Tag: 2023 football recruiting

Gators make good impression on nation’s top safety during March visit

The nation’s top safety left Gainesville impressed after his Saturday visit.

Five-star safety Caleb Downs visited the University of Florida on March 19 and got a chance to meet the new Gators coaching staff in person.

Defensive back coach Corey Raymond and defensive coordinator Patrick Toney were Downs’ two main points of contact, according to 247Sports. Napier spent a brief moment with him, as well, and Downs had nothing but good things to say about the group.

“Coach Raymond is known as one of the best coaches in the nation,” Downs said. “Talking to him is a good thing. And then coach Toney, they say he’s a guru and that he knows a lot about defense. He had a great defense at (Louisiana) and everybody knows his past.”

Downs spoke to current players about their recruiting process and why they decided to stay following the coaching change. Napier’s efforts to better the program were likely part of the discussion, and it isn’t lost on Downs that Florida’s new coach picked him as one of the few out-of-state recruits being targeted by Florida early on.

“(Napier) wants to win,” he said. “He wants to bring in the right players that it takes to win.”

The 6-foot, 185-pound safety fits that description well as the top-ranked player in the country at his position and No. 13 overall by the 247Sports composite. Kirby Smart has yoinked some of the best talents in Florida with little resistance in recent years, but Napier appears determined to change that.

With 33 offers on the table and some of the very best at the top of the list (Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, etc.), Downs has a lot to consider before he makes a commitment. He hopes to take official visits in June and make a decision before the season begins. Florida may get one of those officials in a few months after a successful visit.

[mm-video type=video id=01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj-551e04eae40dcc1a2beac02387a1b432.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80347,80342,80340,80276,80271]

[listicle id=79833]

[listicle id=77787]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Florida makes move for this four-star OT during visit

The Florida Gators made a move for four-star offensive tackle Roderick Kearney with his visit Saturday.

Florida football finally got priority four-star offensive tackle Roderick Kearney to the Swamp this past weekend recruiting him heavily over the past month. The Orange Park, Florida, native sits as the 229th best prospect overall and the 10th best at his position, according to the 247Sports composite.

Coach Billy Napier and Co. have ramped up their efforts since he won the offensive line MVP honors at the Under Armour camp last month. He told 247Sports then that co-offensive line and offensive coordinator Rob Sale was the only Florida coach he was speaking to. Now multiple staffers are in touch with him and his family.

He said the coaching staff likes his versatility and his physicality. The coaching staff thinks Kearney can play anywhere among the offensive line.

Kearney said after his visit that he and his mother enjoyed the visit. Their favorite part is seeing the campus, the new standalone football facility Florida is building and the Swamp. He also liked watching the Gators take the field as they kicked off spring practices last week.

After a visit to the Swamp, Florida seems to be a school that is now in the thick of it for Kearney’s services. He said he loves Florida because it is close to home but said that won’t affect his decision much. However, it’s appealing that the Gators are showing that they have everything he needs in order to be developed into the best player he can be.

So far this spring, he has visited Florida, Georgia, Clemson, Florida State and Arkansas but wants to get to Tennessee. Kearney hasn’t ruled out another visit to the Gators and mentioned the possibility of visiting again for the Orange and Blue game.

Finally, he added that he wants to take official visits this summer, so he can a commitment in early December.

[mm-video type=video id=01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj-551e04eae40dcc1a2beac02387a1b432.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80342,80340,80276,80271,80237]

[listicle id=79833]

[listicle id=77787]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

This coveted OT labels Florida one of his top schools after visit

Three-star offensive tackle Bryce Lovett relished another visit to Florida and named the Gators one of his top schools.

Three-star offensive tackle Bryce Lovett has labeled Florida as one of his ‘top two or three schools’ after his second visit to the Swamp this past weekend, according to 247Sports. The Gators have quickly soared up his leaderboard after they offered him during his first visit on Jan. 28. The Rockledge, Florida, native is currently ranked as the No. 651 overall prospect and the 57th best at his position, according to the 247Sports composite.

Lovett wasted no time coming back to see coach Billy Napier and Co. after visiting him a little over a month ago. He said he came back to see how the team practices when Napier and Florida kicked off their spring ball practices last Tuesday.

He loved how the coaching staff runs it. He said he likes how they learn a new concept then build off of it by practicing it on air before doing it live against someone else or as a team.

Co-offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Rob Sale and co-offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton have been Lovett’s main contact from Florida. He relishes Sale’s coaching experience in the NFL as well as Stapleton’s experience playing in the league, mentioning that he likes how honest they are and don’t sugarcoat anything.

Sale and Stapleton are two on-the-field coaches but Florida also has quite a few off-the-field analysts that work directly with the offensive line. He said the sheer number of staff members dealing with the unit is something that stands out to him.

Lovett hasn’t officially released a top five but said that Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa State and Louisville make up his top choices.

When he makes a decision, he’s simply looking for the best education while finding a school that gives him the best chance to play in the NFL. He added that the Gators has checked off all of those boxes.

[mm-video type=video id=01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj-551e04eae40dcc1a2beac02387a1b432.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80340,80276,80271,80237,80167]

[listicle id=79833]

[listicle id=77787]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

5-star quarterback impressed with Billy Napier’s development abilities

Florida hosted five-star quarterback Dante Moore this past week.

Five-star quarterback Dante Moore visited Florida for the first time last week and sounds like coach Billy Napier and Co. made a strong first impression on the Detriot-based signal-caller when he caught up with 247Sports afterward. Moore currently sits as the No. 6 overall prospect and the third-best at his position, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Moore visited the Gators this past week with a flurry of other prospects that were a part of the Football Hotbed tour. Napier and his coaching staff quickly got him on campus after offering him the week prior to his visit.

He said he enjoyed putting names to faces with Napier and off-the-field analyst Ryan O’Hara, who have led the charge for Florida in Moore’s recruitment so far.

During the visit, they spent a significant part of it breaking down Florida’s offense to Moore. He said he likes their system because it’s simple and tries to get the ball into the hands of playmakers just like his high school does. He was also intrigued by O’Hara and Napier’s track record of developing quarterbacks.

Napier plans to call plays on offense for the Gators and also work hands-on with the quarterbacks. Moore added having a head coach working directly with him is something that stands out to him.

When examing Florida from a big picture standpoint in Moore’s recruitment, he said he thinks highly of the Gators because of their coaching staff and the university’s status as a top-five public institution.

Moore said he wants to make a decision before the start of his senior season but hasn’t put together an official leaderboard yet.

[mm-video type=video id=01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj/01fypr3wbyktj6zjxksj-551e04eae40dcc1a2beac02387a1b432.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80276,80271,80237,80167,80163]

[listicle id=79833]

[listicle id=77787]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Florida impresses this 4-star safety during his weekend visit

Florida impresses four-star safety Joenel Aguero on his visit to the Swamp on Saturday.

Florida coach Billy Napier sent shockwaves through the college football universe when he pulled cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond from LSU, his alma mater, where turned the Tigers into an NFL defensive back factory. The addition of Raymond should ensure the Gators factor into the “defensive back university” conversation once again as they did under former coaches Will Muschamp and Urban Meyer.

Because of Raymond’s track record, four-star safety Joenel Aguero thinks highly of Florida and was impressed with the Swamp overall during his first visit under the new coaching staff.

247Sports composite has the Lynn, Massachusetts, native as the 49th overall prospect and second-best at his position. So far this month, he has made visits to Florida and LSU and plans to see Ohio State next weekend, Miami in April and then eventually Georgia and Texas A&M.

Aguero told 247Sports following his visit that he likes the new staff’s vibe versus the one the old staff gave off. So far, he has the best relationship with defensive coordinator Patrick Toney and Raymond.

Their main message to Aguero this weekend was that Florida is home and that playing time is immediately available.

Aguero spent the most time around Toney on his visit this weekend and said the Gators like how versatile he is and believes he fits best in their nickel position.

Florida made his top seven that he released earlier this month. After his visit, Aguero said the Gators are firmly in the race for his services and are in no rush to make a decision.

[mm-video type=video id=01fyhdhrmbc2pemt46vw playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fyhdhrmbc2pemt46vw/01fyhdhrmbc2pemt46vw-fb7aff5e8fa5186d669f787c6de93a5d.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80271,80237,80163,80141,80129]

[listicle id=79833]

[listicle id=77787]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Florida receives four crystal ball predictions for this 5-star CB

Florida received four 247Sports crystal ball predictions for five-star cornerback AJ Harris on Saturday.

It is fairly rare for a 247Sports recruiting reporter to drop their crystal balls while a prospect is in the midst of a visit. Most reporters usually wait until they get a chance to speak to them to get a feel for how the visit went before they cast a prediction.

However, Florida’s two recruiting reporters Blake Alderman and Jacob Rudner, as well as 247Sports director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong and Florida State recruiting reporter Zach Blostein, elected to submit crystal ball predictions for five-star cornerback AJ Harris while he was still on his visit to the Swamp. The Gators have now taken the lead in crystal ball predictions at 54.5% over Georgia and Clemson.

247Sports composite rankings currently have Harris ranked as the 17th best player overall and the second-best at his position.

Florida originally hosted Harris back in January and made a splash with the Phenix City, Alabama, native. Alderman reported Saturday that he feels that the Gators have emerged as a leader for Harris.

For coach Billy Napier and Co., defensive backs coach Corey Raymond has led the charge. Many defensive back prospects are wooed by his track record from his time at LSU. Raymond coached seven first-team All-Americans like Eric Reid, Jalen Mills, Jamal Adams, Tre’Davious White, Greedy Williams, Grant Delpit and Derek Stingley. Most of them have become household names in the NFL.

It was a major pull for Napier to convince Raymond to leave his alma mater for Florida, and it appears Raymond is having a strong impact already.

[mm-video type=video id=01fyhdhrmbc2pemt46vw playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fyhdhrmbc2pemt46vw/01fyhdhrmbc2pemt46vw-fb7aff5e8fa5186d669f787c6de93a5d.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80237,80167,80163,80141,80129]

[listicle id=79833]

[listicle id=77787]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

4-star OT and Alabama recruiting target Payton Kirkland trims schools down to 5

Alabama makes the cut in 4-star OT Payton Kirkland’s final five.

Alabama has a few prospects on the board for the 2023 recruiting class at the offensive tackle position, a position that Nick Saban and co. have recruited very well in past years.

One of them, a 6-7, 325-pound four-star tackle from Orlando, FL has garnered attention from several schools and has accrued a grand total of 64 scholarship offers from many of the nation’s top programs.

The Dr. Phillips standout ranks as the No. 18 offensive tackle in the country according to 247Sports composite rankings.

Kirkland has said of Saban and the staff at Alabama, “I love coach Wolford and the culture he has when it comes to the offensive line. I feel like he had the best offensive line in college football last year. He’s a very experienced coach. Coach Saban is the best coach of all time so, regardless of if coach Wolford leaves or not, he’ll always hire a great coach. I’ll probably take my official visit there the third week of June.”

On3 Sports’ Hayes Fawcett recently tweeted out that Kirkland is down to five potential landing spots for his college career. Besides Alabama, he also has Miami, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Florida in the mix.

Kirkland tweeted out shortly after a visit to Florida that he along with two other high-level prospects from the central Florida area, Malik Bryant and Derrick LeBlanc, will be announcing their college decision on July 23.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for extensive coverage of Alabama football recruiting.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Layne Gerbig on Twitter @LayneG_29.

Gators set to host this South Florida 4-star DL

Four-star defensive lineman Rueben Bain knows plenty about Florida’s football program, but he’s hoping to get to know the new staff over the weekend.

Miami Central defensive lineman Rueben Bain is the latest blue-chip recruit to join the Football Hotbed tour, and he’ll join a handful of elite prospects on a weekend visit to the University of Florida on Friday, March 18, according to 247Sports.

Bain, a four-star recruit by 247Sports’ measure, has been to Gainesville in the past, but that was before Billy Napier took over the program. Defensive line coach Sean Spencer and defensive analyst Jamar Chaney are familiar with Bain from their time recruiting him at other schools, but he’ll get a chance to meet the new staff in its entirety over the weekend.

“I have been there three times already, so I know they have an overall good program,” Bain said. “And the new coaches are just trying to build it back. I talked to the old staff, so I can’t say much more than they always had a good attitude about me. I just want to see what the new guys do there.”

Programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina and West Virginia stand out right now for Bain as ones to beat, but he’s looking to take his recruitment deeper into the fall. Official visits will likely come over the summer to get some quality time with coaches and a few fall game visits are also in the works.

The 247sport composite ranks Bain as the No. 142 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 21 defensive lineman.

[mm-video type=video id=01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m/01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m-ced41a36da61f99e8d57e8619e926e7f.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80129,80122,80119,80117,80095]

[listicle id=79833]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Gators earn a pair of crystal ball predictions for this top 100 DL

The Gators are poised to land this in-state top-100 defensive lineman.

Four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc will return to Gainesville on Thursday for his second visit of the month to the Swamp, according to 247Sports. LeBlanc’s interest in Florida was very high coming off his March 5 visit, and coming back so quickly has experts convinced that he’ll wind up a Gator eventually.

247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong and On3’s Corey Bender submitted crystal ball predictions to their respective services for LeBlanc in favor of Florida on Wednesday. LeBlanc told Wiltfong that Florida was in the lead and that he “loved them the most” with a July 23 commitment date set.

With over 30 offers on the table, UF’s proximity to Kissimmee plays a large role in LeBlanc’s recruitment. He was able to see most of the team’s home games last fall, and short notice trips like Thursday’s visit are easy to put together.

UCF and Miami are the other in-state schools in the mix. The Knights will host LeBlanc on Saturday as they look to cut into Florida’s apparent lead. Ohio State and Penn State are the two main out-of-state options LeBlanc is considering.

A consensus top-100 recruit, LeBlanc’s recruitment could take a turn at any moment if the right school decides to put him at the top of their board. But the Gators are the team to beat right now, and crystal balls don’t come this early all that often.

[mm-video type=video id=01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m/01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m-ced41a36da61f99e8d57e8619e926e7f.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80122,80119,80117,80095,80080]

[listicle id=79833]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Florida set to host jam-packed visitors list of top recruits this weekend

Five five-stars and 14 four-stars are set to make their way to see Florida this weekend

Florida and coach Billy Napier are set to host five five-stars and 14 four-stars in the Swamp this weekend after a strong weekend of hosting prospects to kick off March.

All of the recruits in town this weekend will be unofficially visiting the Gators. Some of the most touted names include five-star quarterback Dante Moore, five-star running back Richard Young, five-star wide receiver Jalen Brown, five-star cornerbacks AJ Harris and Cormani McClain.

Most of the prospects in town are making their first-ever trip to Florida under Napier to see what the program looks like. Harris is the only prospect who has already visited the Gators once before under the new regime.

Some four-stars expected to be in town includes defensive lineman Rueben Bain, safety Joenel Aguero, offensive lineman Roderick Kearney, defensive lineman TJ Searcy, athlete Robby Washington, defensive back Kayin Lee, offensive tackle Wilkin Formby, offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, cornerback Antonie Jackson, defensive lineman Keldric Faulk, wide receiver Christian Hamilton, wide receiver Daquayvious Sorey and running back Cedric Baxter Jr.

It’ll be a critical weekend for Florida’s coaching staff to make up ground for these prospects and to hopefully establish the program firmly in each prospect’s recruitment.

[mm-video type=video id=01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m/01fy2maxxejtdhy84b8m-ced41a36da61f99e8d57e8619e926e7f.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=80117,80095,80080,80041,79980]

[listicle id=79833]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.