Recruiting remains at the forefront of the Florida football hot stove as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. turn their attention from the 2023 cycle to the next one and beyond. One of the head coach’s strongest focuses has been on pressing hard for prep prospects within the Sunshine State, which has paid off pretty well early on.
Among those to have received an offer to play for the Orange and Blue is top 2025 cornerback prospect [autotag]Ivan Taylor[/autotag] out of Winter Garden (Florida) West Orange. With that offer in hand, the 5-foot-11-inch, 170-pound defensive back told Gators Online’s Corey Bender that, “Florida sits top five” among the schools that have extended scholarships so far.
“The first thing I would have to say I like about them is they’re welcoming as a whole. When they came to look at (2023 high school teammate) [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag], they were all just so welcoming to him. He looked comfortable and, like, he could be himself,” Taylor explained to Bender.
Speaking of his former Warriors teammate Castell, he has maintained a mentor-like relationship with the incoming college freshman.
“My relationship with JC is very good. He took me under his wing and has helped me with football and academics. Our football chemistry is very good. I could see myself playing with Jordan in future years.”
The high school sophomore currently has offers on the table from the Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida State Seminoles, Michigan Wolverines, South Carolina Gamecocks, Tennessee Volunteers and Penn State Nittany Lions, among others
Taylor is rated four stars and ranked No. 31 overall and No. 1 at his position nationally according to 247Sports; neither the 247Sports composite nor the On3 consensus has any data on him. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has the Gamecocks out ahead early for his talents with a 30.8% chance of landing him, while the Ole Miss Rebels, Pitt Panthers and Wolverines follow at 26.9%, 23.1% and 19.2%, respectively.
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