Tag: commitment

Gators baseball earns commitment from JUCO southpaw hurler

The addition of Mason Laurito helps to address the departures of southpaws Cade Fisher and Robert Satin this offseason.

The Florida baseball program added some much-needed depth to its pitching staff on Monday with a commitment from left-handed hurler [autotag]Mason Laurito[/autotag] out of Panama City (Florida) Gulf Coast State College.

The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect originally from Ocala, Florida, spent his first collegiate season in the JUCO ranks hoping for a golden opportunity and the Gators delivered.

“Excited to announce I’ll be continuing my baseball career at the University of Florida,” Laurito posted on his personal Twitter account.

“It means a lot to me that they really needed me,” Laurito told Swamp247. “I can step into some big roles and come through for the team. Maybe that’s pitching against Florida State in a midweek game, which would be incredible. I could be pitching against freakin’ Arkansas on a Friday night. It’s just very exciting.”

Laurito recorded a 2-1 record in 2023 with his JUCO team, posting a team-best 3.34 ERA in 11 starts stretching across 32 1/3 innings. He struck out 42 batters and walked 29; however, his 1.61 WHIP last year is a bit of a concern

His repertoire features a solid three-pitch mix, headlined by a fastball in the low 90s, plus a changeup and at least one breaking pitch which combined has proven to be a fairly effective arsenal.

The addition of Laurito helps to address the departures of southpaws Cade Fisher and Robert Satin this offseason.

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Elite WR Vernell Brown III commits to Florida Gators

Florida landed a commitment from one of the top receivers in the class 2025, Vernell Brown III, on Sunday.

One of the top pass catchers in the 2025 recruiting cycle, [autotag]Vernell Brown III[/autotag], has committed to the University of Florida over fellow finalists Florida State, Miami and Ohio State on Sunday.

Although he’s a legacy recruit, academics and a strong development program at his position made Florida the pick for Brown.

“(Florida) just showed me what they had to offer outside of all of the whole recruiting facade,” Brown said in an interview with Swamp247.

“All four of the schools I had, they were good schools. Ultimately it came down to where I wanted to go, and that’s how I decided. That legacy approach, they used it a little more towards the end, but they never really used it through the process because they knew the who legacy piece does not fascinate me at all.”

At 5-foot-10.5-inches, Brown is your [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag], [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag] type receiver compared to a larger, more over-the-top style pass catcher. It’s a position that [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has seen consistent success in developing at Florida.

Of course, Napier enters Year 3 in Gainesville on the hot seat. By the time Brown gets to campus, Napier will need his guys to step up or the coaching shuffle cycle begins once again. That’s not something that scares the Gators’ newest commit.

“… we’re signing good classes and building to get better,” Brown said. “They’re making me understand that if you go here, you have to be up for the challenge. You have to be part of that crew to get Florida back to where it’s traditionally been. I think their transparency, acknowledging it, and saying their plan to get it fixed has definitely helped.”

Recruiting Summary

A consensus four-star receiver who earns five-star status in some compsites, Brown is No. 25 nationally on the 247Sports composite. The On3 industry ranking puts him at No. 33 overall, but both services agree he is the sixth-best receiver in the class of 2025.

Brown is now Florida’s highest-ranked commit and solidifies a strong corps of incoming pass catchers. West Broward High receiver Joshua Moore and a pair of three-star tight ends are also under commitment.

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Florida women’s tennis signs top British recruit Talia Neilson-Gatenby

The women’s tennis team added its third incoming freshman to its 2024 recruiting class.

The top women’s tennis recruit out of Great Britain [autotag]Talia Neilson-Gatenby[/autotag] committed to the Florida Gators on Monday, head coach Roland Thornqvist announced. She joins the Orange and Blue after previously training with LTA’s National Academy in Loughborough.

“We are thrilled to announce the signing of Talia, one of the most talented juniors I’ve seen on the international stage and a fantastic young woman to help our quest to win yet another National Championship,” Thornqvist said. “This signing class is shaping up to be one of the deepest we’ve had in years and Talia will have a chance to make a big impact right away.”

Neilson-Gatenby held a career-best No. 541 world ranking in singles and a No. 896 in doubles on the ITF circuit. She secured the 15k ITF doubles title in Monastir in May, marking her first ITF World Tour doubles title.

In 2022, Neilson-Gatenby qualified for the Wimbledon junior event after making it to the 18 & Under Junior National Title finals. She made it to the second round of the prestigious tournament before falling to Annabelle Xu, an ITA All-American and a First Team All-ACC player at Virginia.

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Florida football flips blue-chip LB previously committed to Alabama

The Gators managed to steal a 4-star prospect from the big bad ‘Bama boys.

The Florida football program scored its first commitment of July on Wednesday by flipping four-star linebacker [autotag]Myles Johnson[/autotag] out of Brewton (Alabama) T.R. Miller from fellow Southeastern Conference foe, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pound defender had been committed to ‘Bama for quite some time but reopened his recruitment last week, opening the door for the Gators to swoop in. [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. had been working on him even before opening things back up, bringing to fruition months of behind-the-scenes efforts.

What appeals to Johnson about UF

“Coach Roberts and Coach Armstrong said they run a lot of similar stuff as Alabama with their linebackers,” Johnson notes. “They see a lot of similarities where Alabama would use me and where they want to use me.”

He also was impressed with what the Orange and Blue have to offer him in the classroom.

“I would say the main thing was the education part about it. We went to the education facility and it was nice. I know they mentioned they are the top public school in the nation. That really was a big part in what I want to get out of college football.”

Recruiting Summary

Johnson is rated at three stars and ranked No. 491 overall and No. 50 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking also rates him at three stars and ranks him at Nos. 493 and 50, respectively.

The rising senior is rated at four stars by 247Sports own proprietary ranking system as well as ESPN.

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Missouri pulls ahead of Florida to land top-100 WR commitment

Florida’s recruiting staff has been pushing for four-star IMG Academy receiver Donovan Olugbode over the past few months, but he committed to a different SEC program Friday.

IMG Academy wide receiver [autotag]Donovan Olugbode[/autotag] committed to the Missouri Tigers on Friday over Florida, Oregon, USC and Washington.

Olugbode announced his decision live on 247Sports’ YouTube channel surrounded by his family. He reviewed each of his top five schools with national college football recruiting analyst Tom Loy before revealing his choice.

“Billy Napier, him being a receiver guy, coming from Alabama and coaching guys at the receiver position there,” Olugbode said when asked why Florida was still in the race. “Him being an offensive coordinator and a good guy who knows a lot about the game. They have a good receivers coach too, Billy G.”

Olugbode said that he knew Missouri was home once he returned from his official visit in late June. He informed the coaches beforehand, which explains the pivot to Missouri among experts over the past week or so.

Before a July 2 prediction from On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, the odds were split fairly evenly between Florida, Oregon and Washington.

Class of 2025 WRs connected to Florida

Despite missing out on Olugbode, a four-star recruit who played high school nearby, Florida still has a chance to put together one of the best receiver classes in the country.

Right now, West Broward four-star [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] is the only receiver committed to Florida, but the Gators are in the hunt for at least two more elite pass catchers.

Florida is competing with FSU for in-state five-star [autotag]Vernell Brown III[/autotag] and is a heavy favorite to land Miami Central four-star Naeshaun Montgomery.

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Florida lands commitment from coveted in-state pass-catcher

Florida continues to add depth to its tight ends room with the commitment of Tae-shaun Gelsey out of Jacksonville Riverside.

The Florida Gators added another commitment to its 2025 recruiting class on Saturday. Jacksonville Riverside receiver [autotag]Tae’shaun Gelsey[/autotag] has pledged his services to the Orange and Blue.

“It’s the relationship I have with each coach,” Gelsey said to On3. “Everyone is just brought together and everybody is just family. They made me feel welcome and it’s just a great environment they have.”

Gelsey grew up watching the Gators and has been openly fond of the program throughout his recruitment. He thanked the coaches and staff on social media after his June official visit to UF.

Gelsey is a receiver in high school, but he should transition to tight end in college. That means Florida’s two-man tight ends class is complete. Madison Central’s (Miss.) Micah Jones committed to the Gators on June 21.

Recruiting Summary

Gelsey is a three-star recruit on both major composite rankings, but Rivals considers him a four-star talent.

The On3 industry ranking, which considers all four major recruiting services, put him at No. 710 overall in the class and No. 41 among tight ends. The 247Sports composite is more bearish on him, ranking Gelsey No. 548 nationally and No. 86 among wide receivers.

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Wisconsin football trending toward landing top 2025 iOL Hardy Watts

Wisconsin football trending toward landing top 2025 iOL Hardy Watts

Wisconsin football is trending toward landing four-star class of 2025 interior offensive lineman Hardy Watts, as five last-minute 247Sports crystal ball predictions were logged on Saturday for him to choose the Badgers.

Those predictions come from 247Sports Wisconsin insiders Evan Flood and Nick Osen, Michigan insiders Steve Lorenz and Sam Webb, and national analyst Brian Dohn. They are posted just two days before Watts is scheduled to announce his commitment (Monday, July 1) to either Wisconsin, Michigan, or Clemson.

Related: Wisconsin football’s top remaining targets in the class of 2025 recruiting cycle

This significant last-minute shift in the top lineman’s recruitment comes after nearly every insider had recently predicted Michigan as his destination.

Watts is currently ranked by 247Sports as the No. 218 player in the class of 2025, No. 12 interior offensive lineman and No. 1 recruit from the state of Massachusetts.

Wisconsin potentially winning this down-to-the-wire recruiting battle is significant news after the four-star lineman recently visited Michigan on June 21. His visit to the Badgers was back on May 31. It is often the case that the program with the last visit lands a player’s commitment. That is trending toward not being the case in this scenario.

Watts’ would be a signature addition to a Wisconsin class of 2025 that currently ranks No. 16 in the nation and No. 6 in the new Big Ten. Notably, it would propel the class ahead of Michigan (No. 15 overall, No. 5 Big Ten) — the program the Badgers are currently battling for Watts’ commitment.

The top-ranked lineman is one of several of Wisconsin’s top targets who remain uncommitted. The Badgers making a late push in the cycle could begin with Watt’s commitment on Monday.

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Florida basketball adding international center Viktor Mikic

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team is adding another big man to its roster, Viktor Mikic, who hails from Serbia.

Florida’s frontcourt got some added depth on Friday when it added 6-foot-11 center [autotag]Viktor Mikic[/autotag] to the team, according to a report from 247Sports.

The Serbian prospect played one year of high school ball in America at Chattanooga (Tennessee) Hamilton Heights.

He averaged 14.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, earning him offers from Bowling Green Chattanooga, Hawaii and Rutgers. Before moving to America, Mikic played in the Serbian Junior League, where he also averaged a double-double.

Mikic joins returning sophomores [autotag]Alex Condon[/autotag] and [autotag]Thomas Haugh[/autotag] in Florida’s frontcourt, along with incoming transfer center [autotag]Reuben Chinyelu[/autotag] (Washington State) and forward [autotag]Sam Alexis[/autotag] (Chattanooga). There’s also 7-foot-9 freshman [autotag]Olivier Rioux[/autotag] to compete with.

This marks the third straight season that [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] brought in an international player, which worked for him in San Francisco. Forward [autotag]Aleks Szymczyk[/autotag] transferred from the program after suffering an injury his sophomore year and guard [autotag]Kajus Kublickas[/autotag] is still with the team.

Condon is the main success story. He came over from Australia ahead of last year and earned an SEC All-Freshman Team nod.

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Gators add blue-chip wide receiver to 2025 recruiting class haul

The Florida Gators scored a major win in the 2025 recruiting cycle with the commitment of South Florida standout Joshua Moore.

Billy Napier added four-star wide receiver [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] out of Pembroke Pines (Florida) West Broward to his 2025 recruiting haul on Wednesday after the coveted pass-catcher committed to the Florida football program.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 205-pound pass-catcher had whittled down his preferred collegiate destinations to a final two schools at the end of last week, with the Gators prevailing over the Florida State Seminoles for the blue-chip talent.

“Florida, I feel like it feels more homey,” Moore told Swamp247 prior to the the official announcement. “Not too far away from home, but I’m far away enough. I feel like I can get developed here. I could become a better man, and a better player on the field also. That’s why I chose Florida.”

Recruiting Summary

Moore is ranked No. 196 overall and No. 25 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 197 and 24, respectively.

Florida held two crystal ball predictions from 247Sports coming into the day while On3’s recruiting prediction machine gave the Gators a 97.0% chance of signing him.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin top class of 2025 CB target Tre Poteat commits to an SEC power

BREAKING: Wisconsin top class of 2025 CB target Tre Poteat commits to an SEC power

Wisconsin top class of 2025 cornerback target Tre Poteat committed to Tennessee on Tuesday.

The three-star cornerback chose the Volunteers over the in-state Badgers and the Iowa State Cyclones. He commits on the heels of an official visit to Tennessee back on June 21.

Related: Wisconsin updated class of 2025 commits after loss of four-star CB Rukeem Stroud

Poteat is 247Sports’ No. 545 player in the class of 2025, No. 48 cornerback and No. 4 recruit from the state of Wisconsin. The Verona, Wisconsin native had a substantial connection to the Badgers program: his father Hank Poteat was its cornerbacks coach under Paul Chryst from 2021-2022 before joining the Iowa State coaching staff in the same capacity (2023-present).

The cornerback’s commitment to Tennessee marks another recruiting loss for the Badgers in what has been an up-and-down week. The program beat out Florida State for three-star edge rusher Nicolas Clayton, then saw four-star cornerback Rukeem Stroud flip his commitment from Wisconsin to UCF.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 13 in the nation and No. 4 in the Big Ten with 20 total commitments. The program does remain in contention for several top targets including four-star DL Kade Pietrzak, four-star RB Byron Louis and four-star iOL Hardy Watts, so there remain opportunities for the class to continue to grow.

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