The Florida Gators jumped one spot in ESPN’s latest 2023 recruiting rankings. They are the eighth-highest team nationally (an increase of one spot), and the fourth-highest SEC team in the rankings behind Alabama (No. 1), Georgia (No. 3), and LSU (No. 7). They are the second-highest team in the state of Florida, with Miami two spots ahead of them at No. 6.
The Gators had an up-and-down season on the field, finishing with a 6-6 record that included two straight road losses to Vanderbilt and Florida State to end the season. Despite that, they have managed to maintain their positive momentum on the recruiting trail.
Since Napier published his open letter to the fans, Florida has received commitments from 15 players, all four-star prospects. At the end of July, the Gators hosted their annual Friday Night Lights recruiting event. The next day, they followed it up with a cookout for recruits that was regarded as a massive success. That turnaround was enough to give Napier the moniker “Blue-Chip Billy”.
Napier has even managed to flip a few high-profile recruits. Top offensive linemen Roderick Kearney flipped his commitment from Florida State to the Gators, solidifying a position of need for Napier. Missing out on QB Jalen Rashada, which prompted Napier’s open letter to the fans, isn’t as big a deal in hindsight. Rashada flipped his commitment from Miami to Florida earlier this month, showing Napier’s ability to land a coveted prospect even if the door seems to have been slammed shut.
Early signing day is coming up on Dec. 21, giving Napier and his staff some time to solidify the 2023 recruits currently committed and time to flip some other recruits at key positions.
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