The world of college sports recruiting exploded on Tuesday. The NCAA’s restrictions on face-to-face recruiting visits to campus or the homes of recruiting targets were lifted and naturally players swarmed to take a look at the brick and mortar of the colleges who have been trying to bring them into the program.
For the Gators, that meant unofficial visits to Gainesville were in order, as their scheduled slate of official visits begins on Friday, June 4th. Florida brought a group largely comprised of 2022 grads to look around the campus, which lead to a number of positive reviews from the players involved.
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The fact that these visits are unofficial is an important distinction. Players are only allowed to accept five official visits, which are financed by the school, and are therefore a major indicator of which programs have caught a player’s attention. On the other hand, while unofficial visits are certainly a step in the right direction, they’re not nearly as instructive.
Here’s a non-comprehensive list of players who were spotted on campus or posted on social media about a visit to the Swamp. Players who are already committed to the Gators at the time of publication are listed in bold.
- DB Jaquise Alexander (2022)
- RB Damari Alston (2022)
- DL Brandon Cleveland (2022)
- ATH Nick Cull (2022)
- DB Sharif Denson (2023)
- DB Jonas Duclona (2023)
- QB Nick Evers (2022)
- WR Jayden Gibson (2022)
- TE CJ Hawkins (2022)
- WR Isaiah Horton (2022)
- LB Ej Lightsey (2022)
- OT Tony Livingston (2022)
- DB Devin Moore (2022)
- OL Qae’shon Sapp (2022)
- WR Chandler Smith (2022)
- ATH DJ Pickett (2025)
- DB Elliot Washington (2023)
- ATH Treyaun Webb (2023)
- DE Mykel Williams (2023)
- LB Jaron Willis (2022)
This group includes some predictable names, players like Jayden Gibson or Chandler Smith, who the Gators are rumored to feel are close to biting on a commitment. However, the team did take some less obvious swings with this first recruiting effort post-COVID restrictions.
One of the more interesting inclusions on this list is linebacker Jaron Willis, who is already committed to Georgia Tech but was willing to visit the Gators regardless. Florida has been trying to exert their influence in the Peach State in recent years to mixed results, and it seems they’re not giving up the hunt.
Another invitee that jumps off the page is DJ Pickett, who is from the graduating class of 2025. In other words, he’s an 8th grader. The Gators must see some massive potential in the youngster to be pulling out all the stops and bringing him to campus at their first possible chance.
There’s lots of recruiting news ahead, and the tsunami of interviews and reported campus visits Tuesday brought is just a taste. Keep your eyes peeled, because the ride is just getting started, and we’ll be doing our best to keep you up to date with the best free content possible here at Gators Wire.
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