Tag: 2022 recruiting

Florida football steals talented linebacker from Alabama and Nick Saban

Florida accomplished the near impossible. They grabbed a talented prospect from the state of Alabama that head coach Nick Saban wanted.

Florida linebackers coach Christian Robinson and head coach Dan Mullen did it again. They grabbed a star player from Alabama coach Nick Saban’s backyard.

Four-star linebacker Shemar James committed to Florida Sunday fresh off his official visit to Gainesville. This is the third time Robinson snagged a highly ranked linebacker from Alabama. He landed Mohamoud Diabate and Jeremiah Williams in previous cycles.

James is rated as the 118th best player in the class of 2022 and the 12th best at his position, according to 247Sports.

One of the main pitches Florida sold to James that he could play multiple spots in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s defense.

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“In order for me to play in the NFL, I need to show people that I can do multiple things besides stop the run,” James said, according to Swamp247. “Florida is going to put me in the position to make plays and show that I can run stop and cover”

Robinson and assistant director of player personnel Chase Clark deserve the most credit for this latest addition. James said his bond with them played a large role in his decision.

The Gators 2022 class has now grown to seven players. Before James’ commitment, Florida’s class ranked 28th in the country, according to 247Sports. His commitment should help Florida rise several spots in the class of 2022 rankings.

However, James’ recruitment is far from over. He was a top target for the Crimson Tide and Saban, and they will likely push for a flip until he signs his letter of intent.

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LSU, Texas and Alabama are chasing Florida for this 4-star wide receiver

Wideout Evan Stewart told media at the Under Armour Future 50 workout that Florida is the standard to top when it comes to official visits.

It’s always difficult for Florida to pull top-ranked prospects from California, Texas and Georgia. But four-star Frisco, Texas, wideout Evan Stewart told media at the Under Armour Future 50 workout that the Gators sit in the driver’s seat in his recruitment.

Stewart is ranked the fifth-best receiver nationally and the 37th best player in the country.

“Florida most definitely; they set the bar very high,” Stewart said, according to 247Sports. “I really enjoyed my time there. I loved it there. Really, it’s what can beat Florida?”

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Stewart visited Gainesville the first weekend of June with current seven on seven teammate and Florida quarterback commit Nick Evers. He mentioned after his visit that made UF an appealing option for him

He said the Gators stand out because they are a championship-winning program.

Stewart mentioned LSU, Texas and Alabama as some teams that could challenge Florida for his pledge. However, the Longhorns may have the biggest advantage because they are considered his home school.

The four-star wide receiver said he plans to take visits to Texas A&M, Texas, USC and LSU before June wraps up.

Coach Dan Mullen and Florida will have to keep pressing for Stewart because he hopes to have a decision before the start of his senior season.

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Florida official visit reassured cornerback this recruit’s decision to commit to the Gators

Defensive back Julian Humphrey finally made the trek to UF after he took several visits to other schools after the dead period was lifted.

Four-star cornerback Julian Humphrey committed to Florida in late May, but it didn’t stop him from visiting other schools once the NCAA dead period was lifted this month. He made trips to Ohio State, Alabama and Texas A&M before seeing Gainesville.

247Sports ranked him as the 15th best cornerback and the 128th best player in the class of 2022.

He officially visited the Gators the second weekend of June. This visit went so well for Humphrey and Florida that it confirmed his decision to originally commit.

Humphrey said one of his favorite aspects of seeing the Gators program was hanging out with the coaches and players.

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One of the main reasons he originally committed to UF was because of its knack when it comes to producing talented defensive backs. Cornerbacks coach Jules Montinar emphasized this point to the 4-star Houston, Texas, native.

“They were telling me at first that committing to Florida was the best thing I could have done to be the best,” Humphrey said, according to Swamp247. “I committed to Florida because I know Florida is great with DB’s. They put out at least two DB’s every year, and I know I can be one of those DB’s. I came here a long time ago as a kid and I kind of remember it. It’s DBU right here in Florida.”

While a prospect officially visits a program, the coaching staff usually designates one of its players to host the recruit. Star defensive back Kaiir Elam hosted him last weekend. Humphrey said that Elam’s message to him was to avoid distractions once you get on campus and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

He added that his commitment to the Gators is still strong. However, he still wants to take visits to other schools in the future because he missed out on these experiences during the dead period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Humphrey said he plans to take official visits to Alabama, LSU and the Aggies.

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Gators host high schoolers for unofficial visits on first day of in-person recruiting

Here’s a non-comprehensive list of players who were spotted on campus or posted on social media about a visit to the Swamp.

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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These are the Gators’ upcoming recruiting visits as the dead period expires

The NCAA recruiting dead period is about to be lifted, so let’s look at the players who are coming on campus for in-person recruiting.

The class of 2022 arriving on college campuses may seem like the distant future in the mind of the general, but within the scope of recruiting news, that batch of students is a very real priority. Teams haven’t been able to do their normal preliminary work on players from the upcoming batch of recruits because the NCAA banned in-person activities having to with recruiting for well over a year.

That ban on in-person activities – a so-called dead period – is set to expire on the first of June. With the month just around the corner, the Gators are prepping to host a whole herd of high schoolers on campus in an effort to persuade them that Florida is the right choice for their academic and athletic future.

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While some commitments have happened during the dead period, campus visits are a big deal in the recruiting world, and these visits will probably yield a handful of recruits. Therefore, it’s instructive to see which players the team is getting down to Gainesville for an official visit.

Here’s the whole list of players coming Florida’s campus on an official visit during the month of June. Players are listed alphabetically and those already committed to the Gators at the time of publishing are written in bold.

June 4

  • WR Isaiah Bond
  • OT Tyler Booker
  • EDGE Jihaad Campbell
  • QB Nick Evers
  • RB Omarion Hampton
  • DT Jamari Lyons
  • DT Chris McClellan
  • DT Walter Nolen
  • WR Evan Stewart
  • CB Jarell Stinson
  • ATH Azariah Thomas
  • DE Enai White
  • ATH Gentry Williams

June 8

  • EDGE Kenyatta Jackson

June 9

  • TE Jaleel Skinner

June 11

  • CB Terrance Brooks
  • TE Oscar Delp
  • WR Jay Fair
  • CB Julian Humphrey
  • RB Jamarion Miller
  • IOL Addison Nichols
  • OT Quae’shon Sapp

June 14

  • RB Kaytron Allen

June 18

  • LB Shemar James
  • K Alex McPherson
  • WR Chandler Smith
  • EDGE DJ Wesolak

June 25

  • RB Terrance Gibbs
  • LB Jaron Willis

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Gators were an easy choice for this recently committed 4-star cornerback

Florida’s getting some early work in on the 2022 recruiting class, and their latest commit is eager to be part of the program.

The NCAA recruiting dead period is about to be lifted, meaning that beginning on June 1st, teams can host or visit recruits. For recently committed cornerback Julian Humphrey, though, in-person contact wasn’t necessary in order to make a choice.

Humphrey, a four-star cornerback recruit from the state of Texas, is a fast and well-built player who will make a fine addition to the Florida defensive secondary. He made his choice to play in the Swamp official on Thursday afternoon, to immediate and resounding praise from the pertinent experts. His physical traits and background as a wide receiver make a cocktail of building blocks for a playmaking defensive back, regardless of where he settles in on the roster.

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Humphrey discussed his commitment to the Gators with Rivals shortly after the announcement was made, explaining that Florida’s attentive recruiting made the choice to commit an easy one.

“Most schools usually offer and go, but I talk to [the Gators] every single day, so why not them?” he quipped.

There’s also plenty to love about Florida in his eyes. He was highly complimentary of head coach Dan Mullen, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, and defensive backs coach Jules Montinar.

“I love Florida because of the coaches. I want to go to a place where I’m going to be coached by the best. I want to be coached by coaches who already put DBs out in the NFL. I want to be coached by the best pretty much and who are known for putting out DBs.”

To him, the Gators were an obvious selection for the next step in his football journey. It’s encouraging to see the team effectively extending their reach outside of their very backyard, especially as Mullen is often criticized for not more resoundingly outperforming Florida State and Miami among in-state recruits. Humphrey still has an official visit to Penn State on the books for mid-June, but their pitch would have to be jaw-droppingly impressive to sway him from his commitment.

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This 4-star Gators cornerback recruit called a ‘special player’ by 247Sports

The Florida secondary was their Achilles heel during the 2020 campaign, but head coach Dan Mullen is putting in the work to plug the gaps.

Across the college football landscape, attention is turning to the 2021 season as teams’ spring games are finished and the last high-impact transfers settle on their next destination. However, the Gators are already making headway on their recruiting class for the 2022 season. That early work landed a commitment from cornerback Julian Humphrey, a top-150 player in the class, on Thursday.

The commitment is a big deal for the Gators, who are faced with the monumental challenge of digging themselves out of the hole they’re in from a team defense standpoint. Experts were quick to applaud Florida’s newest addition, including high praise from three pertinent experts from the 247Sports network.

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Recruiting Director Steve Wiltfong had nothing but positive things to say about Humphrey immediately after his commitment, indicating that his traits are desirable for an outside corner.

“On his film he’s a playmaker in the secondary. He gets his hands on the football and he has the change of direction quickness,” wrote Wiltfong. “He can play press, he can play off, he covers downfield, has the makeup speed you’re looking for, and he can attach to receivers. He shows physicality and he checks off a lot of the boxes.”

Another expert from the 247Sports network, Andrew Ivins, was able to see Humphrey prior to his commitment and came away with the impression that he could be a significant contributor to the Gators down the road.

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“I think he has a chance to be a really special player,” Ivins said. “He’s a guy with a ton of foot speed, but he’s also got a big, long frame and kind of the ideal measurable to be a field corner. I saw him at Pylon Atlanta back in March and I thought he was pretty good in coverage and man coverage. He’s still not the most fluid of guys, but when he gets coached up it will all come together. He’s absolutely a guy who can be a starter in the SEC.”

Texas area expert Gabe Brooks is also all-in on the traits, indicating that his physical gifts could make him a viable option to be deployed as a versatile piece of Florida’s defensive backfield.

“This is a big corner, who has high-level speed, which has been proven in a track environment with the 10.55 that is verified, which is smoking. I think he’s down in the low 21’s in the 200, so he will be transferring that elite track speed to the football field in college. You’re betting on size, length, speed and you’re usually not going to go wrong with that,” wrote Brooks. “He’s someone who could potentially play anywhere if they needed to move him around in the secondary.”

By all accounts, the Gators seem to have done well in convincing Humphrey to be a part of the future of the program. The team is constructing a vision for their future after losing their core to the 2020 draft and 2022 seems to be the target year for Florida’s resurgence. Humphrey has a shot to be a part of something special as head coach Dan Mullen works to add the right players to his system.

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These are the Gators’ commits from the 2022 class before recruiting re-opens

Florida’s next recruiting class is already starting to take shape with five early 2022 commitments, so let’s take a peek at what they offer.

Smart recruiting is the lifeblood of a successful college program. There’s not much more that can be done for the long-term health of a team that experiences near-constant turnover than make it a desirable place to play. The most marketable brands in college football – your assorted Alabamas, Ohio States, and Georgias – have an easier time at reeling in recruits, but it’s not especially easy for anyone to get their guys in-house when there’s a battle for players.

Things became even more complicated when the NCAA shut down in-person recruiting in response to the then-rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Termed a recruiting dead period, colleges haven’t been allowed to schedule home visits, campus visits, or private workouts for over a year.

Thanks to advances in the understanding of the virus and availability of the vaccine, the dead period is about to come to an end. Players and coaches can get together face-to-face starting in June. Before recruiting gets back to normal, let’s take a look at the players who have already committed to play for the Gators. This foundation for their 2022 recruiting class doesn’t constitute their top players, but they’re the ones who got early attention from the team and are confident enough in the team to make their choice relatively quickly.

These are the Gators’ commits from the 2022 class before recruiting re-opens

Florida’s next recruiting class is already starting to take shape with five early 2022 commitments, so let’s take a peek at what they offer.

Smart recruiting is the lifeblood of a successful college program. There’s not much more that can be done for the long-term health of a team that experiences near-constant turnover than make it a desirable place to play. The most marketable brands in college football – your assorted Alabamas, Ohio States, and Georgias – have an easier time at reeling in recruits, but it’s not especially easy for anyone to get their guys in-house when there’s a battle for players.

Things became even more complicated when the NCAA shut down in-person recruiting in response to the then-rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Termed a recruiting dead period, colleges haven’t been allowed to schedule home visits, campus visits, or private workouts for over a year.

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Thanks to advances in the understanding of the virus and availability of the vaccine, the dead period is about to come to an end. Players and coaches can get together face-to-face starting in June. Before recruiting gets back to normal, let’s take a look at the players who have already committed to play for the Gators. This foundation for their 2022 recruiting class doesn’t constitute their top players, but they’re the ones who got early attention from the team and are confident enough in the team to make their choice relatively quickly.

These are the Gators’ priority targets in the 2022 class as recruiting re-opens

Let’s take a look at the players who the Gators are making priority targets in the 2022 recruiting class as the recruiting dead period ends.

At nearly every level of sport, team-building is the most interesting part of being a fan. There’s a reason the term “armchair GM” was invented – it’s a lot of fun to look at the players who could soon don the uniform of a fan’s favorite team.

At the collegiate level, it can be particularly tough to ascertain which players to hone in on since there isn’t much information out there on most high school players and much of recruiting happens behind closed doors.

However, just as the 2020 season was unique, it was a uniquely challenging year for recruiting. Doors weren’t just closed to fans; they were closed to insiders as well. The NCAA imposed a recruiting dead period on all teams. That meant no home visits, no campus visits and no private camps or workouts.

Now, the dead period restrictions are about to be lifted, and teams can resume normal activity on June 1. With that date looming, it is useful to take a look at the players Florida is prioritizing in the 2022 recruiting class to get a taste of what the Gators’ future may hold.

For the purposes of this article, we’re defining priority target as a player who is within the 247Sports’ top 100 and has expressed mutual interest in Florida’s scholarship offer. Obviously, plenty of offers exist to players who will not be included here. But as football demands a tremendous amount of recruiting, we’ve whittled the list to the best players head coach Dan Mullen has a real chance at reeling into the Swamp.