Tag: Corey Raymond

Florida lands in top 6 for this in-state 4-star CB

Four-star cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson is moving up his decision date, and he’s narrowed things down to six schools.

Four-star Osceola High (Kissimmee, Florida) cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] included the Florida Gators in his top six on Wednesday and moved his commitment up to July 28, the same date as teammate and fellow UF target [autotag]Derrick Leblanc[/autotag] plans to decide.

Jackson’s recruitment had a rocket strapped to it in May when he started to pick up offers from over half the programs in the SEC among several others. He’s narrowed things down to Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee and Penn State, but is only giving himself around a month to pick among those schools.

He’s new to the defensive side of the ball after playing receiver, but his speed and length project to that of a starting cornerback in a top-25 program, according to 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.

The Gators have hosted him twice since offering, but both trips were unofficial visits. [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is playing a big role in this recruitment, as he often does for the team’s top defensive back targets. Jackson knows Raymond’s track record of developing NFL talent and the two are forming a relationship.

“They’re the hometown team, and my parents are big Gator fans,” Jackson said to On3. “I like Coach Raymond a lot, and I really like their entire staff.”

Landing both Leblanc and Jackson on the same day would be nice for Florida, but all Gator Nation can do is hold its collective breath for now.

Jackson is ranked No. 250 overall on the 247Sports composite and is No. 28 among cornerbacks in the class of 2023. He could continue to rise up the rankings as he plays through his senior year and gets more snaps at the position.

[mm-video type=video id=01g6tgzf8cc8a1e4gmpc playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g6tgzf8cc8a1e4gmpc/01g6tgzf8cc8a1e4gmpc-5304c6a6e08a007aa02ef779d83b9e8a.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86578,86581,86573,86569,86534]

[listicle id=86339]

[listicle id=86266]

[listicle id=86046]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Gators land third 4-star defensive commitment of the week

The Gators added another four-star recruit to its class of 2023 on Monday.

Jacksonville is Gator country.

That was the message repeated throughout four-star Bartram Trail defensive back [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag]’s commitment video on Monday. Joined by a group of former Gators from the Jacksonville area, Denson made his pledge to the University of Florida and became the third four-star defensive commit to join Billy Napier‘s recruiting class of 2023 in the last week.

Denson, who has long been considered Florida’s to lose, picked his parents’ alma mater over Miami and Texas A&M after taking unofficial visits to all three programs in June. He set the top three on Wednesday with plans to take officials throughout the season.

Defensive Coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] has been a key player in this recruitment as had cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], according to Gators Online. Denson feels that the duo has the potential to mold him into an NFL-ready defensive back. The plan is to play him at the STAR position but also at outside corner since his versatility allows it.

Florida is now up to nine commits in the class of 2023 and No. 17 on the On3 team recruiting rankings list. Denson is the second-highest-ranked recruit in the class so far at No. 196 overall on the On3 consensus. Only former UCF commit [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag] is ranked higher, and [autotag]Gavin Hill[/autotag] is right behind him. All three four-star recruits have been added within the week.

Four-star athlete Aaron Gates is the only other projected defensive back in the class so far, and Florida is still going after top-ranked cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] as well.

[mm-video type=video id=01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05/01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05-ecf0705d088dc45bc00b54b1db81948e.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86511,86500,86493,86478,86464]

[listicle id=86339]

[listicle id=86266]

[listicle id=86046]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

4-star defensive back works out with Florida, sets top 3 schools

The Gators made the cut for this blue-chip defensive line recruit.

Florida football has played host to a handful of recruits this week for its 7-on-7 camp which has already begun to bear fruit. One of the bigger names that came away impressed was four-star defensive back [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] out of Jacksonville (Florida) Bartram Trail, who got a refresher visit to the Swamp on Wednesday.

The 5-foot-11.5-inch, 170-pound cornerback has been to campus plenty of times prior, but it had been a while since his last stop in Gainesville. Denson got a chance to meet with [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and some of the staff after his team was defeated in the quarterfinals of the camp’s tournament, including co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag].

“It is always good to be around coach PT (Patrick Toney), that’s my guy for real,” Denson told Gators Online and others. “He had a little presentation in there after we toured the building. We went to the meeting room and he had put together some clips that I had and just some things that he thought I could get better at just to give me a little snapshot of what he could do for me.”

Florida’s cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] has also been working on developing a relationship with the talented defender.

“He’s texting me all the time. We’re cool. We definitely still need to build our relationship more, like me and coach Toney are closer. Coach Raymond is definitely a good coach and a guy that is showing interest in me.”

His most recent visit also gave him his first gander at the new facilities in addition to the personnel.

“I haven’t been to the new facility yet, so that was my first time doing that,” the rising high school senior told Swamp247. “It wasn’t even close to ready the last time I was here, they were only like laying down the floors then. Seeing all the stuff being built looks good and they moved fast. It’s always good coming back. I am just getting more familiar with the place, more familiar with the area, and the building. So it’s always good.”

Subsequently, the Gators made the cut for his top three schools, which also includes the Texas A&M Aggies and Miami Hurricanes. “Florida is definitely near the top,” Denison offered when asked where the Gators stand among the finalists. “It’s just the constant love from the whole staff.” However, he does not plan on making a decision on his commitment until the fall, declining to set a firm date.

Denson is currently ranked No. 206 overall and No. 24 nationally at his position according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 196 and 23, respectively. Florida currently holds his lone crystal ball projection from 247Sports while also having the upper hand in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with an 87.7% chance of landing him.

[mm-video type=video id=01g690r1hz48knf97hqh playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g690r1hz48knf97hqh/01g690r1hz48knf97hqh-0791a34064f146739bc5ae95c3809f4d.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86272,86144,86139,86133,86120]

[listicle id=86266]

[listicle id=86046]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Gators to get return visit from this in-state 4-star cornerback

Billy Napier and staff are working hard to get the best recruits on campus, including this 4-star who is set to make a return visit.

Florida football’s recruiting team has been hard at work since the baton was passed to [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] following the 2021 season and those efforts are certainly starting to pay off. After the head coach and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] offered a scholarship to four-star cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] out of Kissimmee (Florida) Osceola back in May, it looks like the Gators are gaining ground in the rising high school senior’s recruitment.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound defensive back has an unofficial visit set for Monday — on which the program will be holding one of its June camps — accompanied by his trainer, giving both a chance to schmooze some more with the coaches.

His last trip to Gainesville gave him the most face time with the staff so far, according to Swamp247. “That was my first time actually spending time around the coaches at Florida. I finally got a chance to meet Coach [Corey] Raymond and some of the other coaches on the staff. I had a good time. We got there and ate, got to meet up with Ms. Katie [Turner] and Ms. Bri [Wade], do a little photoshoot, and then went to watch them practice.”

The in-state target has already burned two of his official visits this month on the Auburn Tigers and Penn State Nittany Lions, and is scheduled to swing through Knoxville next weekend to see the Tennessee Volunteers. He has yet to decide on an official visit date with the Gators but appears interested in a fall trip.

Jackson is currently ranked No. 207 overall and No. 20 nationally at his position according to 247Sports, while On3 has him at Nos. 247 and 24, respectively. The Vols are currently in the lead for his talents according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine at a 25.8% chance of landing him with Auburn nipping at their heels at 17.1%.

[mm-video type=video id=01g60rmve191ebbj68tp playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g60rmve191ebbj68tp/01g60rmve191ebbj68tp-5b99cab2c9748ee5b4c8f521f226fb7b.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86009,85990,85989,85957,85952]

[listicle id=85883]

[listicle id=85653]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Gators land in top 10 for this 2024 4-star defensive back

Tavoy Feagin is ranked just outside of the top 50 in the class of 2024, and he has Florida in his top 10 early on.

With over a year left in his recruitment, one of the top-ranked defensive backs in the class of 2024 has narrowed things down to 10 schools and Florida made the cut.

Four-star cornerback [autotag]Tavoy Feagin[/autotag] named Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, Ohio State and Oklahoma as his current top schools but also noted that his recruitment was still open to other programs. Feagin was by Florida for an unofficial in late March and noticed a big change in the way the program is run under Billy Napier.

With [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] on staff, it should at least be difficult for the Carrollwood Day (Tampa) cornerback to say no to his home state’s top program. That said, Feagin is ranked as a safety by 247Sports and could play either position in college. Florida’s recently prioritized the secondary, adding [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag] in the class of 2022 and possibly [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] and [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] in this cycle.

Beating out the likes of the Buckeye, Bulldogs and Crimson Tide isn’t easy, but Florida at least has the advantage of proximity. However, Florida State and Miami are both still in the race, so he hasn’t picked a favorite among the three just yet.

The 247Sports composite ranks Feagin fourth among projected safeties in the class of 2024 and he stands at No. 51 nationally. It’s always good to see Florida land on one of these lists, but there’s a lot of work to be done to get Feagin on board.

[mm-video type=video id=01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs/01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs-2de89d368109d2f40c8f40dae499be2b.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=85941,85942,85886,85877,85842]

[listicle id=85883]

[listicle id=85653]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Report: Peach State cornerback plans 3rd trip to the Swamp

Cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond has his eyes on this three-star recruit out of Georgia and is getting him on campus again Tuesday.

Florida’s cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] has an eye for talent and three-star cornerback [autotag]RJ Johnson[/autotag] is one of the names on his list. Johnson visited last year for the Florida-Alabama game and returned to meet the new staff in March of 2022. He’ll make his third visit to the Swamp Tuesday, June 14, according to Gators Online. It’s another unofficial visit with plans to take an official one down the road.

“I’m loving everything about Gainesville,” Johnson said. “I love the coaches. I’m getting great vibes from there and building great relationships with all of the coaching staff and even some of the players.”

Johnson will play his senior year at Eagle’s Landing Christian in McDonough, Georgia this year and has yet to pick up an offer from the Bulldogs. Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are interested, though. Rutgers is the current leader on the On3 recruiting prediction machine with 53.2%, but Florida is in second with 23.9% and could surge with at least two more visits in the works.

The relationship with Raymond could be crucial in his decision. Johnson says that the two are a good match because of their laid-back personalities. They met for the first time in person back in March but have been speaking since Raymond was with LSU. He’ll get to revisit that relationship and get to know some of the other coaches and players better on these two trips.

The On3 consensus ranks Johnson at No. 76 among cornerbacks in the class of 2023 and at No. 813 overall. Stars do carry some weight in this industry, but so does the interest of Raymond who has a fairly strong track record of producing quality defensive backs.

[mm-video type=video id=01g54y0qjw8jjpq9d2fk playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g54y0qjw8jjpq9d2fk/01g54y0qjw8jjpq9d2fk-72812edc4e2261f75ca5c772de739890.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=85532,85531,85494,85485,85447]

[listicle id=85370]

[listicle id=85272]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Florida considered a frontrunner for No. 1 recruit in class of 2024

The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024 is looking at the Gators early on.

We’re still a few years away from seeing the class of 2024 make its way to college, but that doesn’t mean recruiters are waiting to get in good with the nation’s top talent. The No. 1 player on both the 247Sports composite and On3 consensus is IMG Academy cornerback [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag], and Florida is surging early on in his recruitment, according to Gators Online.

It’s no secret that Billy Napier has prioritized recruits out of IMG, snagging five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] for his transition class and adding four-star [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] to the class of 2023. Both are helping the coaching staff keep the Orange and Blue at the front of Ricks’ mind, which is good considering he’s the crown jewel of 2024.

Florida, Alabama, LSU and Miami are the four schools standing out early, but there’s plenty of time for those to change. His family is moving to Florida currently, so Florida and Miami could surge in the coming months on proximity alone. A recent trip to Coral Gables has created a lot of buzz and Ricks isn’t shy about his reverence of Gators cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag].

“Coach Corey Raymond, I can’t turn him down,” Ricks said to Chad Simmons of On3. “He’s the GOAT at the end of the day. It’s all about getting developed, and there that wouldn’t be a question.”

At 6-foot-1-inch and 175 pounds, Ricks is a good size for a cornerback and is battle-tested against the nation’s best.

[mm-video type=video id=01g54y0qjw8jjpq9d2fk playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g54y0qjw8jjpq9d2fk/01g54y0qjw8jjpq9d2fk-72812edc4e2261f75ca5c772de739890.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=85485,85447,85436,85429,85411]

[listicle id=85370]

[listicle id=85272]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Gators get official visit date set with this 5-star safety recruit

Getting this guy on campus is a big step in the effort to bolster the defensive backfield.

The good news continues to roll in for Florida’s football recruiting team as both 247Sports and On3 have confirmed that 5-star safety [autotag]AJ Harris[/autotag] has set his official visit to the Swamp for the weekend of June 17. There had been rumors of an impending date sometime this summer, and following an official visit with the Georgia Bulldogs, his father Dan offered up the latest stop on his summer school tour.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound defensive back out of Phenix City (Alabama) Central is among the most coveted prospects in the nation overall, much less at his position. However, cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag]’s clout is starting to pay off big-time, offering a proven mentor for those seeking to play at the professional level. There is also the fact that the Gators’ roster is running a bit thin on talent at the moment.

“Chance to come in and play early, being developed by someone who has put 15 DBs in the league, 10 of them became starters,” the younger Harris told 247Sports as to what draws him to the program. “The culture they are bringing to Florida lines up with who I am, structure, working hard, networking, building you mentally spiritually & physically, etc. The vision they have for me is great.”

Harris is ranked No. 23 overall and No. 4 nationally at his position according to the 247Sports Composite, while the On3 Consensus lists him at Nos. 29 and 3, respectively. He currently holds two crystal ball projections for Florida according to 247Sports and On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has the Gators out in front of the other suitors with a 56.2% chance of landing him, ahead of the Georgia Bulldogs who are chasing close behind at 41.2%.

[mm-video type=video id=01g4v2v8jgxzgz28jt00 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g4v2v8jgxzgz28jt00/01g4v2v8jgxzgz28jt00-a4cd98a8b02ed9f6750b9d0522cc3ed1.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=85213,85180,85169,85163,85109]

[listicle id=85023]

[listicle id=84974]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Report: 4-star in-state CB planning return trip after first visit to Florida

Four-star CB Ja’Keem Jackson’s visit with the Gators went well on Tuesday, and Florida could be a factor down the stretch.

Cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] plays at Osceola High with Gators target [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag], but the four-star defensive back is just beginning a relationship of his own with the Orange and Blue. UF offered Jackson on May 20 and hosted him on an unofficial visit Tuesday, according to 247Sports.

Jackson’s first trip to the Swamp was a success, meeting defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] and two key members of the recruiting staff, Katie Turner and Bri Wade, for the first time before a photoshoot and observing practice. He said that spending time with Raymond and breaking down film was one of the top moments of his visit.

Although he’s no rush to make a decision, Jackson is hoping to get back up to Gainesville later in the month to show his parents the latest program to catch his eye.

“I like the atmosphere and the fans that I have seen from going to games there,” Jackson said. “The new coaches are really good people and I like them. It’s not too far from home, so my parents could come to just about like every game if I did commit there. I think I am going to go back in like a week or two so my parents can see it.”

Penn State and Tennessee are on the docket for the weekends of June 17 and June 24 for official visits, respectively. Florida has a chance to get one of those coveted official visits, but it’ll likely come during the season as Jackson doesn’t expect to decide until the fall or winter.

Georgia, Kentucky, Miami and Michigan are also in the mix for the 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pounder. Jackson is ranked No. 204 overall by 247Sports and No. 20 among cornerbacks in the class of 2023.

[mm-video type=video id=01g4jezm69zs2smg6vy7 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g4jezm69zs2smg6vy7/01g4jezm69zs2smg6vy7-e00a9c897798ae67dc9dab6aeed5e80c.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=84858,84870,84816,84835,84790]

[listicle id=84805]

[listicle id=84663]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Florida lands recruiting prediction from On3 for this 4-star CB

How good are Florida’s chances to land this in-state, legacy, four-star cornerback? Good enough for the experts to submit official predictions for the Orange and Blue.

As the 2023 recruiting cycle continues, Florida’s chances of landing top-end recruits become clearer and clearer by the day. The folks at On3’s Gators Online are confident enough at this point that Florida will land four-star [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] that they have submitted a prediction to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Corey Bender said that the pick was submitted with 60% confidence, and the RPM gives the Gators an 87.6% chance to sign the legacy recruit from Bartram Trail in Jacksonville, Florida. Both his parents graduated from UF and the Gators offered him during his freshman year. That was under [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s staff, but Napier and Co. have kept the relationship going strong.

Denson named Florida one of his top five schools on May 9 as well as Florida State, Ohio State, South Carolina and Texas A&M. He’s set to return to Gainesville for the third time this year on June 24 and has been to College Station (TAMU) as many times too.

Official visits aren’t scheduled just yet, but they may come over the summer and one would expect his top five to get them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdWLjqzpK4U/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

While being a legacy recruit does help things, Florida’s new coaching staff is the better draw for Denson and one of the main reasons experts feel he’ll commit to UF.

“Coach Toney and [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] are top-tier coaches and will develop me to be an NFL DB. Also, Florida has been my dream school growing up,” Denson said.

The On3 Consensus ranks Denson as the No. 182 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 19 cornerback in the cycle. Florida also holds a crystal ball prediction from Swamp247 from back in January.

[mm-video type=video id=01g3f782rqq5m7ewbh7z playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g3f782rqq5m7ewbh7z/01g3f782rqq5m7ewbh7z-f400efb8f9ddb8d5760dce147698caac.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=84790,84785,84775,84689,84682]

[listicle id=84030]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!