Here’s where Florida’s incoming transfers stand, per 247Sports

The Top247 transfer rankings have been finalized and there are five incoming Gators on the list.

It’s no secret that Florida has seen a decent amount of movement through the transfer portal this offseason, and there’s reason to be excited about the new names and faces coming to Gainesville next season.

247Sports finalized its Top247 college football transfer portal player rankings, and five incoming Gators made the cut. Offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] leads the way at No. 33 overall and is joined by fellow Louisiana-Lafayette offensive line transfer [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag] at No. 41.

Torrence was a three-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] decided that his skill set fit the needs of his new team. Playing his final year in the Southeastern Conference should help his draft stock rise, assuming he takes the step forward he’s expected to. Waites only played one year at ULL, but Florida needed offensive linemen and he’s got the size (6-foot-8-inches, 358-pounds) to compete at the highest level in college football.

Next up is former Georgia cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] at No. 49 on the list. Kimber was targeted by cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] after playing just three games in two years at UGA due to a shoulder injury that limited him for most of 2021. He likely would have seen plenty of playing time with the Bulldogs this season had he stayed, but now he’ll compete for a starting job at Florida instead.

[autotag]Montrell Jonhson[/autotag], the third Lousiana transfer to make the cut, is ranked No. 70 among transfers and has a shot to be a major contributor in his first season with the Gators. He knows Napier’s playbook and was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2021 after rushing for 838 yards on 162 attempts (5.17 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns.

Finally, there’s the newest addition to the team, Arizona State transfer [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] at No. 155 on the list. He was one of the best receivers in the Pac-12 last season and gives the Gators some depth at a position where they don’t have much experience from returning players to rely on.

Of course, Florida did lose its share of Top247 talent as well. The Gators lost linebacker [autotag]Mohamoud Diabate[/autotag] (No. 42) to Utah, receiver [autotag]Jacob Copeland[/autotag] (No. 60) to Maryland, linebacker [autotag]Ty’Ron Hopper[/autotag] (No. 86) to Missouri, EDGE [autotag]Khris Bogle[/autotag] (No. 88) to [autotag]Michigan State [/autotag]and tight end [autotag]Kemore Gamble[/autotag] (No. 135) to UCF.

Quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] is the only incoming transfer not ranked by 247Sports. [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag],[autotag] Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Gerald Mincey[/autotag] comprise the list of outgoing players that failed to make the Top247.

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2023 Recruiting Profile: CB Cormani McClain is Florida’s top defensive target

Cormani McClain will be the crown jewel for whatever school he signs with, and Florida is making a strong push for him.

Cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] is regarded as the best cornerback in the class of 2023 by every major recruiting service out there. He’s ranked within the top five by everyone and is considered the best defensive recruit available in the current cycle.

He used a combination of speed, length, instincts and ball skills to total 19 interceptions over the last two seasons. Well on his way to being a Day 1 NFL draft prospect, McClain is looking to make an impact on a program early before heading to the pros. He’s also looking for a coach that can teach him a thing or two before he heads to the highest level of play.

That’s where Florida comes in. Billy Napier brought in cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] for a reason, and the former LSU assistant seems to be hitting it off famously with the nation’s top defensive back recruit. Even more, the Lakeland, Florida, cornerback named UF as one of his top two schools following a trip to the Swamp for the Gators’ spring game.

Now focusing on official visits, it seems Florida is reaching the finals stages of this decision, but McClain says he’ll wait until after his senior year to make the call.

Cormani McClain’s Recruiting Profile

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Florida continues to stand out for this 5-star cornerback

Florida and Alabama still sit in the best spot for five-star cornerback Cormani McClain out of Lakeland, Florida.

Five-star cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] visited Florida for its spring game about a month ago now. Now the Gators are returning the favor. They sent cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] to watch his spring game at Lake Gibson in Lakeland, Florida, this week. He told reporters afterward that Florida and Alabama continue to stand out to him.

McClain is ranked as the third overall prospect nationally and the best player at his position, according to the 247Sports composite. He only has three crystal ball picks entered on his profile, but they were all in the favor of Florida.

He’s arguably the Gators’ top target this cycle due to his ranking and his proximity to campus. He hails from a Florida-friendly area in Lakeland. Some current players on the roster that grew up there include tight end [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag], defensive end [autotag]Lloyd Summerall III[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Fenley Graham Jr[/autotag]. and running back [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag].

McClain told Swamp247 that he’s focused on taking only official visits now and has set one to Georgia for June 24. He said he plans on taking one to Florida in early June and Alabama. However, he doesn’t believe he’ll make a decision until after his senior season.

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Gators assistant coach to visit top 2023 cornerback recruit’s spring game

Corey Raymond will be in attendance this Friday night as this top prospect grinds it out on the gridiron.

The high school spring football season is in full swing as prep prospects get their last taste of regular competition ahead of the summer months. Florida football’s recruiting staff has also been busy keeping up with the young athletes in an effort to lure the cream of the crop into the Swamp.

One of head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co.’s biggest targets in the 2023 cycle is 5-star cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] out of Lakeland (Florida) Lake Gibson, whose team is slated to face Apopka on Friday night. Cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is expected to be in attendance for the second of two spring visits for Gators coaches after co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] dropped in during the first week of the spring evaluation period.

McClain has yet to commit to one program but told GatorsOnline that Florida and Alabama currently hold the edge in his recruitment, giving the Gators a slight home-field advantage as an in-state school while also crediting coach Raymond for the effort he has put into the young athlete.

“Florida, it’s just home; it’s just home. You have to have love for Florida,” McClain said after the Orange and Blue Game.

“Our relationship, it’s close. Me and coach Raymond, we have a great relationship. I think he’s a great coach. He thinks I can come in and start as a freshman. He thinks I can come in, play three years and then out.”

On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has the Gators at an 80.3% chance of landing McClain, besting ‘Bama’s 15.9% odds of picking up the prospect. The 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pounder out of Polk County ranks No. 3 overall and No. 1 at his position nationally according to both the 247Sports Composite and On3 Consensus. He has also been reported to possess high-level wide receiver skills which could make him a dangerous two-way option in college if so desired.

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Florida’s coach visits this 5-star defensive lineman’s school

Corey Raymond scored a two-fer, hitting up a pair of 5-stars on his recent recruiting trip, including this defensive lineman.

Florida football’s cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] was busy on the recruiting trail Monday, making a stop at Alabaster (Alabama) Thompson to check in on a pair of 5-star prospects. His primary focus was on cornerback [autotag]Tony Mitchell[/autotag], who is one of head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s primary targets in the 2023 recruiting cycle, but Raymond also got a gander at defensive lineman [autotag]Peter Woods[/autotag] while he was there as well.

The 6-foot-four-inch, 265-pound prep prospect currently has the Gators among his top four schools in the running for his services, which also includes Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma. However, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Texas are all still considered contenders, with the latter recently scheduled for an official visit. According to On3, Woods has some positive feelings for Florida which bodes well for the Orange and Blue.

“I visited Florida last summer, so I have been there before, but the old staff was there. I really like coach Spencer and I think coach Napier can get the program back. Gator football is great, the program speaks for itself, and I really like the interaction I and coach Spencer have had. Coach Chaney is great too.”

The blue-chip defensive lineman will return to Gainesville for an official visit on June 9 to follow up on his visits last summer. Woods is the No. 26 overall recruit on the 247Sports composite and the No. 3 defensive lineman in the class of 2023 while the On3 Consensus has him at No. 21 and No. 2 in those categories, respectively.

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5-star cornerback gets visit from Gators coach on Monday

Cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond dropped in to check out Tony Mitchell on Monday.

Recruiting season remains in high gear as preps play out their spring schedules across the nation. For Florida football, it has been a tireless process of evaluating potential prospects while making connections with the young student-athletes in an effort to attract them to Gainesville and re-establishing the Gators as the preeminent force in the state of Florida.

One of [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s top targets in the 2023 recruiting cycle is 5-star cornerback [autotag]Tony Mitchell[/autotag], who received a visit from cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] on Monday at Alabaster (Alabama) Thompson. Raymond is the second coach to visit the 6-foot-2-inch, 180-pound prospect after co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] dropped by a few weeks ago.

Florida currently sits among Mitchell’s five top schools, which also includes Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Oregon, though he continues to entertain suitors from outside of this list. While he has not set an official visit with Florida yet, Mitchell has visited Florida’s campus twice since the coaching staff turnover. Gainesville appears to be an intriguing landing spot for him based on a quote from Swamp247.

“The chance of playing early stands out to me. I trust Coach Napier and what he’s going to do for Florida in the future. Coach Raymond is a great DB coach and knows how to develop players and he’s sent a bunch of guys to the league. Just being a good fit for their school all makes me like it.”

Mitchell also offered the following to GatorsOnline.

“I’d say the staff they have with coach Raymond, coach Toney, and with me being from Florida, just getting the vibe here and seeing the love I get. The fan base is crazy. Also, the development I know I would get and having the chance to play early and contribute.

“It’s just all love. It’s just a different vibe and energy from this staff. They’re really going to show you they truly care and they want you to be there.”

The 247Sports Composite currently ranks Mitchell as the nation’s No. 20 overall prospect and No. 3 cornerback nationally in the 2023 recruiting class, while the On3 Consensus has him No. 21 overall and No. 2 cornerback nationally. Florida sits in third place on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with an 11.6% chance of signing him.

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Check out where ESPN thinks Florida’s future defense ranks

Will the new coaching staff lead Florida to an elite defense over the next few years? ESPN like UF’s chances.

If you like way-too-early predictions and projections, ESPN’s latest ranking of future defenses might interest you. Georgia made it clear in 2021 that defense is king, at least for now, and it’s worth taking a look ahead at which teams have the most talent on that side of the ball.

Before we dive into it, let’s take a look at exactly what’s being measured in these defensive rankings. It’s impossible to know exactly what a team is going to look like over the next couple of years, but ESPN has opted to take the current rosters and look as far ahead as 2024 to get the job done. Returning players, incoming transfers and expected NFL departures are all factored into these rankings. Still, those changes can continually affect a program if they come up consistently.

With that being said, ESPN has Florida at a respectable No. 21 on the list after finishing at No. 12 last year. The drop is hardly surprising considering the disaster of a defense the Gators have fielded over the past two years. Let’s not forget that defensive coordinator [autotag]Todd Grantham[/autotag] was the first domino to drop in the collapse of the Mullen regime. [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] and [autotag]Zachary Carter[/autotag], two key contributors over the last two seasons, are also gone via the NFL draft.

“Florida is one of the tougher teams to project after so many changes, on both its roster and the coaching staff. But the foundation on defense, combined with a promising start to recruiting, vaults the Gators into the rankings for the first time in this year’s FPR series.”

Co-defensive coordinators [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] and [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] have plenty of talent to work with in 2022 and showed promise by nabbing five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] among a handful of other blue-chip recruits in a short cycle.

[autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. are the players to look for up front, and “the development of others will significant” as well. [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] leads a young group of linebackers, including freshman [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag], and the secondary has some returning talent in [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag], [autotag]Rashad Torrence[/autotag] and [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr.[/autotag] [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] is also coming back from an injury that kept him out all of last year.

That leaves Florida sixth in terms of future defenses in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia, Texas A&M and Alabama take up Nos. 2-4 on the list, in that order, after reeling in strong recruiting classes year after year. If [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] can keep up the early success he’s had at Florida bringing in young talent, then Florida should start to close the gap between No. 21 and those three schools in the top five.

At the very least, the goal should be to get above Kentucky (No. 18) and start creeping up on LSU (No. 9). There’s a real feeling that Florida can reclaim the title of DBU over the next few years with former LSU defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] in tow. The recruiting class of 2023 should have a huge impact on the Gators’ future defense ranking.

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Florida coaches keeping an eye on nation’s No. 2 RB recruit

Florida has sent coaches in back-to-back weeks to see Richard Young in action. The Gators want that official visit.

Florida’s coaches are out this week checking in on some priority targets at practice and perhaps the top name on running backs coach [autotag]Jabbar Juluke[/autotag]’s list this week is five-star running back [autotag]Richard Young[/autotag] out of Lehigh Acres, Florida.

Juluke visited Young’s practice on Wednesday, according to 247Sports, after defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] was by last week. Florida is in Young’s top seven but he doesn’t appear to have the Gators at the top of the list at this point. Sending guys out to evaluate him each week is just another way to let one of the top running backs in the nation know that Florida is very interested in him.

Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma and Texas A&M are the other schools vying for Young’s services. The Sooners will get him on June 3 for an official visit, and the Bulldogs are up two weeks later. OSU gets him on June 24 leaving just two more official visits left for him to schedule. The Crimson Tide are expected to receive one of those, so now is the time for Florida to make its push.

The Gators did get Young on campus twice over the spring. He’s gotten to know the new staff well in that time and said he enjoys the family atmosphere down in Gainesville. That said, an official visit is what’s needed to make his words anything more than pleasantries.

Young is the No. 2 overall running back on the 247Sports composite and the No. 19 overall recruit in the class of 2023. The On3 Consensus has him as No. 1 among running backs and No. 24 nationally.

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Florida set to receiver an official visit from this 4-star DB legacy recruit

Florida is in a good position to receive an official visit from four-star safety Kenton Kirkland along with Georgia and Florida State.

Four-star safety Kenton Kirland told 247Sports that Florida, Georgia and Florida State are in the best position to receive an official visit from him currently. The Gators last hosted Kirkland for their Orange and Blue game on April 14.

Kirkland hails from nearby Jacksonville, Florida. The 247Sports composite rankings have him as the 354th best player nationally and the 31st best player at his position. He’s also considered a Gators legacy recruit because his uncle is Ephesians Bartley, who was an All-SEC linebacker for Florida in 1991.

On his last visit to the Swamp, he said that he believes head coach Billy Napier is the right coach to turn the program around. Kirkland added that he is impressed with defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag]’s record of developing players.

He isn’t sure when he will take his official visits but said he will definitely take one to the Gators. Besides Florida, Florida State and Georgia, Kirkland said that Kentucky, UCF, Alabama and Clemson are other schools communicating with him.

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This 4-star safety sets official visit to Florida in June

Four-star safety Jordan Castell is one of many Florida targets planning to use an official visit to the Swamp this summer.

Four-star safety Jordan Castell told 247Sports on Sunday that he plans to take an official visit to Florida in June. He’s one of my many recruiting prospects that are electing to use some of their officials during the summer. Castell hails from down the turnpike in Winter Garden, Florida. The 247Sports composite rankings have him 354th overall player and the 32nd best player at his position.

Castell made his first visit to the Swamp late last month when the Gators and head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] were holding spring practices leading up to the Orange and Blue game. He was able to see the team scrimmage while also spending lots of time with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] and off-the-field analyst [autotag]Jamar Chaney.[/autotag]

He said the Florida coaches like how versatile he is and plan to move him around among the secondary positions in its defense.

Castell notes that Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Ohio State are the schools standing out to him the most currently.

The Gators factor highly in his recruitment because of the environment in the program and because he believes he would be an excellent fit in this defense.

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