Corey Raymond – Page 5 – Syndication Server

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Cornerbacks

Kaiir Elam is off to the NFL, but the Gators still have plenty of talent at cornerback. Here’s who Florida will be using in the secondary for 2022.

The penultimate group in Gators Wire’s preseason position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Florida football roster is none other than the cornerbacks.

Gone is [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag], the team’s lockdown and lead corner last season. The man who backed Elam up in 2021, sophomore [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]., will replace him as the team’s No. 1 in the position room after proving himself worthy as a true freshman.

Behind him, things are less clear, but there’s a group of serviceable defensive backs that could use some playing time to reach their full potential. There’s also [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag], who missed all of last year with a torn ACL. He’s out to start the season but should work his way back into the rotation over the course of the year. Before the injury, he was projected to compete for starting time opposite of Elam.

Here is a look at all seven cornerbacks on the 2022 Florida football fall roster.

LSU football all-time roster: Coaches, kickers and specialists

See which coaching and special teams legends made the cut in our all-time LSU football roster.

Special teams can be a bit of an afterthought at times, but that shouldn’t be the case. After all, special teams can be an equalizer for less talented teams and a thorn in the side of otherwise elite ones.

We’ve seen countless examples of special teams making — or breaking (see: kick-six) — teams’ title hopes over the years. When looking at LSU’s history, there’s no shortage of impact special teams contributors.

We’ll take a look at the best in this breakdown, as well as the top coaches who have come through the Tigers’ program over the years.

Check out LSU’s all-time offense and defense.

Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / Michigan / Nebraska / North Carolina / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin

Top 2024 cornerback prospect to attend Florida’s season opener

Desmond Ricks, the nation’s top 2024 CB, will join other defensive back prospects at Florida’s season opener against Utah.

September 3 is a massive day for [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag], both on and off the field.

Not only is that the day Napier coaches in his first game as Florida head coach. Not only are the Gators taking on the No. 8 ranked Utah Utes. The Gators will also be hosting some of the best high school football prospects in the nation.

Five-star cornerback [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag], the No. 1 player at his position in the 2024 class, will join a large group of defensive backs at the Utah game, including [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag], the top corner in the class of 2023, from Lakeland High School. The addition of cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is playing a massive role in the recruitment of both blue-chip prospects.

Ricks recently told Gators Online that Raymond was the sole reason why he was in attendance at Florida’s recruiting cookout earlier this summer. assistant coach’s history of developing NFL talent has made him a magnet for the best defensive back prospects in the nation. Having him on the Gators staff is the first step in reintroducing Florida in the DBU discussion.

According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, Alabama is the frontrunner for both 2023’s McClain (44%) and 2024’s Ricks (53.7%). The Gators are in second for McClain’s signature at 33.3% and are in third for Rick’s signature with 7.3%, although it is still early in Ricks’ recruitment.

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Florida one of two schools in play for this Peach State defensive back

The Gators are in the final round of competition for this defensive back from across the border.

Three-star defensive back [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] recently sat down with On3’s Chad Simmons and told him that the Florida Gators are neck and neck with the Alabama Crimson Tide for his services.

Thornton is expected to announce his commitment around the time of his birthday on November 22. Despite the expected timeframe, the rising senior has not ruled out announcing before the end of November.

The 5-foot-10-inch, 185-pound safety out of Alpharetta, Georgia, has weekends set aside to take official visits to both Alabama and Florida. Thornton will be in Tuscaloosa on October 7 for the Crimson Tide’s game against Texas A&M and will be in Gainesville on October 21, when the Gators are on a bye week.

While top programs such as in-state Georgia, LSU, Miami and Texas have all offered Thornton, the Gators and the Crimson Tide are “equal” at the top of his recruitment, telling Simmons that those two schools are the two he has been in contact with the most.

Multiple coaches have been involved with Thornton’s recruitment, including cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], running backs and associate head coach [autotag]Jabbar Juluke[/autotag], and head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]. This group recruitment effort has made an impact on the defensive back prospect, naming the family environment he feels in Gainesville a big reason why the Orange and Blue are so high up in his recruitment.

According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Florida Gators currently hold a 33.3% chance of landing Thornton’s signature while Alabama comes in second with a 21% chance. The On3 consensus rates him as a three-star recruit landing at No. 453 overall and No. 44 at his position nationally.

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Highly coveted Ohio State decommit plans return trip to Florida

The Gators have a few spots left in the class of 2023 and four-star cornerback Dijon Johnson is near the top of their wishlist.

After impressing four-star cornerback [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag] at Friday Night Lights, the Florida Gators are getting another chance to host one of the top remaining recruits on their wish list.

Johnson is expected in Gainesville on Sept. 3 for Florida’s game against Utah, according to 247Sports. It should be an unofficial visit, but the last unofficial Johnson made to the Swamp resulted in him backing off his pledge to Ohio State and opening things back up. If that’s any indication of where things are headed, Johnson could have good news for Gators fans in the coming weeks.

The Florida staff has kept in contact with him often enough to warrant consideration, but Johnson mentioned Alabama and Penn State have also been in his ear. Florida cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] has been the primary recruiter for just one blue-chip commitment during this cycle: cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag].

Both Johnson and top-ranked cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] are scheduled to be in town for the Utah game. There’s little doubt that Raymond’s pitch is for the two to play together with Jackson and restore Florida’s reputation as DBU.

The 247Sports composite lists Johnson No. 162 overall in the class of 2023 and No. 16 among cornerbacks. The site’s individual rankings are even more bullish on him at No. 92 overall and No. 9 at his position.

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Nation’s top cornerback plans to be at Florida’s season opener

Florida will get another chance to host the top-ranked cornerback in the class of 2023, and this time it’ll be on gameday.

Florida’s growing list of visitors for the season opener against Utah just grew a lot bigger. Five-star cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag], the Gators’ top-ranked remaining target in the class of 2023, is expected to be in Gainesville for the first game of the Billy Napier era, according to 247Sports.

It will not be McClain’s official visit to Florida. That date is still unknown, but he’s said Alabama, UF and Miami are the primary schools he’s still considering. The Gators have hosted him a number of times, and his plans to return in September are a good sign that something will get organized in the future.

Cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] has been the lead recruiter on McClain, although it’d be unfair to leave out that the entire recruiting staff has him as a top priority. Still, Raymond’s reputation for producing first-round NFL talent is a big factor when it comes to Florida’s standing in McClain’s recruitment.

“Coach C-Ray, me and him have a great relationship,” McClain said. “I think it’s there. He produced a lot of great athletes. I look to Coach C-Ray as one of those guys that I know is going to get your to the league and the things you need to get there.”

The 247Sports composite lists McClain fourth in the class of 2023 and No. 1 among cornerbacks. He’s also the top-ranked player in the state of Florida.

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Two Florida coaches in top 15 of 247Sports’ recruiter rankings

Florida’s coaching staff has been on a roll lately, and much of it is thanks to two men in particular. 247Sports has them in their top 15.

When [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] assembled his staff at the University of Florida, he said that he wanted to prioritize recruiting. Twenty commitments into the class of 2023 and one class of 2024 four-star verbally pledge to the Orange and Blue, it’s safe to say that Napier was successful, and the numbers back it up.

Co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] is ranked No. 7 on the 247Sports 2023 football recruiter rankings, and [autotag]Keary Colbert[/autotag] is ranked No. 11, which is good for the second-highest placement of any wide receivers coach on the list.

Spencer has been the primary recruiter on five of Florida’s commitments and has played a secondary role in the recruitment of two others. He’s directly responsible for the additions of No. 70 [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag], No. 145 [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag], No. 205 [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag], No. 218 [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] and four-star [autotag]Gavin Hill[/autotag]. Despite the battery of four-stars committed to Florida thanks to Spencer, he ranks fourth among defensive line recruiters in the country. Clemson‘s Nick Eason, Notre Dame‘s Al Washington and Alabama‘s Freddie Roach are all ranked above Spencer in ascending order.

Still, it’s clear that coach Chaos’ stint in the NFL paid off, and he’s once again at the top of the recruiting game. Florida has the potential to bring in the strongest defensive line classes in the upcoming cycle, assuming all commitments put pen to paper during one of the signing periods.

Colbert has been the primary on five recruits as well, all of whom will play receiver for UF. No. 78 [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag] leads the group and should be paired with No. 142 [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag] to do some damage. Four-stars [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag] and [autotag]Creed Whittemore[/autotag] round out the blue-chip names in the class and three-star [autotag]Tyree Patterson[/autotag] adds some depth to the class. And there’s potential to add more receivers to the group.

The only other receivers coach ranked higher by 247Sports is Ohio State‘s Brian Hartline, who has brought in four recruits that average a 96.48 grade. The next receivers coach on the list is Texas’ Brennan Marion at No. 20 and three commits under his belt.

Florida’s other co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] is ranked No. 31 and the only other Gator inside the top 100. Cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] should be next to break that threshold if he can add one of his high-profile targets. Currently ranked No. 101, adding either four-star [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag] or five-star [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] should do the trick for Raymond.

Outside linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] is ranked No. 111, offensive coordinator and offense line coach [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag] is ranked No. 188, inside linebacker coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag] is No. 190, tight ends coach [autotag]William Peagler[/autotag] is No. 240 and running backs coach [autotag]Jabbar Juluke[/autotag] rounds out the group at No. 338 on the list. Assistant offensive line coach [autotag]Darnell Stapleton[/autotag] received secondary credits for four commitments and ranks No. 259 as well.

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Florida Gators leap into top 10 of On3’s recruiting rankings

After an incredible July, the Gators have leaped into the Top-10 in On3’s updated recruiting rankings.

Billy Napier has officially arrived.

After a busy July that included eight commitments, Napier has the Florida Gators in the top 10 of On3’s recruiting rankings for the 2023 class. 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. There will always be questions about a first-year head coach in the SEC, as recruiting in the conference means competing with college football heavyweights such as Alabama and Georgia. Napier’s current 2023 class (and the recruits Napier is prioritizing for the 2024 class) show that he is good enough to hang with the titans of the sport.

Napier 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 developer in the nation and Spencer has managed to land six four-star defensive linemen in the 2023 class — a position of dire need for the Gators.

The quality of recruits is something that has never been seen. Of the Gators’ 20 commits, 18 are assigned four-star ratings — known as blue-chip recruits, which also includes the five-star tier. This brings the Gators’ blue-chip ratio to 90%, the highest in school history, which has earned the new head coach the moniker of Napier “Blue-Chip Billy” on social media.

“Blue-Chip Billy” will make his debut as the Gators skipper on September 3 at home against No. 7 Utah. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. EDT and will be televised on ESPN.

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Blue-chip cornerback commit sets sights on Florida visit

Ja’Keem Jackson announced his first visit to Gainesville since committing to the Orange and Blue in July.

Four-star cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson [/autotag]told On3 he plans to make an unofficial visit to the Gators’ season opener against the AP Poll’s seventh-ranked team, the Utah Utes.

Jackson is one of the many four-star recruits to commit to the Gators this summer and his upcoming visit will be his first as a committed member of Florida’s 2023 recruiting class. His unofficial visit will not be the only stop he makes in Gainesville this season. Jackson told On3’s Corey Bender he intends to make his official visit later this fall, with an eye toward the LSU home game on Oct. 15.

Before committing to the Gators in July, the Under Armour All-American took three official visits to Auburn (6/10), Penn State (6/17) and Tennessee (6/24). Factoring in his official visit to Gainesville in the fall, Jackson has only one official visit remaining, according to NCAA rules. Jackson has not met with another program since his commitment.

Florida should be comfortable in Jackson’s commitment, regardless of where his final official visit is. The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound defensive back has been very vocal since his commitment to the Orange and Blue in July, actively recruiting other prospects to join him in Gainesville next season. His relationship with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] and head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is something Jackson said he values tremendously in his conversation with Bender.

According to the On3 consensus, Jackson is the No. 20 cornerback in the country and Florida’s highest-rated defensive back commit in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

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This 4-star athlete remains firm in Florida commitment

Aaron Gates tells 247Sports Blake Alderman that his commitment to the Florida Gators is firm, despite taking an official visit to Michigan.

Aaron Gates, a top-25 athlete in the 2023 class according to the 247Sports composite, recently told 247Sports Blake Alderman that his commitment to the Florida Gators remains solid.

Gates is the only Gators commit to make an official visit with another program since his giving his word, stopping in to see the Michigan Wolverines back in June. He was in Gainesville last weekend for Florida’s recruiting events, where he was able to spend time with head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] as well as cornerbacks and assistant head coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag].

At 6-foot, 180 pounds, it seems like the Gators might be looking to put Gates in the defensive backs room when he arrives in Gainesville. Gates told Alderman that he speaks to Napier and Raymond on a weekly basis.

The Sharpsburg, Georgia, native is a rarity for the new Florida staff, with Gates committing to the Gators in August of 2021 when [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] was still the man in charge. Gates told Alderman that Raymond has made a priority of letting him know how important he is to the 2023 class. His versatility on the field is seen as an important quality to Raymond, who has quite the eye for defensive back talent.

Raymond doesn’t have much to worry about, with Gates telling Alderman that his commitment is “pretty much shut down”. Still, it’s nice to see the new Gators staff put so much work into recruiting, something that fans didn’t always see from the previous staff.

Gates is listed as the No. 23 overall athlete prospect in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

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