Florida Gators added a Miami Palmetto Panther to their 2021 recruiting class, this time in the form of four-star safety Corey Collier.

Per the 247Sports Composite, Collier is the No. 83 overall player in the cycle, the No. 3 player at his position, and a top-15 player in the state.

Primarily recruited by quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson and cornerbacks coach Torrian Gray, Florida originally offered the standout defensive back on October 15, 2018, when he was just a sophomore.

He took an unofficial visit to Gainesville on June 13, 2019 — along with teammate Jason Marshall, a five-star cornerback who pledged to the Gators on Sunday — and returned to campus on March 7 for one of the program’s Junior Days.

Collier’s father, Cornelius, played cornerback for the Florida State Seminoles under legendary head coach Bobby Bowden from 1999-2002, a sign of athletic bloodlines.

Andrew Ivins, a Miami Hurricanes insider for 247Sports, projects Collier as a starter at the Power Five level, but one that may need a year or two to develop first.

“Long frame with long limbs that doesn’t appear to be anywhere near close to being fully physically developed as the body is still maturing,” Ivins began in his prospect breakdown.

“Should add muscle mass once in college strength program, which will make him more explosive. An intelligent defender with good ball skills that knows how to take the right angles.”

The 24th commit in the Gators’ upcoming class, Collier is the fifth defensive back in the haul, joining Marshall, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania safety Donovan McMillon, Winter Park safety Dakota Mitchell, and Tampa cornerback Jordan Young.

McMillon, Mitchell, and Young are each listed as three-star recruits.

Overall, Collier is the second-highest rated commit in the group, trailing only Marshall.

With this latest addition, Florida’s 2021 class is now ranked No. 6 nationally and third-best in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), behind only Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 2 in America) and Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers (No. 5).

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Florida Gators add five-star CB Jason Marshall to 2021 football class

Marshall, who the Gators have been courting since his sophomore year in 2018, was the program’s top target in the upcoming class.

While the news regarding the 2020 college football season has been bleak in recent days, the Florida Gators made an impactful splash on August 9, adding five-star Miami cornerback Jason Marshall to their 2021 class.

Marshall, who the Gators have been courting since his sophomore year in 2018, was the program’s top target in the upcoming class.

Originally offering the in-state standout, who the 247Sports Composite ranks as the No. 2 player at his position in the cycle, on October 16, 2018, he took an unofficial visit to Gainesville on June 13, 2019, and returned to campus on March 7 for one of the program’s Junior Days.

As of earlier this month, it looked like Manny Diaz’ Miami Hurricanes were leading the race to land Marshall’s services, picking up Crystal Ball predictions from Blake Alderman and Andrew Ivins on August 1.

In fact, Miami held five of his six Crystal Balls (83-percent), with Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide possessing the other one. It appeared as if Dan Mullen’s Florida program was on the fringes of Marshall’s recruitment.

“They really just kept it real with me since they offered me my sophomore year, and since then, I grew relationships with coach Mullen, coach (Brian) Johnson, and coach (Torrian) Gray,” Marshall told Alderman, who is the program’s lead writer for 247Sports.

“It’s possible I can come in and have early playing time. I think I can fit their defense because of the techniques they play and the style of defense.”

The lone five-star among the Gators’ 24 current commits, Marshall is the highest-rated pledge in the class.

Joining Fort Lauderdale defensive end Tyreak Sapp, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College outside linebacker Diwun Black, and Carrollton, Georgia’s Chief Borders, all four-stars, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has stocked the cupboard full at all three levels moving forward.

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Florida Gators hold steady in latest ESPN football recruiting rankings

The ESPN released their latest 2021 recruiting class rankings on August 5 with the Florida Gators remaining in the No. 8 position.

The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) released their latest 2021 recruiting class rankings on August 5 (subscription required), with the Florida Gators remaining at No. 8.

Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes occupied the No. 1 spot, followed by Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers, and Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels to complete the top-five.

Earning a grade of 86 from the service, Loganville, Georgia pro-style quarterback Carlos Del Rio is the highest-rated of the Gators’ 22 commits in the cycle.

Fort Lauderdale defensive end Tyreak Sapp (84) is Florida’s top defensive pledge.

Nine of the program’s commits earned ESPN 300 status, including, in addition to Del Rio and Sapp, Powder Springs, Georgia outside linebacker Chief Borders, Ocala wide receiver Trevonte Rucker, and Jacksonville tight end Nick Elksnis.

All told, seven Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools made the network’s top-25; Ed Orgeron’s LSU Tigers, the reigning College Football Playoff national champions, slotted in at No. 6, Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs at No. 12, Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M Aggies at No. 16, and Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers at No. 18.

Other notables include Manny Diaz’ Miami Hurricanes at No. 10, Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines at No. 11, Tom Herman’s Texas Longhorns at No. 13, and Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles at No. 20.

This No. 8 ranking from ESPN is three spots higher than 247Sports’ opinion of the Gators’ class, which lists the Gainesville-based program at No. 11.

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Four-star DB Kamar Wilcoxson reclassifies, joins 2020 class

Courted by Todd Grantham and Torrian Gray, Wilcoxson’s recruitment was one of the most eventful in recent Gators history.

The Florida Gators’ 2020 class already ranked No. 9 nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, but this collection of prospects became even stronger on Monday with four-star cornerback Kamar Wilcoxson’s decision to forgo his senior year of high school football and join the cycle.

Wilcoxson hinted at the choice to reclassify on his Twitter account, @KamarWilcoxson4.

While listed as a safety by the major recruiting services, many around the program project Wilcoxson to play cornerback in Gainesville. He spent his first three prep seasons at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia and had planned to play his senior campaign at Bradenton’s IMG Academy, one of America’s premier talent-producing programs.

Courted by defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and position coach Torrian Gray, Wilcoxson’s recruitment was one of the most eventful in recent Gators history.

He initially committed to Florida on November 3, 2018 but backed off that pledge on April 27, 2019. One year to the day of his decommitment, April 27, 2020, he verbally agreed to play for Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers.

His allegiance to Knoxville was short-lived, however, as on June 19, he flipped back to the Gators.

Wilcoxson was rated as the eighth-highest of Florida’s 23 current commits in the 2021 cycle, now, he slots in eleventh of the program’s 22 enrollees in the 2020 class.

He is expected to officially enroll and arrive on-campus later in August.

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