Tag: Corey Raymond

Billy Napier describes trio of defensive backs as a ‘very versatile group’

Gators fans could see some improvements in the secondary next season thanks to Napier’s positional overhaul.

The Florida secondary will be undergoing an overhaul for the 2023 season. Defensive backs [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag], [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag], [autotag]Donovan McMillon[/autotag] and [autotag]Corey Collier Jr[/autotag]. have all left the program either due to graduation, declaring for the NFL draft or entering the transfer portal.

[autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Miguel Mitchell[/autotag] are the only returning safeties from the 2022 season. Because of the roster turnover, highly-touted recruits like [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] will undoubtedly get playing time over the course of the season. But those aren’t the names that Napier singled out.

Head coach Billy Napier believes that [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag], and [autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag] are the early contenders to provide the position depth in 2023. In addition to being the team’s defensive coordinator, [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] is also tasked with being the safeties coach, working with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] to craft the defensive backfield.

Napier praised Castell’s ability to cover receivers in man-to-man or zone coverage, Thornton’s football IQ, and Gates’ competitive nature, noting that he was the lone holdover from the previous staff to become a Florida Gator in 2023. Gates is coming off a torn ACL suffered in his final season of prep football, but the staff maintained their belief in him and brought him in.

Overall, the secondary looks to be at the dawn of a new era. For a long time, Florida fans were unsure about the talent level in the secondary. It seems like this group will be the ones to begin the process of restoring Florida to its “DBU” status, something that hasn’t been able to be said in a long time.

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Florida coach visits this 5-star CB to kick off January contact period

Florida cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond stopped by a priority recruit’s high school on Friday as the contact period opened up.

Florida cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] opened up the January contact period, which runs from Jan. 13 to Jan. 28, by visiting the high school of a five-star recruit in the class of 2024, according to 247Sports.

[autotag]Charles Lester III[/autotag] included the Gators in his top five just two weeks ago and is a top-25 player in the class, so it only makes sense for Riverview High to be Raymond’s first stop. Florida signed an elite defensive backs class in the 2023 cycle and pulled off a miracle during a short 2022 cycle by landing five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag]. Much of that success is thanks to Raymond, and Lester seems like his top priority in the upcoming cycle.

So far, things seem to be going well for Raymond and Lester, but there’s not timetable for a decision in place. He’ll visit Florida State over the coming weekend for a Junior Day and previously named the Seminoles and Alabama Crimson Tide as programs piquing his interest. In the past, Lester has claimed that coaching connections will play a big part in his decision, so Raymond is the right man to take point on this one.

The 247Sports composite ranks Lester at No. 22 overall and No. 3 among cornerbacks in the class of 2024. After missing on Cormani McClain in 2023, landing an in-state five-star defensive back would be a massive win for the Gators.

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Florida makes top-10 appearance in ESPN’s 2023 recruiting class rankings

Florida cracked ESPN’s top 10 programs in its recent recruiting rankings.

The Florida Gators are among ESPN’s list of the Top 75 college football teams, based on their 2023 recruiting efforts. The Orange and Blue’s incoming class ranked just inside the top 10, coming in at No. 9.

The Gators had been hovering around the top 10 of the recruiting rankings since July when a surge of commitments created a buzz around the Florida program and first-year head coach Billy Napier. This was a stark contrast from the end of June when Napier penned an open letter to the Gator Nation, pleading for patience and trust in the process.

Napier was a fantastic recruiter at Louisiana, having the No. 1 recruiting class in the Sun Belt in all four seasons at the helm. But he didn’t do this alone. The addition of top-tier assistants such as assistant head coach and defense/cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag], and many more, have had a massive impact on the recruiting trail. Raymond is considered one of the best, if not the best, defensive backs developers in the nation.

Here is what ESPN’s Craig Haubert had to say about including the Gators in his list of the top 75 college teams:

Billy Napier has taken advantage of in-state talent with several Sunshine State pickups, assembling a strong secondary from that pool. The Gators have added several ESPN 300 DBs, including CBs [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] and CB [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag], who has good feet and brings a tough, scrappy demeanor. [autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag], who stayed on even after committing to the previous staff, projects to defensive back and can be a versatile player with his quickness and ball skills. [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag], listed as an athlete, projects to WR and is a player who tests very well, which will translate to his play on the field. Adding more potential firepower to their passing attack is [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag], a lengthy target with big-play speed. Rashada hails from California but became a big in-state flip from Miami. With a smooth release and good arm strength, the newest Gator is one of the top QBs in the class. [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] is a nice addition to the trenches, as he has been a multiyear starter at IMG Academy and should come in ready to compete for playing time. They also flipped ESPN 300 OG [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag], a powerful and flexible big man who could work his way into the two-deep quickly, from Florida State. It is hard to win the SEC without being strong along the defensive front, and Collins leads a talented group of defensive linemen.

Notably, [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag]’s name is mentioned in Haubert’s write-up. Rashada, who signed his national letter of intent to play at the University of Florida back in December, has yet to enroll as a student despite expressing his intention to do so. The Rashada story is still developing and it is unclear if he will be on the roster come fall camp.

The official national signing day is scheduled for Feb. 1, with a portion of the 2023 class deciding to enroll early and participate in spring practices.

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Coveted 2024 ATH to visit Florida football as part of busy January

This top-20 athlete in the 2024 class will visit Gainesville this month.

After including Florida in his final four, Louisiana native [autotag]Ju’Juan Johnson[/autotag] has announced that he will visit Gainesville on Jan. 14 as part of a busy month. The 5-foot-11-inch, 178-pound athlete will also visit Athens (Georgia) and Boulder (Colorado) in person before heading to Baton Rouge (LSU) in February.

The Lafayette Christian Academy standout was offered by the Orange and Blue on Dec. 27. He released his top schools the next day, with the Gators making the cut.

In his conversation with On3’s Corey Bender, Johnson said that Florida’s defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is heading his recruitment. He says that the conversation centered around the University of Florida as a whole, his family and how he could contribute to the football program. Raymond’s track record of developing defensive back talent and putting them in the NFL is always a positive when discussing potential defensive back talent.

If the Gators are going to get Johnson to join the 2024 recruiting class, they will need to do an excellent job of convincing him to leave his home state. According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, in-state LSU holds a significant edge in landing Johnson’s services with the Tigers’ odds set at 94.2%.

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Gators make top 5 for this elite in-state defensive back

The Gators got some good news to kick off 2023. Five-star cornerback Charles Lester III has Florida in his top five.

Florida got some good news on the first day of the new year as five-star cornerback [autotag]Charles Lester III[/autotag] included the Gators in his top five along with Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Ohio State.

Lester visited the Swamp for the first time in the spring and twice during the 2022 season. He was in town for the USF game and Florida’s throttling of South Carolina. Those visits have paid off for Florida, but now the real work begins as the Gators look to beat out four elite Power Five programs.

His primary connection at Florida is cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], and 247Sports reported that the two have established a strong connection over the past year. Lester is considered one of UF’s top targets in the class of 2024 and should be treated as a priority now that the 2023 cycle is winding down.

There’s no firm timeline for Lester’s commitment just yet, so Florida should have time to keep working on him. He’s suggested that Alabama and Florida State are two of his top programs over the summer. The Crimson Tide have the best odds to land him at 82.0%, according to On3, and Florida is a distant second at 4.7%.

Lester is ranked No. 22 overall on the 247Sports composite and at No. 3 among cornerbacks in the class of 2024. The On3 consensus is less bullish on him, grading Lester as a four-star recruit and ranking him No. 26 overall.

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Florida makes ESPN’s 2023 recruiting class rankings top 10

The Florida Gators are in the top 10 of ESPN’s national 2023 recruiting rankings. They are the fifth-highest SEC program.

The Florida Gators 2023 recruiting class comes in at No. 9 in ESPN’s 2023 recruiting rankings after early signing day wrapped up on Wednesday.

The Gators had been hovering around the top ten of the recruiting rankings since July when a surge of commitments created a buzz around the Florida program and first-year head coach Billy Napier. This is a stark contrast from the end of June when Napier penned an open letter to the Gator Nation essentially pleading for patience and trust in the process.

Napier was a fantastic recruiter at Louisiana, having the No. 1 recruiting class in the Sun Belt in all four seasons at the helm. But he didn’t do this alone. The addition of top-tier assistants such as assistant head coach and defense/cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], co-defensive coordinator, defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag], and many more, have had a massive impact on the recruiting trail. Raymond is considered one of the best, if not the best, defensive backs developers in the nation.

Here is what ESPN’s Craig Haubert had to say about the Gators’ No. 9 ranking:

Billy Napier has taken advantage of in-state talent with several Sunshine State pickups, assembling a strong secondary from that pool. The Gators have added several ESPN 300 DBs, including CBs [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] and CB [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag], who has good feet and brings a tough, scrappy demeanor. [autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag], who stayed on even after committing to the previous staff, projects to defensive back and can be a versatile player with his quickness and ball skills. [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag], listed as an athlete, projects to WR and is a player who tests very well, which will translate to his play on the field. Adding more potential firepower to their passing attack is [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag], a lengthy target with big-play speed. Rashada hails from California but became a big in-state flip from Miami. With a smooth release and good arm strength, the newest Gator is one of the top QBs in the class. [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] is a nice addition to the trenches, as he has been a multiyear starter at IMG Academy and should come in ready to compete for playing time. They also flipped ESPN 300 OG [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag], a powerful and flexible big man who could work his way into the two-deep quickly, from Florida State. It is hard to win the SEC without being strong along the defensive front, and Collins leads a talented group of defensive linemen.

The players Haubert named are considered to be the elite of this Florida class.

The smaller class was strategic for Napier, as he needs scholarships available to be active in the transfer portal. Prioritizing quality over quantity was a point of emphasis Napier made in his opening press conference and subsequent open letter to the fan base.

The official national signing day is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2023, with a portion of the 2023 class deciding to enroll early and participate in spring practices.

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Sports Illustrated’s 2023 recruiting class rankings has Gators in top 10

The Gators earned a spot among Sports Illustrated’s top 10 teams in the 2023 recruiting class.

The Florida Gators 2023 recruiting class comes in at No. 10 in Sports Illustrated’s recruiting rankings after early signing day wrapped up on Wednesday.

The Gators had been hovering around the top ten of the recruiting rankings since July when a surge of commitments created a buzz around the Florida program and first-year head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]. This is a stark contrast from the end of June when Napier penned an open letter to the Gator Nation essentially pleading for patience and trust in the process.

Napier was a fantastic recruiter at Louisiana, having the No. 1 recruiting class in the Sun Belt in all four seasons at the helm. But he didn’t do this alone. The addition of top-tier assistants such as assistant head coach and defense/cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], co-defensive coordinator, and defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag], and many more, have had a massive impact on the recruiting trail. Raymond is considered one of the best, if not the best, defensive backs developers in the nation.

Sports Illustrated’s John Garcia Jr. had this to say, in part, about the Gators’ 2023 Early Signing Day results:

Florida may or may not have pushed a pair of in-state commitments out of the recruiting class this week, which doesn’t pair very well without any reciprocation come signing day. While UF has built a strong and balanced class to date, it struck out on late targets leading up to this week. Billy Napier’s staff did help UF hold on to commits coveted by others, though, like defensive back [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag].

Four-star Saint Petersburg, Florida, prospect [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag] is the player Garcia is alleging could have been pushed out of the class. He flipped from Florida to UCF on signing day and, along with losing out on a late push for four-star Orlando prospect John Walker, was the second in-state player the future Big 12 program snagged over the Orange and Blue.

The smaller class was strategic for Napier, as he needs scholarships available to be active in the transfer portal. Prioritizing quality over quantity was a point of emphasis Napier made in his opening press conference and subsequent open letter to the fan base.

The official national signing day is scheduled for February 1st, 2023, with a portion of the 2023 class deciding to enroll early and participate in spring practices.

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Florida to get this 5-star cornerback in for South Carolina game visit

Here is another major prep prospect who will be in attendance for the South Carolina game this Saturday.

Florida football will face the South Carolina Gamecocks for their final game of the season in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which means that this coming Saturday will be the last opportunity for [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. to immerse prep prospects into the Swamp’s game day experience. The matchups on home turf are a tremendous recruiting tool when it comes to bringing the best to Gainesville as they give the young student-athletes a taste of the bright lights of big-time college football.

Among the handful of recruits who plan on attending the game, according to Swamp247, is five-star cornerback [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag] out of Bradenton (Florida) IMG Academy, who represents one of the top remaining talents in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-1-inch, 170-pound defensive back has already made three prior stops in Hogtown and is still set for an official visit on Dec. 9 as well — the same day that UCF defensive tackle commit John Walker will be on campus.

Spearheading the blue-chipper’s recruitment is cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], who has made quite an impression on the high school senior.

“(Raymond) just is telling me to keep on grinding and that he would love to have me here,” Ricks told Swamp247. “He isn’t the type to tell you how good you are day in and day out. He’s going to develop you and get you better and make you the best you can be. I talk to him a couple times a week. I talk with Coach Napier about once a week. He’s real cool and down to earth. We just have regular conversations.”

The in-state target currently has no shortage of suitors, with a list that includes the LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes, Florida State Seminoles, and others vying for the potential star player.

Ricks is ranked No. 15 overall and No. 2 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 12 and 2, respectively. LSU currently holds two crystal ball predictions from 247Sports and also leads in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with an 84.9% chance of landing him; Florida sits in third with a 3.2% chance.

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Florida locks in official visit date with this 5-star CB

There’s still time for Florida to land a five-star defensive back in the 2023 class.

After missing out on [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag], the nation’s top cornerback recruit and No. 2 overall regardless of position, the Florida Gators have their eyes on the second-highest ranked cornerback in the class of 2023, IMG Academy’s [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag].

Swamp247 is reporting that Ricks will take an official visit to Florida on Dec. 9, the same day that UCF defensive tackle commit [autotag]John Walker[/autotag] will be on campus. Florida already has a strong incoming defensive back class, but the Gators don’t have a five-star caliber talent under commitment just yet.

Ricks was a member of the class of 2024 until his reclassification became official in October. Alabama and LSU are considered the favorites to land him right now, but Florida should be making a hard push after missing out on McClain to Miami.

UF cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] has been a major part of Ricks’ recruitment, so Florida still has a decent shot.

“(Coach Raymond) just is telling me to keep on grinding and that he would love to have me here,” Ricks said. “He isn’t the type to tell you how good you are day in and day out. He’s going to develop you and get you better and make you the best you can be. I talk to him a couple times a week. I talk with Coach Napier about once a week. He’s real cool and down to earth. We just have regular conversations.”

Following his reclassification, Ricks retained his five-star status and is now ranked No. 15 overall in the class of 2023. He would immediately become Florida’s top-ranked recruit if he did commit to the Orange and Blue.

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Napier confident in 2023 class ahead of 5-star CB Cormani McClain decision

Florida is among three finalists for the top defensive player in the class of 2023, Cormani McClain. Landing him would be huge for Billy Napier and Co.

The Florida Gators have put together a top-10 class so far during the 2023 recruiting cycle, but Billy Napier and Co. aren’t done yet. Five-star cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag], the top-ranked player in the class not named Arch Manning, will pick between Florida, Alabama and Miami Thursday night, and the experts favor the Orange and Blue heading into decision day.

McClain has been priority No. 1 for the Gators since Napier took over. Bringing in defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] immediately made UF a premiere landing spot for cornerbacks and safeties looking to make it to the next level, and McClain is no exception. There’s also a fairly rich history between UF and the Lakeland Dreadnaughts that has the two parties linked.

Experts at both 247Sports and On3 are expecting to see McClain pick up an Orange and Blue hat on Thursday night, but Napier is playing it cool in the days leading up to the decision.

“I like the group that we’ve got committed,” he said regarding the 2023 class on Wednesday. “We need to finish, obviously, secure the ones we have and then close on a few others. We worked extremely hard at it, not only the recruitment process, but the evaluation process. So far, so good.”

Napier’s not just blowing smoke. Even without a commitment from McClain tonight, Florida has the No. 8 class in the country (according to both On3 and 247Sports) with three top-100 recruits locked down. But landing the top defensive back in the class would put Florida on the same recruiting level as the other major powers in the SEC (Alabama and Georgia) and have a ripple effect in the coming year.

There’s also five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks to keep an eye on. While it’s unclear exactly how McClain’s decision will impact Ricks’. The IMG Academy product recently reclassified to the class of 2023 and is among the best in the nation. Landing both would be a huge coup for Florida in the recruiting scene, and Napier’s group has put in the work to make it happen.

Now, we wait.

McClain will decide roughly around 7 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 27.

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