Tag: commitment

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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Cameron and Cayden Boozer announce commitment to Duke basketball

2025 prospects Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twin sons of Duke basketball legend Carlos Boozer, committed to the Blue Devils on Friday.

Cameron and Cayden Boozer, two of the top prospects in the Class of 2025, announced their joint commitment to the Duke Blue Devils on Friday.

The twin sons of former Duke basketball star Carlos Boozer, the Columbus High School products chose the Blue Devils over the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators.

Cameron, a 6-foot-9 power forward and 247Sports’ second-best prospect in the class, is considered one of the most dominant high-school talents in the country. He led the Explorers with 22.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game as a junior. He remains locked in a battle with fellow five-star AJ Dybantsa for the top spot in the recruiting rankings, and Cameron is considered the player with the highest floor among his classmates.

“Boozer is the surest thing in high school basketball,” 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote in his scouting report. “He has an extremely versatile and mature two-way floor game. It’s just hard to envision a scenario where he’s not a successful basketball player at the highest levels for years to come.”

Cayden, for his part, averaged 12.0 points and 7.6 assists per game. As the No. 21 player on the 247Sports 2025 rankings, he brings prototypical size to the position at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. He’s considered one of the best and most efficient passers in the class, finishing his junior season with a 2.49 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Boozers become the first 2025 commitments for Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer and his staff. The Blue Devils did make the final three for five-star small forward Shelton Henderson on Thursday, however, so another stacked recruiting class could be on the way.

Four-star WR Naeshaun Montgomery commits to Florida

Florida’s future wide receivers room grew stronger on Sunday following the commitment of four-star wideout Naeshaun Montgomery.

Florida’s earned a commitment from four-star Miami Central wide receiver [autotag]Naeshaun Montgomery[/autotag] on Sunday.

Montgomery chose Florida over finalists Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oregon and Penn State while streaming live on Instagram.

Florida hosted Montgomery on several visits, including an official visit over the weekend of May 31. It was then that Montgomery started to consider Florida his future home, according to Chad Simmons of On3, ultimately leading to a verbal pledge almost three months later.

Montgomery has developed a strong relationship with the Gators over recent months thanks to a strong line of communication. Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzalez has been his main point of contact, and their conversations extend beyond football.

“I like how they develop receivers,” Montgomery said. “Coach Billy Gonzales, coach (Billy) Napier and the rest of the coaching staff know what to do with receivers. They do a great job of developing players and that was the main thing I cared about.”

Montgomery is the 14th recruit from the class of 2025 to commit to Florida. The Gators moved up two spots to No. 19 on On3’s team recruiting rankings. 247Sports is a bit less bullish on the class, but Florida still moved from No. 30 to No. 24 on their list.

His commitment ensures another trio of high-profile recruits at the receiver position will be headed to Gainesville. Montgomery joins fellow four-stars Vernell Brown III out of Orlando and Joshua Moore out of Broward County.

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is a three-star recruit by 247Sports and On3’s measure, but both ESPN and Rivals grant him four-star status. Both major composite rankings grade him out as a four-star recruit as well.

The 247Sports composite puts him at No. 179 overall and No. 18 among wide receivers in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry rankings have him at Nos. 249 and No. 33, respectively.

Prior to Montgomery’s commitment, 247Sports submitted a pair of crystal balls in favor of the Gators — one from Florida insider Blake Alderman on June 17 and the other from national recruiting analyst Tom Loy on July 23.

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Three-star running back Nate Sheppard announces commitment to Duke football

Nate Sheppard, a three-star 2025 running back from Louisiana, announced his commitment to the Duke Blue Devils on Friday.

The Duke Blue Devils picked up another football commitment on Friday when running back Nate Sheppard announced his decision.

Sheppard chose the Blue Devils over California (one of the newest members of the ACC), Cincinnati, Northwestern, and Tulane. A three-star product out of Mandeville High School in Louisiana, he’s the No. 61 running back and a top-800 player in the Class of 2025 according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

According to a pinned post on his X account (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter), Sheppard ran for 1,816 yards and 32 touchdowns during his junior season in 2023. He also added 316 yards and four scores as a receiving threat, all in just 13 games.

As of August 23, the Blue Devils have 24 commitments for the 2025 class, and 247Sports national recruiting analyst Tom Loy logged a Crystal Ball prediction for Diaz to flip four-star defensive lineman Bryce Davis from Clemson on the same day as Sheppard’s commitment.

Sheppard becomes the second running back commitment for Diaz in his first full recruiting cycle as the Duke head coach, joining Javin Gordon from Georgia.

Gators land commitment from this four-star, legacy CB

Billy Napier and Florida’s recruiting staff continue to add four-star talent from the class of 2025. The latest commitment comes from Scornerback Ben Hanks Jr.

Florida’s 2025 recruiting class improved on Friday after Booker T. Washington (Miami) cornerback [autotag]Ben Hanks Jr[/autotag]. committed to the Gators over Louisville and Miami, according to On3.

“It was a tough decision, but at the end of the day, it was Florida,” Hanks said. “I liked Georgia a lot early. When I saw their practice and what they are about, it was great. Louisville was a school I loved on my official visit. Miami was up there too. The more visits I took, the tougher it got, but it came back to Florida.”

Hanks, a legacy recruit, is considered a priority target at his position for Florida and is the first defensive back from the 2025 class to pledge his services to the program. He is the son of former linebacker Ben Hanks.

“I have a great relationship with coach Billy Napier and coach Will Harris. I have been going to Florida since I was a kid. My dad played there, my sister went there, my cousin Treon Harris played there, so it is like home for me.

“That is what it came down to. Florida feels like home.”

Fellow legacy commit Vernell Brown III was quick to welcome him to the class on social media.

Recruiting Summary

Hanks is a four-star recruit on every major recruiting platform. On3 is the highest on him, putting him at No. 72 on its standalone rankings. Both major composite rankings have him just outside the top 100.

He has long arms and has proven himself as a ballhawk in a highly competitive area. The 400-meter district champion has verified speed and can handle most receivers 1-on-1.

Adding Hanks to the class is a big move for Florida, which spent the summer in need of some quality commitments. He instantly moves the Gators up 11 spots on the On3 team rankings. Florida now sits at No. 20, jumping past several SEC programs.

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Florida lands commitment from 4-star legacy combo guard

Todd Golden has landed a second commitment from the class of 2025. Four-star guard CJ Ingram made his pledge to the Gators on his 17th birthday.

Celebrating his 17th birthday on Monday, four-star guard [autotag]CJ Ingram[/autotag] announced his commitment to the University of Florida with a video posted to social media.

Ingram is a legacy commit. His father, Cornelius, played tight end for the Florida football program during the mid-to-late aughts. Ingram began the recruiting process as a dual-sport athlete but decided to focus on basketball this spring.

He visited the university over the summer and knew Todd Golden’s program was right for him.

“It always felt like home,” Ingram said to Joe Tipton of On3. “The atmosphere is just different with the fans. My visit just felt almost perfect and I’m doing at home in front of friends and family. Coach Todd, Coach Taurean Green, Coach Hartmann and Coach Talley, they tell me every day what I can be in the future, how I can develop, and how I fit in the system.”

Ingram averaged 24 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as a junior, according to MaxPreps. Entering his fifth year of varsity ball, he could improve from three-point range (25%) and the free-throw line (60%).

He is looking to lead Hawthorne High to a state championship this winter after bowing out of the state tournament in the regional semifinals.

Recruiting Summary

Ingram is a four-star recruit on three of the four major recruiting platforms, with Rivals being the exception.

The On3 industry ranking grants him four-star status and places him just outside the national top 100 at No. 107, but the 247Sports composite has him at three stars and down to No. 149 overall.

He’s been on an upward trajectory over the past few months and is expected to continue rising up recruiting rankings.

Florida has one other commit in the class of 2025, national No. 40 Alex Lloyd. The Gators now have the eighth-best recruiting class in the cycle, per 247Sports’ team rankings.

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Duke football picks up commitment from three-star 2025 athlete Qeanu Johnson

Qeanu Johnson, a three-star athlete from Connecticut, became the 25th Duke commitment from the Class of 2025 on Saturday.

Duke head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] landed his 25th commitment from the Class of 2025 on Saturday when three-star athlete Qeanu Johnson revealed his decision.

“Grateful to have announced my commitment to (Duke football),” Johnson wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Truly blessed and thankful for my family, friends, teammates, coaches and anyone that has helped me along the way!”

Johnson plays for Hamden Hall Country Day School in Connecticut, and he led the team with 584 yards and 11 touchdowns last season as a receiver. He also ran for 164 yards on 11 carries, adding three more touchdowns, and he came away with an interception and seven pass deflections as a cornerback.

He also lists himself as a returner on social media, and MaxPreps says he averaged 34.2 yards per kick return and 28.7 yards per punt return in 2023-24.

Johnson joins high school teammate Asher Wasserman, a three-star linebacker from Hamden Hall, in the Duke recruiting class.

Johnson becomes the second Duke commitment in two days, although Friday’s commitment (three-star defensive lineman Ayden Cain) came from the Class of 2026.

Gators add another commitment to 2025 recruiting cycle haul

Cameroon native Joseph Mbatchou is a raw talent and the Florida Gators have been entrusted to maximize his returns.

Florida football has been riding a hot streak this week on the recruiting front, earning crystal ball predictions as well as commitments from some top prep prospects in the upcoming classes. However, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. are also busy searching for diamonds in the rough as well.

Three-star defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou, who is originally from Cameroon and plays high school ball for Loganville (Georgia) Grayson, made a verbal pledge to the Gators last weekend after stopping in for the program’s annual grill-out event.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 285-pound gridiron giant is still a bit new to the game having just a year of experience under his belt, but his raw potential is unquestioned at this point. It looks like the Gators are all in on developing his physical talents.

On Mbatchou’s commitment

“During the visit, I committed,” Mbatchou told Swamp247.

“They gave me information that I couldn’t get an exact answer from other schools. They laid everything out, so I could see everything. Most of the time I didn’t even have any questions because of how well they presented it.

“The people I met there, they changed my views on some things. I just got a feeling. A feeling they were genuine. We were all on the same page. That’s how I feel about the people at Florida.”

Where Mbatchou fits with Florida

“They see me as either a three-technique or an F. That’s what they told me. So I have been talking to both Coach Mike (Peterson) and Coach (Gerald) Chatman,” he offered previously.

“From what I saw this weekend from them, I think they are genuine people. It’s going to be easy to work, easy flow. Everything would be good. I got there on Friday evening actually, so I went up there to meet with all of them.

“I got to sit down and talk. Learn more about them as people, where their priorities lie, and what type of person and player they want to make me into. It was good getting to know them.

“If I choose to commit, I want to know I can put my full faith into who is coaching me. I believe in the same things they believe in. They’re all good people.”

Recruiting Summary

Mbatchou is ranked No. 1,239 overall and No. 131 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite plus a crystal ball prediction in favor of Florida. On3’s recruiting prediction machine gave the Gators an overwhelming 98.7% chance of landing him.

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Florida flips ACC safety commit, will reclassify to 2025 class

The Gators added to their 2025 recruiting haul with the addition of former Syracuse Orange commit and four-star safety Demetres Samuel Jr.

Not too long ago, Florida football’s 2025 recruiting haul was anything but impressive. However, over the past month, things have been improving for the Gators in the upcoming class — thanks in large part to a series of recent coups.

On Wednesday, former Syracuse Orange commit and four-star safety [autotag]Demetres Samuel Jr[/autotag]. out of Palm Bay (Florida) Heritage flipped to Billy Napier’s program. The announcement comes after an unofficial visit last weekend at Florida’s Grill in the Ville event.

The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back was originally a member of the Class of 2026 but has instead chosen to enroll along with the 2025 group.

Why Samuel picked Florida over Syracuse

When push came to shove, the Orange and Blue simply had more to offer than just the Orange.

“I got family here. It’s like a DNA thing to me. I grew up in Florida. So why not?” Samuel rhetorically asked.

Billy Napier’s staff have focused strongly on a family approach to building its roster and that paradigm continued to shine with the recent commit.

“They’re always going to try to keep me home, so they are going to try to make everything feel good, and make me feel like I’m at home. I feel good because Coach Harris and Coach (Beyah Rasool) always going to make me feel at home because it’s Florida. It definitely feels good.”

On reclassifying to the 2025 class

As for the decision to move up to the Class of 2025, it took a bit of rumination on the thought before he came to his conclusion.

“It was a decision me, my parents, and coaches thought was a good decision,” Samuel said. “High school, I love high school and all, but sometimes you have to move on. I thought it was a better decision for me.”

Recapping Samuel’s most recent trip

“It was good getting to meet some new people, some new recruits, and some new commits and stuff, Samuel offered. “So that was good. Being able to connect with other people and other coaches and stuff.”

As far as what impressed him the most during the visit, Samuel had a difficult time picking just one thing out of the many cookout game challenges.

“I would probably say winning the whole thing. We won the whole thing. We did the rap battle, double dare, and the scavenger hunt. That rap battle was fun though. We got to make a little music video. It was cool.”

Recruiting Summary

Samuel is ranked No. 225 overall and No. 20 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 205 and 9, respectively.

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Gators add 3rd 2026 football commitment from Central Florida safety

Gators football scored their 3rd coup of the 2026 cycle this week by adding 3-star safety Devin Jackson.

Billy Napier and Co. scored their third coup of the 2026 cycle this week with the addition of three-star safety [autotag]Devin Jackson[/autotag] out of Orlando (Florida) First Academy.

The 6-foot-1.5-inch, 195-pound defensive back earned an offer from Florida early on while still at Winter Garden (Florida) West Orange — the program he spent his first two years of high school with — and was able to attend every Gators home game in 2024 thanks to his proximity to Gainesville. He has since shifted over to an Orlando area private school for his junior campaign.

Jackson was on campus Wednesday to check in on Florida’s first fall practice ahead of the upcoming season and apparently what he saw was enough for him to give the Gators his verbal commitment.

On his relationship with Will Harris

“He’s someone I have a good relationship with,” Jackson told Swamp247 earlier in the year during one of their first meetings. “He’s really energetic and he likes what I can do on the field.”

What Jackson likes about Florida

“I like that it’s close to home, so it’s not hard to get there and back,” Jackson noted. “I love the facilities and how much love the fan base shows. They are live and electric. I liked how the coaches were around me and how they made me feel like I was at home.”

Connection to current Gators team

Jackson is connected to a pair of current Gators from Central Florida in [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag]. The former is his cousin while the latter played for the Gators commit’s previous high school in Winter Garden.

“They said if I keep getting better than the rest of recruiting and football all takes care of itself. I really look up to those boys. I see wha they are doing, and I want to be great just like them.”

Jackson’s sophomore stats

At West Orange during his sophomore season, Jackson amassed 58 tackles — 27 solo and 31 assisted — while averaging 6.4 tackles per game and recording one tackle for a loss over nine appearances. He also defended a pair of passes and recovered a fumble during the 2023-24 campaign, according to MaxPreps.

Recruiting Summary

Jackson is ranked No. 388 overall and No. 33 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 327 and 28, respectively.

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