Gators get 247Sports crystal ball prediction for 4-star defensive lineman

Florida does not have a defensive lineman signed in the 2024 recruiting cycle yet, but this big man might be the first.

Florida football got another crystal ball prediction from 247Sports on Monday when Blake Alderman submitted his pick for four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Nasir Johnson[/autotag] out of Dublin (Georgia). The projection for the 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound trench warrior was given a medium level of confidence.

Alderman’s pick is based on what he has seen the past few months as Johnson has made a series of unofficial visits to campus. In his most recent stop, he came away so impressed with what Billy Napier and Co. have put together in the Swamp that the Gators earned the top spot among preferred schools.

“They sit number one with me right now,” Johnson said to Swamp247. “They are showing that they really want me and they will do whatever it takes to get me. Not just about football either. They are going deeper. They treat me like family and showing me real genuine love.”

His main points of contact with Florida’s staff have been area recruiter Jay Bateman, defensive line coach Sean Spencer and off-field assistant Kali James — all three of whom he has grown close to in recent months. The rising high school senior has an official visit set with UF this coming weekend, following a trip to see the South Carolina Gamecocks last weekend and the Florida State Seminoles after swinging through Gainesville.

Johnson is ranked No. 213 overall and No. 28 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 244 and 28, respectively. The recent crystal ball from 247Sports in favor of Florida is his first while On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has behind Florida State, who hold a 37.0% chance vs. UF’s 32.4% chance, followed by South Carolina (21.0%) and Georgia (6.2%).

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