Tag: caleb banks

Florida hosting this Miami OL on official visit after landing in top 4

After losing most of its 2022 starting offensive line, Florida is looking to replenish the trenches through the transfer portal.

With the recruiting dead period for high school seniors in place until Jan. 13, Florida is taking advantage of the Jan. 4-8 window that transfer players are allowed to make official visits. On Thursday, Miami offensive lineman [autotag]John Campbell[/autotag] will be on campus for an official visit with the Gators, according to 247Sports.

The visit is planned through Friday, but this won’t be Campbell’s first chance to check out the Swamp. He made several trips to UF during his high school recruitment but never made it to Gainesville for an official visit before committing to Miami. He played in 34 games for the Hurricanes in total, including 18 starts.

On Tuesday, Campbell released a top four of Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and USC. He’s already taken an official visit to FSU and Florida is next on the itinerary.

With both of Florida’s starting tackles in 2022 moving on from the program, Campbell could find himself starting at left tackle for Florida if he transfers. [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] is off to the NFL and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] is in the transfer portal, leaving [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag] as the lone experienced option on the team.

The Gators have already brought in a handful of transfers and expect to stay busy through the cycle. So far, Florida has added Wisconsin quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag], Ohio State linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag], Memphis defensive lineman [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag] and Louisville defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag].

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Florida adds former Memphis defensive lineman through transfer portal

Florida restocked its defensive line with the addition of Memphis transfer CamRon Jackson Friday evening.

Former Memphis defensive lineman [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag] didn’t need to wait until his Jan. 4 official visit to pull the trigger on committing to the University of Florida. He took to Twitter to pledge his services to the Orange and Blue around 9 p.m. EST Friday night.

Jackson is the second defensive lineman Billy Napier has brought in, replacing the departing duo of [autotag]Chris Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag]. Louisville’s [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] will join Jackson in Florida’s defensive line room along with returners [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris McClellan[/autotag], The Gators also have five incoming defensive linemen, but there’s no guarantee that a true freshman could step into a major role right away.

Jackson totaled 51 tackles (25 solo) and recorded five tackles for a loss, including 2.5 sacks for 13 yards, in his three years with the Tigers. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors from Pro Football Focus in 2022 and played in all 13 of the Tigers’ games in 2022.

Jackson’s January visit will now be a celebration rather than a recruiting pitch. He knows he’s filling a major need for one of the premiere SEC programs and chose Florida over Miami, the other major contender in his recruitment. Defensive line coach Sean Spencer and defensive analyst Jamar Chaney were Jackson’s major points of contact during the process, according to 247Sports.

He joins the Gators with two years of eligibility left and should play on the interior of the offensive line.

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Gators hosting Memphis transfer DL on official visit

Florida is getting Memphis defensive lineman CamRon Jackson on campus in January as Billy Napier looks to replenish talent in the trenches.

Florida will host Memphis defensive lineman [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag] on Jan. 4 for an official visit, according to Gators Online.

Jackson entered his name into the transfer portal on Thursday and Florida quickly began recruiting him. The Gators need to restock its defensive line corps despite adding a handful of prep players at the position during the early signing period and securing a commitment from Louisville transfer [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag].

A three-star prospect from the class of 2020, Jackson originally committed to the LSU Tigers before signing with Memphis. Florida, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M and Mississippi State were some of the programs that offered him out of high school, and now the Gators are back in the fold.

[autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] is expected to start on the line next year, and Jackson could easily join him as a starter. During his three years with Memphis, Jackson totaled 51 tackles (25 solo) and recorded five tackles for a loss, including 2.5 sacks for 13 yards. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors from Pro Football Focus in 2022 and played in all 13 of the Tigers’ games.

Miami should get him on campus in January and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more Power Five programs take interest in Jackson. Florida getting him on campus so quickly could give the Gators a head start in this recruitment.

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Gators land this Louisville defensive lineman via transfer portal

The Gators picked up a piece for their defensive line via the transfer portal on Wednesday.

The start of the early signing period on Wednesday was a big day for [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. as the program signed 22 total prep prospects en route to one of the finer signing days in recent memory. While the focus may have been mostly on the 2023 recruiting cycle, talent in the transfer portal was also on the minds of the Gators’ staff.

One of the newcomers for the Orange and Blue next season will be former Louisville Cardinals defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag], who officially became a Gator on Wednesday when the program announced his addition through the NCAA transfer portal. The massive 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound behemoth originally picked UL over offers from a multitude of schools, including the Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines and Arizona State Sun Devils ā€” the latter of which he was committed to at one point.

The rising redshirt sophomore made just one stop in the Swamp prior in early December before verbally committing on Dec. 11 as he was unable to visit while still in high school. Still, his impression of the program was high after that solitary official visit.

“It’s a great coaching staff,” Banks said after the official visit, according to Swamp247. “They are building something great there. It was amazing to see firsthand instead of virtually. Actually being able to go there. I wasn’t able to go on visits because of COVID, so it was pretty good going into my first official visit at Florida. Honestly, everything [was a highlight]. There wasn’t one certain thing. I loved it.”

Not only are the pieces of the puzzle in place on the sidelines for Banks but also on the field.

“(The staff) just told me I would have a great opportunity. They need defensive linemen. We will see where that goes and see what happens. They see me being a three, four or a five.”

Banks was a three-star defensive lineman coming out of high school in Southfield, Michigan, according to both the 247Sports consensus as well as the On3 consensus for the class of 2021. During his two collegiate seasons with the Cardinals, he appeared in eight total games ā€” two as a true freshman in 2021 and six in 2022 ā€” recording two tackles and a sack while forcing a fumble over that stretch.

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Gators land first transfer commitment from this former Louisville DL

The Gators may be losing a good chunk of talent to the transfer portal, but Billy Napier is already bringing in players to restock the team.

Florida earned its first commitment of the winter transfer portal cycle on Sunday. Former Louisville defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] announced his decision on Twitter and is headed to the Swamp.

Banks’ commitment comes off an official visit to Florida and a few conversations with Florida defensive coordinator Sean Spencer. He already considered UF as his “dream school,” according to On3’s Gators Online, and spending a weekend in Gainesville only helped confirm things.

The Gators beat out several Power Five programs for Banks, including Auburn, Oklahoma, Tennessee and USC. A three-star prospect out of Southfield (Michigan) High School, Banks impressed during his very limited playing time as a true freshman for the Cardinals. He finished with two tackles, one sack and a forced fumble playing just 38 defensive snaps.

With [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris McClellan[/autotag] likely ahead of Banks on the depth chart, Florida gains a very moldable piece to his defensive line corps. He’s projected to fit at nose tackle next season, but the departure of [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] to the NFL could force a few different position swaps. Banks give Florida the flexibility to play the best player available at each position.

After losing over a dozen players to the portal, Florida should be one of the most active teams in the transfer cycle. Banks is the first commitment of the season but surely won’t be the last.

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Tracking Florida’s big recruiting weekend ahead of the early signing period

The Gators are hosting a ton of recruits on official visits this weekend. Here are the ones who have checked in from the Swamp.

The Florida Gators are hosting a ton of official visitors over what will be the final big recruiting weekend ahead of the 2023 cycle’s early signing period.

UF’s selection to the Las Vegas Bowl, which takes place on Dec. 17, forced Billy Napier’s staff to adjust, but the list of visitors in the Swamp this weekend is still very impressive.

Headlining it is five-star offensive tackle [autotag]Samson Okunlola[/autotag] out of Massachusetts. The Gators are working hard to beat out the Miami Hurricanes for him, and he’d likely help Florida break back into the top 10 as the team’s only five-star commit in the cycle. Getting the last word could be crucial in his decision.

The Gators are also looking to flip a few players as well, and a late official visit could help push them to make the leap and bolster an already powerful class. Plenty of commits are in town too to help recruit and take their own official visits.

Here’s a look at every recruiting target that’s checked in from the Swamp over the weekend.

Florida football offers this defensive ACC transfer portal player

Florida has offered an ACC defensive line target in the transfer portal as they look to reshape the Gators roster for the 2023 season

With the Gators’ regular season coming to a close last week, players and coaches are looking to make the best decision possible for next season. For some players, that means entering the transfer portal. Multiple players have announced their intentions to enter the portal, per Sports Illustrated.

As a result, Billy Napier is looking to further craft the Gators roster in his image. He has been active in the transfer portal, with some of the major staff changes made last year dedicated to identifying the best players in the transfer portal.

Caleb Banks, a defensive lineman who played for Louisville last season, was offered by Napier and his staff on Monday. According to On3, the six-foot-seven, 300-pound redshirt freshman has landed a total of four offers, with Virginia Tech, Appalachian State and Indiana joining the Gators in the pursuit of the Southfield, Michigan, native.

Florida is in need of physical players to line up on the defensive line, and Banks would fit in well at nose tackle for the Orange and Blue. He played just nine snaps as a true freshman and recorded two tackles, one sack, and forced one fumble this season. He is still considered to be a raw player, and the Gators think they can the most out of him.

Additional Power Five programs are expected to enter the race to sign Banks. According to the On3 Consensus, Banks was a former three-star prospect coming out of high school. He was also the No. 97 ranked edge in the 2021 class. He held offers from schools such as Michigan, Tennesse, Kentucky, Nebraska, Maryland, Minnesota and West Virginia.

The Gators will finish their season with a depleted roster in their bowl game. Top players like [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] and [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] have already declared for the NFL draft and will not be playing against the Oregon State Beavers in the Las Vegas Bowl. That game will be played on Dec. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST, with the game being broadcast on ESPN.

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Michigan State Football offers three 2021 3-star prospects

Michigan State football has made offers to three different 2021 3-star high school prospects. Read more details about these players here.

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Michigan State football makes yet another strong recruiting move. The Spartans made offers to three different 3-star 2021 high school recruits this weekend. This includes OT Caleb Banks, DT Patrick Tukes, and DE Tyson Watson.

Caleb Banks hails from Southfield, MI where he plays for Southfield high school. He stands at 6’6″ and weighs 255 pounds. According to 247 Sports Composite Rankings, he ranks as the No. 77 OT in the nation in the 2021 recruiting class. He also ranks as the No. 25 prospect in Michigan in the 2021 recruiting class. Note, Banks has listed the Spartans in his top 11 choices for school.

Patrick Tukes is a DT from Mcrae, GA and plays for Telfair County. He is 6’3″ and weighs a solid 270 pounds. Per 247 Sports Composite Rankings, he ranks as the No. 47 DT in the 2021 recruiting class. He also ranks as the No. 71 prospect in Georgia in all of the 2021 recruiting class.

Check out some of his highlights here.

Tyson Watson is a Strong-Side Defensive End from Warren, MI and plays for Warren Mott. Watson is 6’6″ and weighs 250 pounds. He ranks as the No. 37 SDE in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 16 prospect in Michigan in the 2021 class, per 247 Sports Composite Rankings.

You can check out his highlights here.

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