Tag: 247Sports

Former Texas WR Johntay Cook set for visit with Florida football

Former Texas WR Johntay Cook is expected to visit with the Gators this weekend after entering the transfer portal.

Former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Johntay Cook is set to visit the University of Florida this upcoming weekend, from Saturday to Sunday, according to Mike Roach of 247Sports.

Cook, a highly-touted recruit from DeSoto, Texas, had announced that he’d be entering the NCAA transfer portal last month after playing in a reserve role for the Longhorns. He played in just six games and logged eight catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Known for his explosive speed and route-running ability, Cook had a standout high school career that made him one of the top recruits in the nation.

Rivals and On3 labeled Cook as a five-star recruit while ESPN and 247Sports had him as a four-star. Also, 247Sports has Cook as the No. 13-ranked receiver in the transfer portal and No. 35 overall.

The Florida football program initially extended an offer to him during Dan Mullen’s tenure with the Gators, and this was reconfirmed when Billy Napier and his new staff took over. Napier and his staff are set to make a strong push for Cook and he’d be a perfect fit for their system, which relies heavily on speed and versatility on the outside.

The Gators have been on the lookout for game-changing talents as they aim to revamp their offense for the upcoming season, especially in the wide receiver room.

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Where Wisconsin football’s 2025 transfer class ranks nationally after flurry of commitments

Where Wisconsin’s transfer class rankgs

Wisconsin is off to a red-hot start to the 2025 transfer cycle. The program has nine players committed, highlighted by Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol and Tulane defensive lineman Parker Petersen.

That strong start has the program’s class at No. 9 in 247Sports’ team transfer portal class rankings.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal offers, interests and commitments

Wisconsin slots behind No. 1 Ole Miss (nine commits, five four-stars), No. 2 LSU (nine commits, five four-stars), No. 3 Texas Tech (11 commits, four four-stars), No. 4 Auburn (eight commits, four four-stars), No. 5 Texas A&M (five commits, three four-stars), No. 6 Mississippi State (eight commits, one four-star), No. 7 Houston (11 commits, one four-star) and No. 8 Minnesota (10 commits, zero four-stars) at this early stage of the cycle.

The Badgers entered the offseason with significant roster needs, some which were heightened due to departing transfers. The biggest needs were quarterback, defensive line, edge rusher, tight end, linebacker and safety.

Wisconsin has done extremely well in addressing those positions. It’s landed a starting quarterback (Edwards Jr.), a backup quarterback (Danny O’Neil), a star tight end (Koziol), several defensive linemen (Petersen, Corey Walker, Charles Perkins), an edge rusher (Mason Reiger) and a starting safety (Matthew Traynor). Several of those players were among the best available, highlighted by Edwards Jr. and Koziol.

The Badgers still have work to do, most notably at wide receiver and linebacker. But taking a snapshot on Dec. 18, the program appears to be taking strong steps forward entering a pivotal 2025 season. Any finish within the top 10 of the national transfer class rankings could be a strong indicator of success to come.

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Florida’s Austin Armstrong takes Houston DC job

Austin Armstrong, pivotal to Gators’ defensive success, steps into a new role as Houston’s defensive coordinator, 247Sports reports.

Austin Armstrong, the co-defensive coordinator for Florida football, has informed the Gators’ coaching staff that he has accepted the role of defensive coordinator at the University of Houston, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

Armstrong has been a major reason why Florida’s defense has found success this season.

During this past season, Armstrong helped the Florida defense notably enhance their tackling efficiency and pass rush. The Gators ranked in the upper half of the SEC for total defense, a significant step up from prior years.

In 2023, Armstrong joined the Gators’ coaching staff and over the last two seasons, he has been an integral part of the Gators’ defensive strategy, contributing to the development of a robust defensive unit.

Prior to his tenure at Florida, Armstrong spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Southern Miss. In 2021, Armstrong was the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS at just 28 years of age.

During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Armstrong served as an assistant defensive line coach under Billy Napier at Louisiana-Lafayette. In 2019, he served under Kirby Smart as a defensive quality control coach at Georgia.

Armstrong returned to Louisiana-Lafayette in 2020 and served as the inside linebackers coach.

The defensive coordinator led all of Florida’s assistant coaches salary-wise in 2024, earning $1.2 million per season which ranked 45th in the country. Financial details of his new deal have not been released yet.

With Armstrong’s departure, Florida will likely lean towards Ron Roberts (co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach) to take full control of the defense.

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Florida set to host ECU transfer wide receiver on official visit

Four-star transfer receiver Chase Sowell set for official visit with Gators on Dec. 21.

As the winter transfer portal period approaches, Florida football is zeroing in on key positions to bolster their roster, with the wide receiver slot on top of that list.

Given the upcoming departures of senior receivers Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike, two of quarterback DJ Lagway’s main targets this past season, the Gators are looking to fill that position.

Chase Sowell, a standout wide receiver from East Carolina University, has caught the attention of the Gators’ coaching staff and is set to visit the University of Florida officially on Dec. 21, according to Mike Roach of 247Sports.

Sowell, who has notable family ties to the university—both of his parents are alumni—was born in Gainesville, adding a personal layer to the recruitment narrative. His father, Ronnie, played baseball for the Gators, while his mother, Keisha, was a soccer player, embedding a legacy of athletic prowess within the family.

This season, Sowell has been a significant force on the field. After transferring to East Carolina, he showed a marked improvement in his performance.

In the 2023 season, Sowell racked up 47 receptions for 622 yards and a touchdown, followed by a 2024 campaign where he snagged 34 passes for 678 yards and three touchdowns.

According to 247Sports, Sowell was initially rated as a three-star recruit from Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas, securing the 149th spot among wide receivers nationally. Upon entering the transfer portal, his ranking improved, with 247Sports assigning him a four-star status.

Sowell is now considered the 31st overall transfer prospect and the 11th best among transferring wide receivers.

Sowell has reported offers from Arizona State, Baylor, Florida, Houston, Illinois, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin since announcing his plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

The winter portal opened on Monday, Dec. 9, and will end on Saturday, Dec. 28.

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DJ Lagway among 247Sports’ top 20 QBs during regular season

Even an injury-hobbled DJ Lagway ranks among the best quarterbacks in college football this season.

The difference between the Florida football team having [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] under center and not was about as night-and-day as it can get this fall. In all five games that the true freshman took a majority of the snaps, the Gators emerged victoriously — including three straight to end the regular season.

Lagway finished the season completing 93 of 157 pass attempts (59.2%) for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 11 total games played. He also ran 46 times for 97 yards (2.1 average) on the ground without a score.

As a result of his efforts, the gunslinger out of Willis, Texas, earned the No. 16 spot in 247Sports writer Clint Brewster’s final top 20 quarterback power rankings for the 2024 campaign. That slots him between the Texas Longhorns play-caller Quinn Ewers at No. 15 and the Clemson Tigers‘ Cade Klubnik at No. 17.

“Quite possibly the nation’s best true rookie signal caller, DJ Lagway threw some incredible passes that a freshman shouldn’t be able to make,” Brewster points out. “At 6-foot-3, 239 pounds, Lagway has the arm and legs to be a marquee quarterback for years to come. He won the last three games for Florida after coming back from injury. He is still not 100% healthy.”

A healthy Lagway, along with a robust recruiting class and more time for the program to mature, means the Gators might be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.

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Where Florida football ranks in latest 247Sports recruiting rankings

The Gators have flipped 12 recruits since Nov. 11, helping them skyrocket in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings.

Things couldn’t have gone much better for the Florida football program during these past several weeks from a recruiting standpoint.

Since Nov. 11, Florida has successfully flipped an impressive 12 recruits and continues building significant momentum as the early signing period approaches Dec. 4.

At the end of October, the Florida Gators’ 2025 recruiting class was ranked at No. 51 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings, but they have now surged impressively to No. 10.

This remarkable rise is largely due to strategic efforts by Billy Napier and his coaching staff.

Here’s a brief rundown of what’s been going on with the Florida football recruiting chaos.

Recruiting flips

Some notable recruiting flips include four-star linebacker Ty Jackson (USC Trojans), offensive tackle Jahari Medlock (Cincinnati Bearcats), receiver Muizz Tounkara (Arizona Wildcats), four-star EDGE Jayden Woods (Penn State Nittany Lions), four-star offensive tackle Tavaris Dice (Auburn Tigers) and four-star defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou (Texas Longhorns).

Four-star safety Hylton Stubbs from Jacksonville’s Mandarin High School is the latest addition to Florida’s class. Stubbs flipped his commitment from the Miami Hurricanes to Florida on Monday.

In January, Stubbs named Florida his top choice but surprised many by committing to the USC Trojans in March after a visit. In July, he committed to Miami but Florida managed to get Stubbs on campus for an unofficial visit last Sunday. During that visit, Stubbs had his eyes set on the Gators and gave his silent commitment.

The Gators remain in the mix for several high-profile prospects, including Tennessee Volunteers cornerback commit Onis Konanbanny, who recently took an official visit to Gainesville.

Florida is also a strong contender for safety Lagonza Hayward, who decommitted from Tennessee on Sunday and is now heavily predicted to land with the Gators, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin flips class of 2025 cornerback Cairo Skanes from Miami (OH)

BREAKING: Wisconsin flips class of 2025 cornerback Cairo Skanes from Miami (OH)

The Wisconsin Badgers added a commitment from class of 2025 cornerback Cairo Skanes on Monday.

Skanes, who was previously committed to Miami (OH), pledges to the Badgers after visiting the program in November.

Related: How Wisconsin’s transfer departures performed during full 2024 college football regular season

The Charlotte, North Carolina native is currently unranked on 247Sports. He is a three-star according to On3, ranked as the No. 157 cornerback in the class of 2025 and No. 52 player from North Carolina.

Other notable programs on the cornerback’s offer sheet include Michigan State, James Madison, Navy and NC State. He flips to the Badgers just two days before the early signing period officially begins on Dec. 4.

Skanes is commitment No. 25 for the Badgers in the class of 2025. The class has seen significant movement as of late, with the recent losses of three-star LB Brendan Anes, three-star DL Wilnerson Telemaque and top specialist Erik Schmidt, plus the additions of four-star DL Jaylen Williams and four-star QB Carter Smith. The class currently ranks No. 20 in the nation at this late stage of the cycle.

Stay tuned throughout the week as the Badgers officially sign their class of 2025.

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Florida surges up 2025 recruiting rankings after torrid week of flips

The Gators are just a couple of spots outside of the recruiting rankings top 10 after their recent rash of flips.

The Florida Gators have seen some tremendous success on the college football gridiron of late, but [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co.’s triumphs have not been limited to the field.

Over the past month, the Orange and Blue has hauled in a plethora of new recruits that includes a handful of flipped commitments from other Power Four schools. This past week alone saw six flips —including three in a 24-hour span — which continues Florida’s ascent up the 2025 cycle recruiting rankings.

Coming in at No. 51 at the end of October, the Gators have surged 39 spots to No. 12 in the nation as of Monday per 247Sports. The program’s decision to retain Napier at the beginning of the month continues to look more and more prescient.

Recent recruiting flips

Last Sunday, things began to heat up when four-star linebacker Ty Jackson flipped his commitment from the USC Trojans to Florida. The native of Loxahatchee has been on the staff’s radar for a long time as they have desperately tried to keep him in the Sunshine State.

Next was offensive tackle Jahari Medlock out of Riverdale, Georgia, on Monday. A Cincinnati commit since June, Medlock decided to stay in the South after visiting the Swamp for Florida’s Week 13 upset win over the Ole Miss Rebels.

Florida completed a 24-hour-trifecta of recruiting flips with a commitment from wide receiver Muizz Tounkara out of League City, Texas. The former Arizona commit witnessed the Gators’ defeat of the Rebels while on an official visit.

On Black Friday, Florida flipped four-star edge defender Jayden Woods out of Shawnee, Kansas. Yet another witness to the Ole Miss upset, he decommitted from the Penn State Nittany Lions after the Week 13 triumph.

On Saturday ahead of the FSU game, four-star offensive tackle Tavaris Dice out of Fairburn, Georgia, flipped to Gators. Dice committed to the Auburn Tigers in March, but the Gators never stopped recruiting him.

Finally, there is four-star defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou out of Loganville, Georgia, who flipped back to Florida after committing to the Texas Longhorns. Initially committed to UF in July, he backed off that pledge in October for the Texas Longhorns; now Mbatchou is returning to his original pick of Florida.

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Where Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Where Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Wisconsin football’s recruiting performance is far better than the current on-field product, to say the least.

Luke Fickell’s team has now lost four straight games after Saturday’s 44-25 defeat at Nebraska. It is just 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play, desperately needing a season-closing victory over Minnesota to clinch bowl eligibility.

There is more context behind that on-field performance, including the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and historic blowout losses to rivals Iowa and Nebraska sandwiching hard-fought losses to top-ranked teams. That context doesn’t help the general trend of poor play.

But for those still optimistic about the Badgers’ future under Luke Fickell, the biggest calling card is his recruiting performance.

Wisconsin made headlines on Sunday when it landed a commitment from four-star class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith. Smith is ranked as 247Sports’ No. 15 quarterback in the class and No. 164 overall player. Beating Florida State for his commitment was a statement for Fickell and his staff — even doing so after firing Longo just seven days earlier.

The addition of Smith brings Wisconsin’s class of 2025 to 25 total commitments — eight of which coming from blue-chip players. Notably, it rose the group four spots up to No. 21 in 247Sports’ national rankings.

The Badgers now boast the eighth-highest-rated class in the Big Ten, trailing just Ohio State (No. 2 overall), Oregon (No. 8), Michigan (No. 9), USC (No. 11), Penn State (No. 15), Washington (No. 18) and Nebraska (No. 20). The No. 21 ranking is an impressive follow-up after Luke Fickell finished the 2024 class with 247Sports’ No. 25 overall class and a Blue-Chip Ratio of 50%.

Smith’s addition continues a growing debate about how to weigh Wisconsin’s on-field struggles with its recruiting success. In reality, the 2025 football season will be somewhat defined by the performance of the 2024 recruiting class and another crop of transfers. If that strong recruiting doesn’t lead to improved on-field play, the clock may start ticking on his tenure.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin flips top Michigan class of 2025 DL commit

BREAKING: Wisconsin flips Michigan top class of 2025 DL commit

Wisconsin landed a commitment from class of 2025 defensive lineman Jaylen Williams on Wednesday.

Williams had committed to Michigan in June. He flips to Wisconsin, instantly becoming one of the program’s highest-ranked commits in its class of 2025.

Related: Everything Luke Fickell said about the Phil Longo firing, Badgers’ offensive plan moving forward

247Sports ranks the four-star defensive lineman as the No. 279 player in the class of 2025, No. 28 defensive lineman and No. 7 recruit from the state of Illinois. His extended offer sheet, now likely irrelevant, includes top programs Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC.

Williams is Wisconsin’s 24th commitment in the class of 2025. The group is now approaching the nation’s top 25. It has a blue-chip percentage of 29%.

This is a much-needed positive headline for Wisconsin amid its ongoing difficulties, headlined by the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Defensive line is a position the program has worked hard to address in this class. With Williams, the group has four players at the position committed.

Luke Fickell and the Badgers staff have flipped multiple highly touted recruits from Big Ten rivals. Williams joins DL Drayden Pavey (Purdue) and tight end Emmett Bork (Michigan State). He is one of what could be several finishing touches to the class. Focus will turn to uncommitted quarterback Carter Smith, who is reportedly deciding between Wisconsin and Florida State.

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