Tag: Hykeem Williams

Florida lands commitment from this underrated WR prospect

Florida fans, welcome three-star wide receiver Tyree Patterson to the Gators 2023 recruiting class!

Head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] landed the first commitment of his significant bump class. A coach’s bump class is usually the best recruiting class he will have with a new school since it’s almost impossible for other schools to negatively recruit against him. He and Florida gained their first pledge in their 2023 recruiting class from three-star wide receiver Tyree Patterson.

The Eustis, Florida, native is ranked as the 571st overall prospect and as the 79th best player at his position, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Patterson, as of writing, only holds scholarship offers from the Gators, Liberty, Massachusetts and North Texas.

However, he hasn’t camped much, which plays a big factor in how prospects are ranked by recruiting services. He also had a junior season where he caught 53 passes for 1,078 yards and 13 touchdowns. Since it’s early in the cycle, Patterson could always see his stock rise. Sports Illustrated named Patterson as one of 12 prospects that impressed at the ESPN 300 Elite Underclassmen Camp.

It’s questionable why Napier and wide receivers coach [autotag]Keary Colbert[/autotag] took his commitment in April, but Florida fans should relax as long as the Gators pair Patterson with a bunch of ballers like four-stars [autotag]Hykeem Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Eugene Wilson[/autotag], [autotag]Tyler Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag]. The Gators plan to sign a deep wide receiver class this cycle.

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Florida rising in this 4-star wide receiver’s recruitment

Florida is becoming a significant player for four-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams’ pledge.

Florida, head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and wide receivers coach [autotag]Keary Colbert[/autotag] are trying to add some playmakers at wideout in the 2023 recruiting cycle after former head coach [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] struggled to recruit some to his roster. One name that the Gators would love to add is four-star wide receiver [autotag]Hykeem Williams[/autotag]. He hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is ranked as the 39th best player overall and as the sixth-best receiver, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Williams didn’t consider Florida highly before Napier and Co. took over the program but has now made two visits over the last two months. He returned to the Swamp for the Orange and Blue game Thursday after his first visit in March.

He said he most enjoyed the time he spent around Colbert and off-the-field analyst [autotag]Benedick Hyppolite[/autotag]. Williams bonded well with Hyppolite because of his extensive ties to South Florida. He also recruited Williams while he was on staff with the Miami Hurricanes.

After his latest visit to Florida, he said the school has become a player for his pledge.

“They actually moved up,” Williams said, according to 247Sports. “I like Florida. This is my first time really getting to see them in action. They got a good spot on my list now.”

The Gators are one of his top schools along with Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, Pittsburgh and Florida State. Williams also plans to start using some of his official visits this summer.

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The stars are coming out for Florida’s Orange and Blue game on Thursday

The stars will be out for Florida head coach Billy Napier’s first spring game on Thursday.

Head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has proven the doubters wrong. Many fans and media members thought the decision to move the Orange and Blue game from Saturday to Thursday to achieve a recruiting advantage was a mistake that would end up backfiring. Despite having the game held on a weekday, Napier and the Gators have managed to bring in three 2023 five-stars and 15 four-stars along with a boatload of top prospects from the 2024 recruiting class.

The Orange and Blue game visitors’ list is headlined by five-star cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Francis Mauigoa[/autotag] and athlete [autotag]Samuel M’Pemba[/autotag]. This will all be their second visit to the Swamp under Napier. Swamp247 is also reporting that they have an eye out for five-star cornerback [autotag]AJ Harris[/autotag] that could also visit, but he and his family have not finalized their plans yet.

Maryland defensive lineman [autotag]Darrell Jackson[/autotag] isn’t a high school prospect, obviously, but Swamp247 reported that he will be visiting the Gators Thursday after entering his name into the transfer portal last week.

Florida will bring in a lot of talent on Thursday hailing from the trenches like offensive linemen [autotag]Payton Kirkland[/autotag], [autotag]Lucas Simmons[/autotag], [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag], defensive linemen [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag], [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag], [autotag]Jordan Hall[/autotag] and [autotag]Tomarrion Parker[/autotag].

The Gators are looking to sign several top pass catchers this cycle with a lack of playmakers currently on the roster. Some of the most talented wideouts include [autotag]Hykeem Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Williams[/autotag].

Other top targets expected are four-star running back [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag], safety [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] and [autotag]Kenton Kirkland[/autotag].

The stars will be out in full force for the Gators’ Orange and Blue Game on Thursday.

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Big-time 4-star wide receiver sets Florida visit date for spring game

The list of Orange and Blue Game attendees continues to grow.

Florida footballs’ recruiting season is in full swing and as we dig deeper into the month of April the Orange and Blue Game draws near. While the annual spring intrasquad scrimmage has historically been a treat for the fans as they pine for their beloved gridiron gang, the focus this year will be more on impressing prep prospects.

In fact, the program moved its game back two days night to accommodate visiting high school players. Originally scheduled to be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT, the game will be played on Thursday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. EDT instead.

One of the many prospects expected to be in attendance is four-star wide receiver [autotag]Hykeem Williams[/autotag] out of Fort Lauderdale (Florida) Stranahan. The 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound receiver visited Florida in early March and came away impressed, listing the Gators among his top teams.

Williams has also made visits to Miami, Florida State, FAU, Pittsburg, USC, UCF, Georgia, and Alabama since January. He plans on visiting Texas A&M this coming weekend for their spring game and will make a second visit to Athens for their spring game on April 16 — just days after his Swamp stop.

The junior ranks No. 39 overall and No. 6 at his position nationally in the 2023 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite, while ranking No. 61 and No. 10, respectively, according to the On3 Consensus.

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4-star WR Hykeem Williams on UGA: ‘I have built a great relationship with them’

“The top three after me the hardest right now are Rutgers, Georgia and I’d say Miami.”

4-star 2023 wide receiver Hykeem Williams has no shortage of interest from major college football programs.

Out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Williams ranks as the nation’s No. 60 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class. Georgia offered Williams in January of 2021.

Williams, who released his top-15 back in December, recently spoke with Kristian Dyer of RutgersWire regarding his recruitment.

“The top three after me the hardest right now are Rutgers, Georgia and I’d say Miami,” Williams told Rutgers Wire. “Those are the three after me the hardest.”

Having held an offer from Georgia for over a year now, Williams said he has built a solid relationship with the coaches. And watching the Dawgs win the national title just three weeks ago certainly furthered the 6-foot-3 receiver’s interest in the Bulldogs.

“Georgia, man. They just won the national championship. And actually, before they even won, I mean, they were doing great with me – like I was talking to them throughout the year. I have built a great relationship with them before…with coach [Dell] McGee, coach [Kirby] Smart I built a really great relationship with them. And man, they just had a great season this year.”

Williams also spoke about the recruiting pitch he has received from the Georgia coaches.

“They just tell me how they will use me if I come over there. And  honestly they could just keep it rolling if I go there because right now they’re on a great path. So if they can develop me to where I want to be…then we can just keep rolling.”

Williams’ list of top schools currently sits at 15, a number he’ll soon have to trim down. He says he’ll likely be cutting his list down sometime this summer, but only identified Georgia as a school that would definitely make the cut.

“Probably sometime in the summer. I’m not sure who will make it yet…definitely Georgia.”

To see Williams’ additional comments on other schools in his recruitment, read Dyer’s full story here.

Michigan State listed in top 15 for Florida 2023 4-star WR Hykeem Williams

Michigan State is still in the running for one of the top wide receivers in the 2023 class

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Michigan State is one of 15 listed in four-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams top schools list that was released on Monday.

Williams — who is ranked as the No. 10 wide receiver in the 2023 class — included Michigan State in his top schools list on Monday. That list also includes Alabama, Florida, Miami (FL), Penn State, West Virginia, USC, Georgia, Oregon, Rutgers, Florida State, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech.

Williams is listed as the No. 61 overall prospect in 247Sports composite rankings for the 2023 class.

Williams hails from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is currently projected to stay close to home and play for the Hurricanes.

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Four-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams has Rutgers in his ‘Top 15’

Hykeem Williams, a Rutgers football recruit, released his top 15 with the Scarlet Knights making the cut.

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Rutgers football’s success on the recruiting trail continues, with Monday’s release of a ‘Top 15’ by Florida wide receiver Hykeem Williams. The inclusion of the Scarlet Knights is a sign of Rutgers solid job of recruiting the four-star wide receiver, especially given the other programs included in the cutdown.

The 2023 wide receiver is one of the most coveted wide receivers in the nation.

In addition to Rutgers, also in the list for Williams are: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, Michigan State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and West Virginia.

Williams plays for Stranahan in Ft. Lauderdale. He is a four-star wide receiver who is ranked the No. 62 player in the nation according to Rivals. He is the eighth-best wide receiver in the country and No. 11 in Florida.

 

The playmaker has been at Rutgers three times this year, including the regular season finale against Maryland.

 

Four-star Hykeem Williams on Saturday’s Rutgers visit: ‘they’re on track to be great in the next few years’

Rutgers football has a bigtime recruit coming on Saturday in four-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams.

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One of the top wide receivers in the class of 2023 will be at Rutgers on Saturday, giving yet another look at the program.

Four-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams is flying up to New Jersey on Saturday morning to spend the day at Rutgers and watch the game against Maryland. Williams is the No. 52 player in the nation for the class of 2023 according to Rivals and he said this is his third trip up to Rutgers.

He is a standout at Stranahan in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Rutgers (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) hosts Maryland (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) in the regular season finale with bowl eligibility on the line for both programs.

“I just like the energy up there, I like the great coaches, the players, just everything,” Williams told ‘Rutgers Wire.’

“I believe that program will be great.

“They’re progressing, they’re starting to get more players. Last year they won three games, this year they’re on track to win six or more…on that pace, they’re on track to be great in the next few years.”

He said that his recruitment is wide-open but that Rutgers along with Miami, Florida State, Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Georgia, Texas A&M, USC and Clemson are recruiting him the hardest. Clemson hasn’t offered yet, he says.

This year, he has made unofficial visits to Miami, Florida State and Georgia. He hopes to visit Michigan State, Oklahoma and Clemson sometime after the new year.

Family atmosphere is important to him, acknowledging that most programs offer a chance to get to the next level.

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Saturday’s game at Rutgers means less about getting bowl eligibility, Williams says, than “vibing with the coaches and players…seeing that last game experience and how it goes.” His interest in Rutgers seems to be legitimate.

As far as his recruitment at Rutgers, he said the bond being built with wide receiver coach Tiquan Underwood is growing. Underwood, a former Rutgers star, played for head coach Greg Schiano in the Big East and then the NFL.

“He’s the one I talk to the most,” Williams said of Underwood.

“Knowing that he played the position I play at Rutgers, played in the league, played for coach Schiano before in the league. That means he must know a lot.”