Florida entered national signing day hoping for a big haul after only adding three new commits on early signing day back in December. Though the Gators did have a few wins, it was an overall disappointing day.
UF went 0-for-3 on its main targets, starting with Louisiana running back TreVonte’ Citizen. Though he was considered a Gators lean, the four-star eventually chose Miami after never taking an official visit to Gainesville.
That disappointment set the tone for the rest of the day. UF missed on its most prized target for the day as five-star linebacker Harold Perkins picked LSU, where he had been trending after taking his final official visit to Baton Rouge. Then, in less of a surprise, four-star safety Jacoby Mathews chose Texas A&M.
It wasn’t all bad news for Florida. It maintained everyone who was already committed entering the day, including three-star Covington (Ga.) Eastside offensive lineman Jalen Farmer, who didn’t sign during the early signing period and saw a late push from Alabama.
UF also picked up three-star Texas receiver Caleb Douglas, the only wideout currently in the class, who chose the Gators over LSU.
Still, it wasn’t quite the signing day some hoped for, and Florida’s class currently sits at No. 19 in the country and ranks ninth in the SEC according to 247Sports. That could change slightly in the coming days, as three-star Van Nuys (California) Birmingham tight end Arlis Boardingham is set to sign sometime this week. UF is considered the favorite, but he’s coming off a trip to Oregon.
This wasn’t a bad transition class for Napier, especially considering it ranked 76th in the nation when he took over. Pair that with a very strong haul in the transfer portal — which could get even better with the new influx of players likely to hit the portal in the spring — and Florida has acquired a good bit of talent this offseason.
But one of Napier’s biggest selling points is his recruiting prowess, and there will be a lot of attention on the 2023 class and whether he’s able to pull in an elite group with an entire cycle to work with.
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