Jay Bateman – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Florida’s ILB coach heading to fellow SEC school, per report

Another former Gators coach heads off to College Station.

Billy Napier might be losing a member of his staff to a fellow Southeastern Conference school again if a report that emerged on Thursday proves true.

Florida football inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman is apparently on the move to the Texas A&M Aggies to fill their defensive coordinator vacancy, according to TexAg’s Billy Liucci on X, formerly known as Twitter. Bateman would join former Gators defensive line coach Sean Spencer in College Station. Spencer holds the same position with his new program.

Bateman began his coaching career in the mid-1990s, coaching Benedictine High School as an assistant before returning to school at Hampden-Sydney to coach as a grad student. His first true collegiate job came at Siena College, where he was the defensive coordinator in 1999 before taking over as head coach from 2000-03.

Bateman moved on to Richmond, Elon, Lehigh, Elon, Ball State and Army in various capacities over the next 15 years before getting his big break as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach with the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2019-2021. Since then, he has been in Gainesville with the Gators.

Bateman’s first season with Florida featured his influence on two NFL draft picks: Ventrell Miller was picked in the fourth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Amari Burney was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the sixth round.

This past season, he was credited with the development of linebackers Shemar James and Scooby Williams.

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Florida football legacy linebacker sets March return visit date

Here’s when Myles Graham plans on making his next stop in Gainesville.

College football recruiting season is back in full swing which is great news for the Gator Nation as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. look to build on a disappointing debut campaign. Mostly hamstrung by the roster left in the cupboard by departing head coach [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] in 2022, the new administration is laser-focused on bringing top talent to Gainesville in an attempt to restore the Swamp as a top destination for aspiring gridiron warriors.

While a lion’s share of this month’s visitors are high school prospects who have yet to make verbal commitments with their preferred programs, one 2023 recruit has already given his word to Florida and is planning another trip to Gainesville. Four-star linebacker [autotag]Myles Graham[/autotag], who is the son of Gator great running back [autotag]Earnest Graham[/autotag], is set to return on March 11 to watch some spring practices while also getting some additional time around the coaching staff, according to Swamp247.

Insider linebackers coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag] has been at the forefront of the legacy athlete’s recruitment. While the loss of former co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] to the NFL shook things up a bit, his connection with Bateman remains strong.

“He’s a great coach, and a really constructive coach,” he previously told 247Sports of Bateman. “I love the way he coaches and he’s a great recruiter as well. He didn’t just recruit me, he made sure he was like another role model for me in my life. He’s a great dude and a great man.”

The 6-foot-1-inch, 212-pound defender has made plenty of previous stops on campus, including a recent one back on Jan. 21.

Graham is ranked No. 43 overall and No. 4 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 42 and 5, respectively.

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This 5-star offensive tackle, top 2025 prospect sets Gainesville visit date

The top overall prospect in the 2025 football recruiting class has set a visit date in Gainesville this month.

Florida football is scheduled to get the No. 1 overall prep prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle on campus this month, according to 247Sports’ Steve Wilfong.

Five-star offensive tackle [autotag]David Sanders[/autotag] out of Charlotte (North Carolina) Providence Day School is set to make his first visit to the University of Florida’s campus on Saturday, March 11. The 6-foot-6-inch, 255-pound high school sophomore’s recruitment has been led by inside linebackers coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag], whose experience in the North Carolina area has him assigned to that region’s recruiting efforts.

Other schools on the coveted lineman’s spring docket are the South Carolina Gamecocks, who will host him on March 18, along with the Georgia Bulldogs — who expect a visit in April — as well as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Sanders is ranked No. 1 overall and No. 1 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking also has him at No. 1 across the board in the 2025 class. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has an interesting mix of programs in play for his talents led by the North Carolina State Wolfpack with a 28% chance of landing him, followed by the Gamecocks, North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils at 16.6%, 14.2% and 6.2%, respectively.

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Florida football makes final four for coveted 2025 linebacker

The Gators made the cut for this big-time linebacker out of Georgia.

Florida football continues to churn away at the recruiting grindstone as the focus turns from the 2023 cycle to 2024 and beyond. The latest news from the prep prospect ranks comes from the class of 2025, in which the Gators are among the top four schools in contention for the young student-athlete’s services.

Linebacker [autotag]Mantrez Walker[/autotag] out of Buford (Georgia) recently released his top teams, telling On3’s Chad Simmons, “All have recruited me hard since my sophomore year started.” Those programs are Florida, the Michigan Wolverines, Penn State Nittany Lions and LSU Tigers. He has visited all of them except for LSU so far.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 215-pound defender visited Gainesville last summer, which went quite well in his own words.

“I was at Florida back in the summer and I had a great time. I love the vision coach Napier has for the program. Coach Napier is the coach that can get Florida back to the top.”

Beyond the Gators’ head coach, inside linebackers coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag] and defensive analyst [autotag]Jamar Chaney[/autotag] have also led the way in the high school sophomore’s recruitment.

Walker has yet to receive any ratings or rankings from 247Sports, On3 or Rivals. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine currently has the South Carolina Gamecocks out front for his talents with a 22.7% chance of landing him, followed by the Arkansas Razorbacks, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Virginia Tech Hokies at 19.8%, 8.9% and 7.4% respectively. Rivals’ FutureCast commitment forecast gives Michigan a 100% chance of landing him.

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Gators in the lead for top 2024 LB prospect, per On3

The Gators are out front for this 2024 linebacker.

After coming in the top 12 of the 2023 On3 recruiting class rankings, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is pushing forward toward the 2024 recruiting class. [autotag]Adarius Hayes[/autotag], the No. 6 linebacker in the 2024 class per On3, still has the Gators as the frontrunner in his recruitment.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound linebacker took the trip to Gainesville with multiple family members — always a good sign in a player’s recruitment. When speaking to Gators Online, Hayes talked about spending time with inside linebackers coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag], defensive analyst [autotag]Jamar Chaney[/autotag] and Napier.

In his meetings, Hayes mentioned how they broke down film and told him that they see him as a middle linebacker who would rush the passer off the edge in third-down situations, something he enjoys doing. He also compared his play style to [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag], who was the focal point of the Gators’ defense in 2022.

With the recruiting dead period coming up in February, Hayes says he will take advantage of the final weekend in the contact period. He will be in Gainesville one more time this weekend. When asked where Florida stands in his recruitment, he told Gators Online that Florida was his “dream school”.

Hopefully, Napier and his staff can land one of the top in-state talents when he announces his commitment in the summer.

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Blue-chip legacy linebacker sets return visit date

Here’s when UF commit Myles Graham plans on getting back on campus.

Things are back in high gear for Florida football’s recruiting efforts now that the NCAA quiet period has expired. With the gates now wide open, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. are rolling out the red carpet to welcome prep recruits from around the nation into the Swamp.

Among the many planning on visiting Gainesville is a young man who is quite familiar with the Orange and Blue — four-star linebacker [autotag]Myles Graham[/autotag] out of Atlanta (Georgia) Woodward Academy in the 2024 class who is the son of Gator great running back Earnest Graham. The 6-foot-1-inch, 212-pound defender has made plenty of previous stops on campus and intends to make another on Jan. 21, according to Swamp247.

“Out of all the places, this was the one that just fell into place. It’s the perfect place for me and my family. My sister goes there now, and it just works out for me. I love the staff there. Everything just worked itself out.”

Graham committed back in August and showed no signs of wavering on his decision during the season. The legacy student-athlete’s recruitment has been spearheaded by inside linebackers coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag], who has made a significant impression on him.

“He’s a great coach, and a really constructive coach. I love the way he coaches and he’s a great recruiter as well. He didn’t just recruit me, he made sure he was like another role model for me in my life. He’s a great dude and a great man.”

Graham is ranked No. 30 overall and No. 2 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 36 and 3, respectively.

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Florida’s linebackers coach to visit this 2023 FSU commit on Friday

Napier and crew are getting an early start on what will be a big recruiting weekend for Florida.

Florida football’s season-opening matchup against the Utah Utes carries a great deal more importance than the action on the sideline as a cohort of top recruits from around the nation plan on attending the first game of the Billy Napier era. The Gators have an opportunity to woo some of the best the prep ranks have to offer come game time and the staff has wasted no time getting a head start on the weekend.

Not all of the Gators’ targets will be in attendance, however. Four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag], a Florida State Seminoles commit in the 2023 recruiting class from Orange Park, Florida, will get a visit from the Gators’ inside linebackers coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag] on Friday night during his high school game, according to Swamp247.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound lineman has made several trips to Gainesville including an official visit back in June from which he came away with positive words for the program.

“I had a great time,” Kearney said according to Swamp247. “I learned a lot about the new coaching staff and all the other coaches they have off the field. They were all great and I had a really good time. I got to see the new facility they are building, I got to hang out with some players at the school, and just meet a lot of the O-linemen.”

The Seminoles ended up prevailing in his recruitment, receiving his verbal commitment not long after his stop in the Swamp. However, there is still room to rescind the decision and the Gators are working hard to flip him to the Orange and Blue. The Garnet and Gold, nonetheless, still hold a firm grip on the young athlete’s future.

Kearney is ranked No. 121 overall and No. 4 at his position in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 128 and 8, respectively. On3’s recruiting prediction machine still holds a 38.9% chance of FSU sealing the deal while UF trials in second at 28.4%.

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2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Linebackers

Florida may only have six inside linebackers on scholarship but it’s a strong group with both veterans and youth to work with.

After going over the outside linebackers on Tuesday, the next position group up in Gators Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Florida Gators football roster are the middle linebackers, or inside linebackers.

This is the more traditional linebacker role and Florida’s scheme calls for two starters — the outside linebackers cover the JACK position that usually lines up with the DL, so that’s why they are separated. Last year’s No. 1 in the position room, [autotag]Mohamoud Diabate[/autotag], transferred to Utah over the offseason, but there’s still a decent amount of depth at the position.

[autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] is the leader of the group and should be the top inside linebacker on the team this year. Florida could have used his elite rushing defense several times in 2021, so he’ll be a major boost to the defense and help guide the younger players below him on the depth chart.

Florida only has six scholarship inside linebackers on its roster, which is a bit low considering the scheme it runs. The good news is most of them are ready for game action and there are outside linebackers, such as [autotag]David Reese[/autotag], that could change positions if the injury bug bites the Gators hard.

Here’s a look at all eight inside linebackers on the 2022 Florida football roster.

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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4-star North Carolina EDGE moving up commitment date naming top 5

Florida lands in another four-star recruit’s top five, but he might be another team’s to lose already.

Florida made four-star edge rusher [autotag]Rico Walker[/autotag]’s top five on Friday but it will take a lot for the Gators to land the North Carolina recruit.

After releasing his list, Walker told 247Sports that a commitment was in the works and that he’d be announcing a decision “later in July or August.” He made official visits to UNC and Maryland in June and planned to take the rest in the fall, but now it sounds like those trips will come while he’s committed.

The Gators got on Walker’s radar after Billy Napier brought [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag] on board as an inside linebackers coach. Bateman recruited Walker for the Tarheels before moving to the SEC and kept up the relationship.

“He (Bateman) began coaching at Florida so that raised them on my list,” Walker said. “I just (connect) with him. I just do. He is a cool dude. I enjoy talking to him. Also, me and the tight ends coach (William Peagler), we have a good relationship.”

Commitment coming soon😁 pic.twitter.com/lWqyFvc7Rq

— 6’4”specimen (@Ricowalker15) July 1, 2022

Are those two relationships enough to get Florida into serious consideration though? It’s unlikely, to say the least. If North Carolina and Maryland don’t land him, Auburn and Tennessee have links to Walker’s father, so Florida could well be in fifth place here.

Napier and Co. can’t do much about it either. The dead period is upon us and Walker’s new timeline suggests that he’ll be committed before he’s able to get to Gainesville again. The staff recently helped flip four-star edge rusher [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag] from UCF, so there is a chance for UF to make another steal. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Florida fade from this recruitment either.

Walker is ranked No. 178 overall on the 247Sports composite and is also No. 23 among edge rushers in the class of 2023.

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