Florida didn’t host a bunch of recruits in Week 8, but the four players who were in Gainesville this weekend on official visits experienced what a big win in the Swamp looks like.
Among those four official visitors was Cincinnati offensive tackle commit [autotag]Jahari Medlock[/autotag].
“It was real good. It was way better than I thought it was going to be,” Medlock said to Gators Online. “I thought they were just going to show me a little here and there, but nah, they came with the heat, I’m not going to lie. It was real good. The environment was something different and something I’ve never experienced. The team spirit was different, too.”
The Gators crushed the Kentucky Wildcats, winning the game by a four-touchdown margin. It’s the kind of win that makes kids want to play for the Orange and Blue.
“The campus is huge, and they showed me around,” he said to 247Sports. “Got to meet a lot of the staff and the players. It’s like one big family here. Everyone is really close. They had a presentation on NIL, and that got me really thinking. It’s real cool. I like how they do that. The game was crazy in The Swamp. I’ve never experienced an environment like that. I loved it.”
Medlock talks family
As usual, Billy Napier’s staff recruited the family as well of the player. Napier has consistently prioritized players who come from what he considers a strong family and is quick to mention it after those players are signed. Both of Medlock’s parents joined him on this visit, and that could help the Gators in the long run.
“It was way better for my dad knowing he got to see all this with me. It’s his first time on a college visit,” he said. “Made me feel real great. This is my mom’s favorite team, so it was cool my dad got to see it.”
Medlock will head to Cincinnati on Nov. 9 for a visit. He doesn’t have any other officials on his calendar. Florida is “even higher” on his list now, but it takes a continuous effort to flip players who are already committed. Georgia Tech is another program in the race, but UF is pushing harder right now.
Recruiting Summary
Medlock is a consensus three-star recruit across the four major recruiting services. The 247Sports composite lists him No. 724 overall and No. 53 among offensive tackles in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry ranking is a bit more bullish on him at Nos. 702 and 43, respectively.
The On3 recruiting prediction machine only lists Cincinnati right now, but there’s no doubt that Florida is back in the race to flip him.
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