Tag: 2025 football recruiting

Florida getting 5-star WR committed to Oregon on official visit

After an eventful visit to Florida last for the LSU game, five-star wide receiver commit Dallas Wilson, an Oregon commit, is taking an official visit to The Swamp.

Florida hosted several high-profile recruiting targets last weekend for the LSU game, and an upset victory has the Gators trending up for five-star wide receiver [autotag]Dallas Wilson[/autotag].

The Oregon Ducks earned a commitment from Wilson in January 2023, but the Gators and Miami Hurricanes have continued pushing for him. Florida had an official visit lined up with him over the summer, but he changed that trip to Miami. Now the Gators are back in the driver’s seat with the best chance to flip Wilson, according to 247Sports.

Wilson plans to return to the Swamp this weekend for the Ole Miss game on an official visit. Another win or at least a strong performance against the ninth-ranked Rebels could lead him to a flip.

“(The LSU game) was electric,” Wilson said. “I got here a little late, so it was 7-0, Florida was up. Then they pulled out the win. It was back-to-back touchdowns, and it was just crazy out there. Oh my God. Touchdown after touchdown, fireworks going off every second. The crowd is outstandingly loud. It was the difference.”

Of course, DJ Lagway’s performance stood out the most to Wilson, particularly his connection with Elijhah Badger, who reeled in six catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. Wilson’s 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame is large enough to play that “X” receiver position, and Florida desperately needs to find a replacement for Badger.

“Coach Napier and Billy G(onzalez) were telling me about Badger,” he said. “They were like, ‘that’s what they need at the X position.’ I can come in, and be that same guy. (Napier) compared me to Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and other great receivers he’s coached across the years.”

Recruiting Summary

Wilson is a four-star recruit everywhere but 247Sports, where he was granted that fifth star. However, both the 247Sports composite and On3 industry ranking, which consider all four major recruiting services, list him as a five-star talent.

The 247Sports composite has him at No. 19 overall and No. 3 among wide receivers in the class of 2025. The On3 industry ranking is slightly more bullish on him at Nos. 19 and 2, respectively.

“Self-assertive wide receiver with the size, hands and speed to emerge as a true impact player for a College Football Playoff contender,” said 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins in an August report. “Launches out of his stance and attacks cushion with conviction before breaking off defensive backs with snappy cuts. Firm 10-inch hands and a 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame give him the advantage more times than not at the catch point and has put a few acrobatic grabs on the highlight reel over the years.”

Wilson could fill the deep, vertical threat hole left in Florida’s 2025 recruiting class after Joshua Moore flipped to Miami, but he has some run-and-catch ability, too.

There are no crystal ball predictions submitted for Wilson due to his long-standing commitment with Oregon, and Florida does not appear on the On3 recruiting prediction machine yet. Expect the situation to change significantly following the official visit.

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Florida football flips IOL previously committed to FSU

Florida’s barrage of commitment flips continued on Tuesday with the commitment of former Florida State offensive line commit Daniel Pierre Louis.

Florida’s recruiting staff continued to dominate the month of November by flipping Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee, Florida) interior offensive lineman [autotag]Daniel Pierre Louis[/autotag] from the Florida State Seminoles on Tuesday.

Pierre Louis’ commitment to Florida comes immediately after his official visit with the Gators, during which he watched the Orange and Blue take down the LSU Tigers in an upset win on Saturday.

The Seminoles landed him on Oct. 15 — over both Florida and North Carolina State — but major changes in Tallahassee affected his recruitment.

Coaches make the difference

Florida State recently fired offensive coordinator/line coach Alex Atkins, who played a vital role in securing a pledge from Pierre Louis. With the FSU coaching staff in flux, Florida co-offensive line coach [autotag]Jonathan Decoster[/autotag] was able to step up over the weekend, according to Gators Online.

“He’s Haitian and I’m Haitian, so we connect really well,” Pierre Louis said. “We have a bond where he gives me great feedback and tells me where to improve and also shows me little tips and tricks to keep elevating my game. He shows me development of other players like me that they brought into their program. Overall, the vibes are really good. He’s been showing me what their plans for development are, like, how they go into each week and their grade-out sheets. It’s been really nice.”

Pierre Louis is also getting close with Rob Sale, the Gators’ other offensive line coach. He also has a relationship with four-star quarterback Tramell Jones, who recently flipped from Florida State to Florida.

All eyes now shift to five-star Florida State commit Solomon Thomas, who also voiced his displeasure with the firing of Atkins.

Recruiting Summary

Pierre Louis is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked the highest by On3 at No. 52 among interior offensive linemen in the class of 2025. The 247Sports composite ranks Pierre Louis No. 803 nationally and No. 55 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 949 and 77, respectively.

A flurry of flip predictions came in on Monday as Pierre Louis notified Florida State of his decision. Swamp247 insider Blake Alderman and Zach Blostein submitted crystal ball predictions within minutes of each other around 10 a.m. ET on Monday, followed by On3 vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong (10:22 a.m. ET) and Gators Online insider Keith Niebuhr (10:38 a.m. ET).

Gators Online recruiting analyst Corey Bender (1:26 p.m.) and On3 Warchant senior recruiting analyst Michael Langston (1:53 p.m.) also submitted predictions in the afternoon.

Florida is ranked No. 24 in the On3 industry team recruiting rankings and No. 28 in the 247Sports team rankings — up from Nos. 27 and 31, respectively.

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Florida adds former Georgia DL commit to 2025 recruiting class

Don’t count the Gators out just yet. Florida’s recruiting staff is picking up some steam with a second commitment in as many days.

For the second time in as many days, the Florida Gators earned a commitment from a class of 2025 recruit. Brentwood Academy (Tennessee) defensive lineman [autotag]Stephon Shivers[/autotag] pledged his services to the Orange and Blue on Monday, following an official visit to the Swamp over the weekend.

Shivers backed off his commitment to Georgia 10 days ago and quickly linked up with Florida to see the Gators beat the LSU Tigers on Saturday. The 6-foot, 4 1/2-inch, 385-pound lineman left Gainesville very high on Florida, and he didn’t wait long to make a decision.

“It was a great atmosphere,” Shivers said to On3. “I ain’t never see nothing like The Swamp. Their defensive line, they got after it, and took what they wanted. That’s what I want to be a part of. People that want to work, people that want to go eat and dominate every play.”

Vanderbilt was also in the mix, but a standout performance from Florida’s defensive line helped seal the deal. The unit has improved greatly under position coach Gerald Chatman, who was the main recruiter for Shivers this weekend. Florida is recruiting him as a nose tackle and 3-technique lineman.

Recruiting Summary

Shivers is a three-star recruit everywhere except ESPN, where he earned a fourth star. The 247Sports composite has him ranked No. 489 overall and No. 52 among defensive linemen in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry ranking is slightly more bullish on him at Nos. 449 and 41, respectively.

Florida quickly took over the On3 recruiting prediction machine odds a day after Shivers decommitted from Georgia. A pair of expert predictions — the first from Gators Online recruiting analyst Corey Bender on Thursday and a second from On3 vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong on Monday — made Florida the favorite to land him.

247Sports also shifted in favor of Florida in recent days, following crystal ball predictions from Swamp247 insider Blake Alderman a week ago, Vandy 247 publisher Robbie Weinstein on Sunday and national recruiting analyst Tom Loy on Monday.

Florida is ranked No. 27 in the On3 industry team recruiting rankings and No. 31 on 247Sports’ team rankings.

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Four-star QB Tramell Jones flips to Florida during official visit

Just days after decommitting from the Florida State Seminoles, four-star quarterback Tramell Jones has flipped to the University of Florida, bolstering the Gators’ 2025 recruiting class.

Three days after de-committing from Florida State, Mandarin (Jacksonville) quarterback [autotag]Tramell Jones[/autotag] has flipped to the Florida Gators.

Jones was in Gainesville over the weekend to see the Gators upset the LSU Tigers in the Swamp, and he got to spend time with true freshman quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag].

“I’d say the highlight of the weekend was of course was being in the Swamp, but also being able to spend that time with DJ (Lagway) and all the other players,” Jones said to On3’s Keith Niebuhr. “I wanted to see what the atmosphere and culture was with them, getting to see how they felt about the season, getting to see how they are outside of football.”

Jones initially said he’d take a couple of days to consider his options, but he flipped to the Orange and Blue before the weekend came to a close. He’s also considering another visit to Florida for the Ole Miss game next weekend.

Fellow Florida commit [autotag]Vernell Brown III[/autotag] played 7-on-7 with Jones over the summer, and he plays high school ball with five-star Texas receiver commit Jaime Ffrench. Jones is also close with Florida State offensive line commit Solomon Thomas, who expressed some displeasure after his position coach was let go in a recent wave of changes on the Seminoles’ coaching staff. Both Ffrench and Thomas were on campus Saturday.

Recruiting Summary

Jones is a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals’ measure and earns a three-star rating from 247Sports and On3; however, the 247Sports composite and On3 industry ranking both grant him four-star status.

The 247Sports composite ranks him No. 238 overall and No. 21 among quarterbacks in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 247 and 21, respectively.

“Experienced signal caller with cleaner mechanics that has improved in every key statistical category since earning the starting nod as a freshman on varsity,” wrote 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins in a February report. “More of a one-read passer at this stage that will feed his playmakers and throw them open. Gets the ball out quick with a compact, repeatable motion and tends to utilize more touch than he does velocity.”

Florida jumped up 12 places on the 247Sports composite team rankings to No. 33 following Jones’ commitment.

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On3 writer predicts Ole Miss flips four-star from LSU

Ole Miss is pushing hard to flip a four-star offensive lineman from LSU.

Signing day is less than a month away and programs are making a final push to flip the nation’s top recruits. LSU may wind up being on the wrong end of flip season per a recent prediction from On3’s Zach Berry.

Berry predicts Ole Miss will pry four-star lineman Devin Harper away from Louisiana and out of LSU’s 2025 class. Berry isn’t the only writer expecting a flip. LSU reporters Shea Dixon and Billy Embody joined as well. 

Harper, from Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, committed to LSU on Jan. 30, 2024. He’s held firm, but Ole Miss continues their pursuit.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Harper is the No. 3 overall recruit in the state of Louisiana. He’s a top 100 overall prospect and a key figure of LSU’s offensive line haul.

The interior offensive line is a position of need for LSU this cycle. The current starters, Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier, will both be off to the NFL.

Ole Miss going into Louisiana to land blue-chip prospects is rare. Flipping an in-state LSU commit is even more scarce. This is one LSU doesn’t want to lose.

Gators flip No. 2 kicker in class of 2025 from Arkansas

Florida’s special teams should remain strong for years to come following the commitment of Evan Noel, the top kicker in the class of 2025.

Florida earned a commitment from St. Stanislaus (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) kicker [autotag]Evan Noel[/autotag] on Monday.

Noel is one of the top kickers in the 2025 recruiting class, ranked No. 1 at his position by both 247Sports and On3. He recently set the Mississippi high school state record with a 61-yarder in mid-September.

He flipped from Arkansas after a year-long commitment to the Razorbacks. Arkansas viewed Noel as an immediate solution to its special team’s woes. The Razorbacks have only hit 13 of 20 field goal attempts this season, and Noel had a strong chance to start there next season.

Instead, he’ll head to Gainesville in 2025 and begin his college career behind Trey Smack. There is a chance Noel challenges Smack for the starting job next season, but that means beating out a third-year starter in his senior year.

Smack began his Gators career as a kickoff specialist while Adam Mihalek served as the primary placekicker. Since then, Smack has made 27 of 34 field goal attempts, including three from beyond 50 yards.

Noel understands the situation he’s entering, though.

“If I went there I would have to sit behind Trey for a year, or at least be in a position battle with him my first year,” Noel said to 247Sports. “They wanted to get a kicker they liked a lot this cycle, which is me. Have me there to get developed, learn from Trey and the coaches, and then be ready to go the next year.”

First-year assistant Joe Houston is a major reason Noel decided on Florida. The two have developed a strong relationship, and Noel believes Houston will be able to develop him better than other special teams coaches.

Florida moved up to No. 45 in 247Sports’ team rankings as a result of the commitment.

Recruiting Summary

Noel is a three-star recruit by both 247Sports and On3. Kickers rarely exceed the three-star threshold; however, Kohl’s Professional Camps, which only grades special teamers, lists Noel as a five-star talent.

“Noel competed at the National Scholarship Camp in July of 2024 and had an outstanding camp. He scored 32/36 points on field goals and 107.5 points on kickoffs. Noel might have the best overall talent in the 2025 class! He is very consistent and handles pressure very well,” reads the Kohl’s breakdown of the newest Florida commit.

The 247Sports composite ranks Noel No. 2,086 overall and No. 2 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 2,179 and 3, respectively. The low composite rankings stem from a two-star listing by Rivals.

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Should LSU be worried about 2025 recruit flipping to South Carolina?

Should LSU be concerned about three-star tight end Mike Tyler potentially flipping to South Carolina?

It’s flip season in college football. With signing day nearing, programs are making their last pushes with recruits.

LSU’s 2025 class is a good one, but the Tigers aren’t immune to the nature of recruiting. Brian Kelly and staff will have to work to keep the entire class together.

One prospect on flip watch is tight end Mike Tyler. The three-star from South Carolina is receiving heavy interest from the home-state Gamecocks and was in Colombia for South Carolina’s win over Texas A&M.

Tyler committed to LSU in August with the Tigers beating out South Carolina on the first go-round. But recent reports indicate South Carolina has the momentum.

LSU’s done well recruiting tight ends in the Brian Kelly era. The Tigers have several blue chips on the roster and are hoping to add more in the 2025 class. If LSU does lose Tyler, the class remains in a good spot with John David LaFleur on board.

Tyler remains committed to LSU for now, but this is one to watch down the stretch.

According to On3, LSU’s 2025 class ranks No. 3 nationally. The headliner is five-star QB Bryce Underwood — another recruitment where LSU is trying to fend off a late push from a home-state school.

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Florida offers Arizona WR commit, official visit in the works

Florida is looking to add another receiver to its recruiting class of 2025 and recently offered Arizona commit Muizz Tounkara out of Texas.

Florida is still adding names to its 2025 recruiting board, including Arizona wide receiver commit [autotag]Muizz Tounkara[/autotag], according to Gators Online.

The Texas native who played out of Clear Springs in League City, picked up an offer from the Gators on Halloween and is planning an official visit to The Swamp. Tounkara says that he plans to travel to Gainesville on Nov. 23 for Florida’s final home game against Ole Miss.

“The Gators have been in contact with me for about a week now,” Tounkara told On3 last weekend. “Joe Hamilton, Billy Napier and Coach (Billy) Gonzales. (Gonzales) is telling me they need a big-body receiver that can stretch the field and make plays on special teams, too.”

The push for Tounkara comes after West Broward receiver Joshua Moore flipped his commitment from Florida to Miami. The Gators still have a pair of four-star receivers under commitment, but they play a different style at the position.

Tounkara considers and offer from an SEC team such as Florida to be a difference maker, one that would have him heavily considering backing off his verbal commitment to Arizona.

Recruiting Summary

A consensus three-star recruit, Tounkara is ranked the highest by 247Sports at No. 92 among wide receivers in the class of 2025. The 247Sports composite has him at No. 829 overall and No. 128 at this position, while the On3 composite puts him at Nos. 818 and 128, respectively.

Arkansas currently leads the On3 recruiting prediction machine with 22.9% of the prediction, closely followed by Kansas (20.1%) and Vanderbilt (17.2%). Arizona still holds 14.3% of the prediction thanks to his verbal commitment.

Here’s what 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks has to say about him:

“Tall, long, lean, and athletic with a longer stride and corresponding build-up speed that influences field-stretching ability and return game juice. Experience in all three phases with snaps at corner facing Texas 6A competition in Houston metro.

“Capable of winning contested throws in traffic thanks to frame, high-pointing acumen, and body control in the air. Capable of go-get-it grabs against overmatched high school defenders.

“Looks tough on tape with willingness to work the middle of the field and affect the screen / perimeter run games as a blocker. Still honing route-running snap/technique, but possesses the twitch to foster consistent late-separating ability and top-of-the-route pop.”

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Florida at the top for elite JUCO interior offensive lineman after extending offer

Florida doesn’t have any offensive linemen under commitment from the class of 2025, but the Gators are making a push for a top JUCO talent.

Florida assistant line coach John Decoster has been talking with Shasta College (Tacoma, Wash.) offensive lineman [autotag]Matthew Lefeau[/autotag] for the better part of the last month, and now the Gators have officially extended an offer to the top-ranked JUCO interior lineman, according to 247Sports and On3.

“I think they’re on top right now,” Lefeau said of Florida’s standing. “They’re the top. I just have a really good relationship with Coach Decoster. I like the resume he has as a coach, and I know it’s a really good program.”

Florida might be at the top for Lefeau, but the Gators won’t land a commitment from him easily. Mississippi State and Oregon State have also offered the West Coast talent, and Arizona State and Michigan State are in the mix as well.

Still, the opportunity to play for a storied SEC program has Lefeau leaning toward the Orange and Blue. The recent emergence of DJ Lagway also has him excited about the Gators.

The next step is getting him on campus, but finding a date that doesn’t conflict with Lafeau’s JUCO schedule is proving difficult. He expects to speak with a recruiting staffer soon to work something out, but the desired date of the LSU game conflicts with his schedule.

Recruiting Summary

Lafeau is a three-star recruit by 247Sports and On3’s measure. 247Sports ranks him 39th overall and second overall among JUCO interior offensive linemen from the class of 2025, while the On3 is more bullish at Nos. 12 and 1, respectively.

Florida is tied for fourth on the On3 recruiting prediction machine with two other programs. Oregon State (15.7%) is considered the favorite at publishing time, followed by Fresno State (13.7%) and UTSA (11.8%). Florida is tied with Texas State and Mississippi State with 9.8% of the prediction, but those numbers could change soon following Friday’s offer.

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Should LSU be worried about losing 5-star corner DJ Pickett?

DJ Pickett is the headliner of LSU’s 2025 defensive class. Can LSU hold on down the stretch?

Most of the 2025 five-stars have already committed, which means teams must push for flips if they wish to add a five-star to their class.

Miami is doing just that with five-star LSU commit [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag]. It came as somewhat of a surprise when Pickett committed to LSU over the summer. Now, the Tigers will be tested to hold on down the stretch.

According to On3, Pickett will visit Miami this weekend.

“Mario Cristobal has been relentless in his communication,” On3’s Steve Wiltfong said, “but I think the push is only going to continue as you get close to the early signing period in December.”

Pickett is a Florida native and LSU fought hard to beat out Pickett’s home-state teams, but that always gets tougher as signing day nears.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Pickett is the No. 8 overall prospect and the No. 2 overall corner. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] brought secondary coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] back to LSU with the hope of landing defensive backs of Pickett’s caliber.

Raymond is off to a good start with Pickett on board, along with blue-chips [autotag]Kade Phillips[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Bradford[/autotag] and [autotag]Aidan Anding[/autotag].

LSU’s had trouble building a consistent the last few years, but the 2025 class offers a chance to build a strong core on the backed. Keeping Pickett in the fold will be critical for Kelly and the LSU coaching staff as signing day nears.

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