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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