Tag: jordan castell

Which Florida signees are participating in All-Star games?

Florida’s class of 2023 is almost ready to join the team, but a good chunk of the class still has one more game to play at the high school level.

Before they officially join the team in Gainesville, several of Florida’s signees from the class of 2023 will participate in high school All-Star games in January.

Nearly half the class will play in the Under Armour All-American game on Jan. 3, including five-star quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag], four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag], three-star lineman [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] and four-star receiver [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag] on the offensive side of the ball. Hopefully, Rashad and Wilson can link up at some point during the game to give Gators fans a preview of the dynamic connection headed to Hogtown.

On defense, four-star defensive linemen [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag] will join four-star safety [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag], four-star defensive back [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] and four-star cornerbacks [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag] on the field. With a bevy of defensive departures hitting the Gators this offseason, those players should have a decent shot at early playing time.

Then there’s the All-American Bowl on Jan. 7. Four-star Running back Treyaun Webb and four-star defensive lineman Kamran James will represent Florida during their final appearances at the high school level. Webb is a polished product despite splitting carries his senior year, so there’s not much to learn about him, but the staff and fans should get a clearer picture of where James stands as he competes against some of the top players in the country.

It’s almost time for the class of 2023 to transition to the next phase of their career, but it’s always nice to see these players get one last nod of recognition for their dominance at the prep level.

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Florida’s 2023 recruiting class is loaded with early enrolees

With early signing day in the books, we now have a better idea of which members of Florida’s recruiting class of 2023 will early enroll.

Florida head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] went over a lot in his post-early signing day press conference, but one of the major points discussed was just how many of the 20 signees will enroll early. According to Napier, the bulk of the class should arrive in the spring.

Of Florida’s 20 signees, Napier expects 18 to be in Gainesville for spring practices. Rather than listing each name that plans to early enroll, it’s easier to list those who won’t: wide receiver [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag] and defensive lineman [autotag]Gavin Hill[/autotag].

Adding 18 players to the roster a few months early could be huge for Billy Napier and Co. The Gators are replacing a ton of talent after many draft departures, dismissals and transfers. Getting the new Napier-recruited talent on campus early means more time to teach them the playbook, system, etc. More practice time means a better shot at finding early snaps, too.

“The other thing that’s going to help is you’re going to have 20 players that start in January,” said Napier during his early signing day presser, “and I think that translates to more reps and more teaching and more opportunity to get orientated to the university and just life in general in college. But I do think that there will be a number of this group (that compete for early playing time). They’re going to have to earn it.”

It can’t be overstated how important it was for Florida to bring in a group of recruits that were willing to enroll early, and Napier did an exceptional job making sure everything went according to plan.

In case you’re looking for a full list of early enrollees, here’s a list of the players that should be coming to Gainesville in the spring:

  • 5-star quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag]
  • 4-star running back [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag]
  • 4-star receiver [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag]
  • 4-star receiver [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag]
  • 4-star offensive lineman [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag]
  • 3-star offensive lineman [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag]
  • 3-star offensive tackle [autotag]Bryce Lovett[/autotag]
  • 4-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag]
  • 4-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag]
  • 4-star defensive lineman [autotag]TJ Searcy[/autotag]
  • 4-star defensive linemen [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]
  • 4-star linebacker [autotag]Jaden Robinson[/autotag]
  • 4-star cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag]
  • 4-star cornerback [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag]
  • 4-star safety [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag]
  • 4-star safety [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag]
  • 4-star safety [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag]
  • 4-star athlete [autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag]

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Gators crack On3 consensus’ top 10 teams in 2023 recruiting class rankings

Here’s where On3’s consensus has the Gators’ 2023 recruiting class ranked after early signing day.

College football’s early signing period has begun and the Florida Gators have been hard at work securing the top prep prospects in the nation for a spot in the Swamp next season. After former head coach [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s tenure, in which recruiting took a back seat to the action on the field, first-year skipper [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his crew have put in the extra effort to restore pride to the Orange and Blue.

Now that the first day of the early signing day is now in the rearview mirror, it is time to take a look at what some of the major publications think about the Gators’ latest brood. According to the On3 consensus, Florida cracked the top 10 in its recruiting rankings slipping into the final spot.

Here is what On3’s recruiting desk writer Drew Schott had to offer on Napier’s results thus far.

Top Commit: Gardendale (Alabama) defensive lineman [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag], No. 59 in On3 Consensus

Summary: Billy Napier and his staff sparked one of the top storylines of the 2023 cycle by flipping four-star quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] from Miami on Nov. 10. Rashada gives the Gators a top-100 signal-caller to pair with a talented offensive class. Florida has signatures from four-star wide receivers [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag] and [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag], as well as four-star running back [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag]. The Gators also have a strong defensive back group with four-star cornerback [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag], four-star cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] and four-star safety [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag]. Recruiting the Sunshine State is a priority for Napier, but he has also landed pledges from out-of-state, including Collins. However, four-star EDGE [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag] flipped to UCF on national signing day.

The Southeastern Conference has a total of four teams in the top 10, led by the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, followed by the LSU Tigers (No. 7) in addition to Florida. The Gators currently have 18 four-star and two three-star players committed in this recruiting cycle, making them the second-highest-ranking team without a five-star signee behind the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who ranks at No. 8.

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Here’s what Billy Napier said after early national signing day

Here’s what Billy Napier had to say about each player that signed with Florida during the early signing period.

Florida got 20 commits to sign during the 2023 early signing period, and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] had a lot to say about the class following all the action.

Napier spoke to the press Wednesday afternoon/evening after an hour-long delay that allowed quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag]’s name to be added to the list of signees. Florida’s head coach spoke in-depth about each player in the class and Gators Wire has compiled a list of everything that he said.

Coach Napier also tackled general questions about recruiting in-state, the role NIL plays, adding more players through the transfer portal and which member of the class of 2023 will early enroll.

The TL;DR is that Napier’s team feels very confident about each player that was added to the program on Wednesday, and there was a strong emphasis on what kind of home each player came from. Napier firmly believes that being raised by a quality family helps create quality student-athletes.

Here’s a full transcript of everything Napier said on Wednesday.

Tracking Florida’s 2023 early signing period activity

Florida is set to sign most of its 2023 recruiting class on the first day of the early signing period and Gators Wire is keeping track of it all.

The calendar might still read 2022, but the reality is that many of the top recruits in the class of 2023 are signing early and Dec. 21 marks the start of the early signing period. Florida is expected to bring in a strong class in Billy Napier’s first full cycle as head coach, but nothing is ever set in stone until the pen hits the paper.

The February signing date could bring in more names, but the core of the class is signing early and Gators Wire is keeping track of every move the team makes. There usually are some surprises, and Florida is in the hunt for several uncommitted targets set to make their decisions through Friday when the period comes to a close.

Each of Florida’s commitments below is listed in order of expected ceremony start time. As players sign their national letters of intent, the list will update to reflect Florida’s most recent additions.

Florida adds another defensive back to 2023 recruiting class

Milton High (Alpharetta, Georgia) safety Bryce Thornton is headed to the Swamp! Florida earned his commitment on Thursday afternoon.

The Florida Gators added another commitment to the class of 2023 on Thursday. Milton High (Alpharetta, Georgia) safety [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] picked the Gators over the Alabama Crimson Tide and is the 21st recruit to pledge his services to the Orange and Blue in the cycle.

Thornton’s announcement was broadcasted on local television and kept brief, but it was clear how big a moment this was for the program. The room was packed with family, friends, coaches and teammates that were ready to explode when Thornton finally made his decision known.

After putting on the UF hat, Thornton briefly explained his decision for the cameras.

“The whole coaching staff, they make it feel like home when I go to Florida, especially Billy Napier and Patrick Toney,” Thornton said. “They make me feel like a main priority, so I’m big on Florida…

“… I just want to thank God, my family, my coaches and my teammates for just helping with this journey and getting here. I want to thank y’all.”

The Gators are set to host Thornton on an official visit over the weekend, so we should hear more from him soon. He is the second safety in the class to commit along with West Orange High four-star [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag]. Florida took a pair of safeties in the class of 2022 too, so that could be it at the position for the cycle.

Thornton is a three-star recruit, according to most services. The exception is On3’s individual rankings, where he’s listed as a four-star recruit and No. 27 among safeties in the class, but both the 247Sports composite and the On3 consensus agree that his a three-star recruit ranked just inside the top 500 nationally.

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Florida hoping to earn commitments from a pair of DBs on Thursday

The Gators could add a pair of defensive backs to the class of 2023 by the end of the day.

There are two big recruiting announcements set for Thursday, Oct. 13, that the Florida Gators will have an eye on. Milton (Alpharetta, Georgia) safety [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] will get things started around 3:15 p.m. EDT and pick between Florida and Alabama, and four-star Wharton (Tampa, Florida) cornerback [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag] will wrap up the day with his decision around 7 p.m. EDT.

Johnson is the higher-rated recruit of the two at No. 101 overall on the On3 consensus. He’s one of defensive backs coach Corey Raymond’s top targets in the class of 2023 along with [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] and would be a big addition to the secondary. Florida’s competition for him is down to Miami, Ohio State and USC. Johnson backed off a commitment to the Buckeyes earlier this year, so Florida is considered the favorite heading into the announcement.

Thornton is a three-star caliber safety, according to three of the four major recruiting services. On3 is the only site to give him a four-star grade, but that could change as the second half of the high school season plays out. Thornton is deciding between Alabama and Florida, but the Crimson Tide are pretty loaded at safety with two five-stars under verbal commitment to the program in the cycle. It would be surprising to see Thornton go to Alabama. The assumption is that he’ll find playing time much easier at UF, and there’s certainly more opportunity in Gainesville than there is in Tuscaloosa.

If Florida can land both these defensive backs, the Gators will have a strong incoming group regardless of whether or not McClain commits. At safety, Thornton would join [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag], and Johnson would join a trio of four-star cornerbacks — [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag], [autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag] and [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag].

It’s worth noting the comments made by former Gator Dee Webb and current UF running back commit Treyaun Webb on Twitter ahead of these two announcements. The Webbs indicated that one of the two wouldn’t pick Florida, and Treyaun’s message was directed at Johnson. Stirring up drama and drawing attention to announcements is the name of the game for the actual recruits, so it would be unwise to read too far into things.

The decision will be coming up soon enough, and Gators Wire will provide updates on each recruit when they make their announcement.

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Florida commits in action during Week 2 of high school football

Take a look at how Florida’s top recruits fared this past week on the high school gridiron.

Week one of college football was plenty exciting, but there was still high school football action as well, and Florida’s commits put up some highlights.

Two players were on a bye, four-star receiver [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag] and four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]. The latter has had an interesting high school journey that took another turn over the weekend.

A good chunk of the class was in attendance for Florida’s upset win over the Utah Utes on Saturday as well. Seeing the Swamp over capacity and experiencing Billy Napier’s first game day as the head coach of the Gators sat well with them.

Here’s a look at what Florida’s recruiting class of 2023 did over the weekend.

Highlights from Florida commits over first full weekend high school action

High school football is in full swing and the Florida Gators’ commits are putting up highlight after highlight.

High school football is in full swing across the country and that means there are highlights to watch from Florida’s commitments in the class of 2023.

While everyone was in action, high school clips are tougher to find than college football clips or NFL action. A good chunk of the class has some sort of media available, though, so that’s what we’re looking at here today.

Four-star running back [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag] had the best week with 191 yards on 18 carries in a 48-40 win on Friday. Four-star receiver [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag] also shined with six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

[autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag] left his game early with an apparent knee injury in the first quarter and didn’t return, but Gator Country’s Nick Marcinko noted that he appeared to be okay watching from the sidelines.

Florida’s quarterback commit, [autotag]Marcus Stokes[/autotag], had a rough day, completing just five of 20 pass attempts for 76 yards and an interception. He did manage to score a rushing touchdown to make up for the turnover, though.

[autotag]Creed Whittemore[/autotag], who is listed as an athlete, was 10-14 for 126 yards and a touchdown Thursday. He added 71 yards on the ground and a pair of scores on a field that was ruined by the weather.

Three-star wide receiver [autotag]Tyree Patterson[/autotag] had a nice 100-yard game with a touchdown despite a team loss Friday.

Florida picks up a pair of crystal ball predictions from 247Sports

Although he’s yet to take his official visits, a pair of crystal balls have come in for safety Bryce Thornton in favor of Florida.

A pair of 247Sports recruiting insiders are convinced that three-star [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] will wind up a part of the 2023 Florida Gators recruiting class.

Both Blake Alderman and Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports logged crystal balls for Thornton on Monday, August 22, with a confidence score of six. Thornton narrowed things down to Florida, Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Miami in April and is trending toward the Gators, Tide and Hurricanes. He has official visits lined up to all three programs during the fall.

Miami gets him on September 23, which is the weekend UM hosts Middle Tennessee State. Alabama is getting him for the Texas A&M game on Oct. 7, and Florida should get the last meeting with him on October 21, which is a bye week for the Gators.

“Though Miami has a visit scheduled, they seem more active with some other names on their board at this time,” Alderman wrote. “Alabama currently has three safeties committed in their 2023 recruiting class, and while they like Thornton, it doesn’t seem likely at this point for them to add a fourth. Then that leaves the Florida Gators, who have wanted to add some new blood into their safety room through the recruiting trail. Sources have also indicated to Swamp247 that Thornton is an absolute take for this coaching staff as well.”

Thornton’s last trip to the Swamp came in June, and he left extremely high on the program. Co-defensive coordinator [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] and tight ends coach [autotag]William Peagler[/autotag], who is Florida’s area recruiter in Alpharetta, Georgia, have continued to press since then and hope to land a second safety to the class.

Four-star safety [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag], the No. 200 overall recruit on the 247Sports composite, is the only other safety committed to Florida at publishing time, and Thornton would provide some depth to the class. The composite ranks him No. 502 overall and No. 45 among safeties. On3 is a little higher on Thornton, ranking him No. 28 at his position and giving him four stars.

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