Tag: joenel aguero

Report: Elite 2023 safety names Florida in his top 4

Former IMG guy? Check. A top-five ranking among safeties in the class of 2023? Check. Florida in his top four with a month and a half until decision day? Check. Something’s brewing between UF and Joenel Aguero.

Florida made the cut for one of its top defensive targets in the 2023 cycle Monday. Four-star St. John’s Prep (Massachusetts) safety [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] trimmed his list of schools down to four on Monday, and the Gators are now competing with just Georgia, Miami and Ohio State.

With a planned commitment date of July 23, Aguero already has plans to visit three of the four schools, with Florida being the odd program out right now. That could wind up benefitting Billy Napier and Co. if Florida manages to land the final official visit of Aguero’s recruitment and leaves a lasting impression.

The former IMG Academy defensive back is set to visit Georgia on June 10, OSU on June 17 and Miami on June 24, according to 247Sports. The Buckeyes visit was originally planned for November, but pushing up his decision date has forced everything else to change as well. That leaves three weekends in July for Aguero to get his visit to Florida in, which is plenty of time to work something out.

“I love Coach PT (Patrick Toney),” Aguero said when asked about Florida landing in his top four. “I know they got something good going on over there with the new coaching staff. My guy [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] is over there so I already got some ties over there.”

Aguero’s already made a pair of unofficial visits to the Swamp, but one of them came when [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] was still in control. His third trip is an unofficial visit planned for the 16th with the Gators and the hope is to get him on campus for an official next month.

247Sports’ individual ranking place Aguero second among safeties in the class of 2023 and 20th overall. The composite rankings have him at No. 3 and No. 43, respectively.

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4-star DB Joenel Aguero names top schools, sets commitment date

Four-star class of 2023 safety recruit Joenel Aguero has named his top four schools and is ready to commit

Four-star defensive back recruit Joenel Aguero is nearing a decision on where he will play college football.

Aguero, a member of the class of 2023, and plays high school football for St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts. Danvers is located about 20 minutes north of Boston.

Aguero is one of the best safety recruits in the rising senior class. He picked up some experience playing against elite high school competition when he previously played football at IMG Academy.

The University of Georgia offered Aguero a scholarship in Feb. 2021.

He plays and practices against strong competition at IMG Academy. Kirby Smart and Georgia have offered numerous IMG Academy prospects this recruiting cycle.

Aguero plans to play in the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game following his senior season.

Aguero is ranked as the No. 43 recruit in his class and is rated as No. 2 recruit in Massachusetts. Joenel Aguero’s impressive array of scholarship offers include Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oregon, Texas, USC, and many more.

Who are Joenel Aguero’s top schools and when does he plan to commit?

What is The Athletic’s biggest question for Florida’s Billy Napier?

The Athletic tracks the top 10 storylines as the 2023 cycle ramps up, including Florida’s situation.

The biggest component of new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s plan to rebuild Florida football is his fresh approach to recruiting, undertaken with diligence that makes former head coach [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s regime pale in comparison. While there is still a long path back uphill to reach the summit once seen back in the glory days of [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag], the early returns appear to signal that the ship is turning around under the new leadership.

However, despite this progress, Napier and Co. are under intense pressure and scrutiny when it comes to assembling their debut recruiting class — much of which is quite unfair but par for the course in the ultra-competitive Southeastern Conference. The Athletic’s Ari Wasserman recently surveyed the top 10 storylines for the 2023 cycle heading into summer and had one major question for the Gators’ rebounding program.

Is Billy Napier going to sign a big-boy class?

If you tracked what Napier did at Florida upon his arrival, you saw a man who understands what it takes in the SEC. He revamped the recruiting department and immediately signed four-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG, beating Georgia for his signature. Landing Wilson made a statement that Florida is going to win big-time recruiting battles.

Well, we’re six months into the 2023 cycle and Florida has only five commitments. Of those five commitments, only one is rated inside the top 300.

Florida needs a big finish, and it has plenty of open spots. The Gators are still involved with a ton of top-50 players: cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] of Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson, cornerback [autotag]AJ Harris[/autotag] of Phenix City (Ala.) Central, cornerback [autotag]Tony Mitchell[/autotag] of Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson, linebacker [autotag]Malik Bryant[/autotag] of Orlando (Fla.) Jones, running back [autotag]Cedric Baxter Jr[/autotag]. of Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater and safety [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] of Danvers (Mass.) St. John’s Prep.

Can Napier be the anti-Dan Mullen and close the deal on a top class?

Wasserman’s concerns are not at all unfair, particularly the fact that Florida has just five commits six months into Napier’s tenure. But it seems he is overlooking the difficulty involved in overhauling the program’s culture, not to mention the fact that it has been nearly a decade since the Gators’ last top-10 class.

The fact of the matter is that Napier needs to do everything he can to maximize the talent he brings in this time around but it is not even close to a make-or-break kind of deal. As CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson mentioned recently, Florida’s new crew is more likely to produce results later than sooner, so while the heat is on it is not imperative that he hit a grand slam from a long-term perspective.

Still, the Gator Nation is hungry for success after one of the most disappointing seasons (and really, the most disappointing decade) in recent memory. Scoring a few wins on the recruiting trail will earn the program a great deal of emotional capital with the fanbase, which is certainly something to consider.

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Gators to get unofficial visit from this top-5 safety next month

The Gators will host this blue-chip prospect next month in hopes of bringing his talents to the Swamp.

The college football recruiting scene is a never-ending grind these days as schools vie for the top talent in the nation while also navigating through the turbulent NIL waters. The Florida Gators under new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] have made the acquisition of top talent its top priority as the program attempts to rebuild itself after a decade of turmoil.

In order to get back to the top of the hill, Napier and Co. will need to bring in the very best that the prep ranks have to offer. They have not wasted any time either undertaking those efforts, setting up four-star safety [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] for an unofficial visit to Gainesville on June 16, according to GatorsOnline.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 191-pound defensive back out of Danvers (Massachusetts) St. John’s Prep appears to be pleased with the changing of the guard in the Swamp with co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney and cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond now serving as his liaisons. He offered the following about the difference Napier’s new staff has made.

“It’s definitely a new vibe. I like it way better than the old staff. They have Corey Raymond on this staff; they got a whole bunch of people now, so I like this staff a lot.

“I got to connect with Corey Raymond, all of them, coach PT and coach Napier obviously. We are all just building a relationship now because they’re obviously new here. I’m just trying to get to know them more. It was just good.”

His trip to Gainesville will be his third after dropping in last summer during [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s tenure as well as making an unofficial visit on March 19 for his first with the new staff. The team is reportedly looking to slot Aguero at the STAR position, in addition to other various roles that his athleticism allows.

The blue-chip prospect is currently ranked No. 49 overall and No. 3 nationally at his position, according to the 247Sports Composite, while the On3 Consensus has him at Nos. 34 and 4, respectively. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine shows the Georgia Bulldogs out front in his recruitment with a 93.2% chance of landing him, while the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida Gators follow in second and third with 2.4% and 1.2% chances, respectively.

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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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Florida impresses this 4-star safety during his weekend visit

Florida impresses four-star safety Joenel Aguero on his visit to the Swamp on Saturday.

Florida coach Billy Napier sent shockwaves through the college football universe when he pulled cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond from LSU, his alma mater, where turned the Tigers into an NFL defensive back factory. The addition of Raymond should ensure the Gators factor into the “defensive back university” conversation once again as they did under former coaches Will Muschamp and Urban Meyer.

Because of Raymond’s track record, four-star safety Joenel Aguero thinks highly of Florida and was impressed with the Swamp overall during his first visit under the new coaching staff.

247Sports composite has the Lynn, Massachusetts, native as the 49th overall prospect and second-best at his position. So far this month, he has made visits to Florida and LSU and plans to see Ohio State next weekend, Miami in April and then eventually Georgia and Texas A&M.

Aguero told 247Sports following his visit that he likes the new staff’s vibe versus the one the old staff gave off. So far, he has the best relationship with defensive coordinator Patrick Toney and Raymond.

Their main message to Aguero this weekend was that Florida is home and that playing time is immediately available.

Aguero spent the most time around Toney on his visit this weekend and said the Gators like how versatile he is and believes he fits best in their nickel position.

Florida made his top seven that he released earlier this month. After his visit, Aguero said the Gators are firmly in the race for his services and are in no rush to make a decision.

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Four-star safety has Ohio State in trimmed list of schools

Ohio State makes the shortlist for the No. 2 safety in the country. #GoBucks

When Jim Knowles was hired as the new defensive coordinator, everyone knew the Ohio State defense was going to be seriously overhauled. Part of Knowles’ system is having multiple safeties on the field at the same time. Oklahoma State transfer, Tanner McCalister, will help ease the transition to this new scheme, but the Buckeyes are looking to add depth and playmakers to this important position group.

Joenel Aguero is the No. 2 ranked safety in the 2023 class according to 247Sports composite rankings and has Ohio State firmly in the mix. Aguero attends St. Johns Prep in Lynn, Mass.

Joining OSU in Aguero’s shortlist are some of the usual suspects in Alabama,  Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, and Texas A&M, The Bulldogs seem to be leading the way in recruiting the four-star safety, but there is plenty of time for Knowles and DB coach, Perry Eliano, to make their pitch.

As of now, Ohio State has one safety committed in the 2023 class in Cedrick Hawkins, who is the No. 22 ranked safety in the class.

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Florida makes top 7 for this highly-touted 4-star safety

Florida made the top 7 for 4-star safety Joenel Aguero Wednesday. He’s the second-best player at his position, according to 247Sports.

Four-star safety Joenel Aguero hasn’t seen the Swamp since coach Billy Napier and staff have taken over the Gators but that didn’t stop him from including the Orange and Blue in his top seven on Wednesday. Florida made the cut along with Ohio State, LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia.

Several hours before he dropped his list, the No. 2 ranked safety prospect, according to 247Sports, told Swamp247 that Florida is doing everything right ahead of his weekend visit starting on March 18 because they are constantly in communication with him.

Cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond is a significant reason why the Gators factor so highly in Aguero’s recruitment. Raymond offered the Danvers, Massachusetts, native while he was at LSU and established a strong connection with him before he teamed up with Florida. However, it’s not just coach Raymond reaching out to him. He said it’s a group of staff members that contact him.

When he sits down to make a decision, Aguero won’t just look at wins and losses on the field. He wants to go somewhere that is going to develop him the best.

Finally, he added that he most looks forward to putting names to faces and seeing what the coaches are like in person when he visits the Swamp.

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Alabama among top seven for 2023’s No. 2 safety from Massachusetts

Alabama makes the top seven for a top 20 prospect.

The Alabama Crimson Tide got some good news recently. The No. 2 safety in the country, Joenel Aguero released his top seven schools on Twitter. Nick Saban and Alabama were among the top schools.

Aguero has SEC schools Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Texas A&M among his final schools along with the Crimson Tide. He plays both sides of the ball for St. John’s Prep, but Aguero projects best on the defensive side at safety.

Aguero can be a swiss army knife for the defense with his position flexibility. He can play down in the box or can drop back to play single-high coverage safety as well. Aguero could eventually develop inside a nickel cornerback with some refinement on his footwork.

As a receiver, he clearly has the ball skills to make an impact with turnovers in the passing game. Currently projected to the Bulldogs, Alabama could use him as well. Aguero is one of 11 safeties to receive an offer from the Tide staff.

Joenel Aguero’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 20 1 2
Rivals 4 127 2 6
ESPN 4 22 1 2
On3 Recruiting 4 40 1 5
247 Composite 4 49 2 2

Vitals

Hometown Lynn, Massachusetts
Projected Position Safety
Height 6-0
Weight 195
Class 2023

Recruitment

  • Offered on Feb. 25, 2021
  • Attended Alabama camp on Jun. 19, 2021

Offers (Top 7)

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • LSU
  • Miami
  • Ohio State
  • Texas A&M

Crystal Ball

Film

Twitter

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Elite 2023 defensive back plans March visit with Florida

The No. 2 safety in the class of 2023 is stopping by the Swamp in March.

Four-star safety Joenel Aguero will visit the University of Florida over the weekend of March 18, according to 247Sports.

It won’t be the first time the top-50 recruit makes it to Gainesville, but it will be his first visit with the new staff. Aguero got a chance to see the campus last June on his first visit to the school. He was impressed with Florida and named the Gators in his top 10 before deleting the post on social media.

Nearly every major player in the Southeastern Conference is interested in Aguero. He’s taken trips to Alabama and Georgia and plans to visit LSU after stopping by Florida. The Bulldogs are the favorites right now to land him, but he says Florida has always been on his radar.

Meeting Billy Napier and the rest of the coaching staff will give Aguero a chance to see how well he fits in with the new personnel at UF. There will also be at least one familiar face on the team in freshman safety Kamari Wilson, who played with Aguero at IMG Academy last year.

Now at St. John’s Prep in Massachusetts, Aguero is the top-ranked player in his state and the No. 2 safety in the country, according to 247Sports. He’s also ranked No. 22 overall in the class of 2023.

Beating out Georgia for one of the nation’s top defensive backs is exactly what Napier was hired to do. If everything goes well on this next visit, he’ll be one step closer to making that a reality for the Gators. Aguero already feels like a priority target for Florida, but there’s still a long road to travel before reaching the end of his recruitment.

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