Tag: Jordan Gile

Gators add former UConn quarterback as preferred walk-on

Florida found another quarterback to add to the roster before spring camp begins. Welcome to the Swamp, Micah Leon!

Florida is adding former Connecticut and NC State quarterback [autotag]Micah Leon[/autotag] to the roster as a preferred walk-on, according to All Gators’ Zach Goodall.

Leon most recently played for the Connecticut Huskies from 2019-2021 before entering the transfer portal for a second time. He started his college career at North Carolina State as a walk-on but transferred from there after redshirting in 2017 and riding the bench in 2018.

He never ended up getting much playing time at UConn despite coming in on scholarship. Leon made just one appearance for the Huskies in 2021, but he did complete 10 of his 13 pass attempts for 62 yards.

In high school, Leon spent time with American Heritage Del Ray Stallions during an FHSAA 3A state championship run. He transferred to Boca Raton High to serve as a captain for the Bobcats his senior year and finished the season with 1,085 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air while adding 555 yards and another 11 touchdowns on the ground.

This will be his final season of eligibility, which could give him a leg up on UF’s other walk-on quarterbacks, freshmen [autotag]Parker Leise[/autotag] (IMG Academy) and [autotag]Jordan Gile[/autotag] (Chattanooga Christian School). Leise is already on campus, and Gile is a commit.

Florida will have Wisconsin transfer [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag], former Ohio State quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] and redshirt freshman [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag] to handle the bulk of the snaps under center this year.

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Florida signs 4-star OT commit on national signing day

Florida officially added one more piece to the 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday with the signing of offensive tackle Caden Jones.

Florida signed all 20 of its commits at the time during the early signing period, but the class has undergone a few changes since then.

As many Gators fans know, blue-chip quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] never made it to campus after signing his letter of intent and eventually asked for his release from the program. He signed with Arizona State on national signing day, but Florida brought in a four-star offensive lineman to keep the class at 20 signees.

Four-star De La Salle (New Orleans, Louisiana) offensive tackle [autotag]Caden Jones[/autotag] was the lone unsigned commit heading into 2023. He committed in January after taking an official visit to the Swamp a month prior. Jones’ letter of intent came in just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday as he officially joined Billy Napier’s program.

“We had Caden at camp, so we had an opportunity to work with him at 6-foot-7-and-a-half,” Napier said regarding Jones at his national signing day press conference. “You know, he’s got a 36 (-inch) arm. I mean, it’s probably the longest arm we’ve measured since we’ve been doing it, and (he’s) really a young man too. A guy that I think is going to continue to grow.”

Jones is a four-star recruit, according to the On3 consensus and 247Sports composite. He’s ranked No. 364 overall and No. 24 among offensive tackles on the composite and No. 385 nationally and No. 23 at his position on the consensus.

Florida also added five walk-ons on national signing day: quarterbacks [autotag]Jordan Gile[/autotag] and [autotag]Parker Leise[/autotag], running back and son of Sen. Marco Rubio, [autotag]Anthony Rubio[/autotag], and edge rusher [autotag]Layne Swafford[/autotag].

As the 2023 cycle comes to a close, Florida sits at No. 11 overall on the On3 consensus team rankings and No. 13 on the 247Sports composite team rankings.

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Marshall EDGE commit flips to UF after picking up PWO offer

Florida added another preferred walk-on today, an in-state edge rusher that recently backed off a commitment to Marshall.

The Gators added another edge rusher to the 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday as Ponte Vedra’s [autotag]Layne Swafford[/autotag] committed to the program as a preferred walk-on.

He’s one of a few PWO additions [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has made over the past few weeks, including running back and son of Senator Marco Rubio, [autotag]Anthony Rubio[/autotag], and quarterbacks [autotag]Jordan Gile[/autotag] and [autotag]Parker Leise[/autotag].

Swafford, a three-star recruit, was previously committed to Marshall University, but he backed off that pledge after visiting Florida. Playing in the SEC was too good to pass up, and Swafford quickly completed the flip after just two days. He projects as a stand-up edge for the Gators, according to 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.

During his senior year, Swafford recorded 53 total tackles (26 solo) and four sacks as the Sharks finished the season 5-5, according to MaxPreps. His best game of the year came against Florida State University High School on Sept. 2 when he made five solo tackles and nine overall, including a sack. His only multi-sack game of the year game against Bishop Kenny in October.

He checks in at 6-foot-3-inches tall and 245 pounds, so he’s got the right frame to compete in the SEC. Developing Swafford over the first few years of his collegiate career will be key to his success.

Swafford is ranked No. 143 among edge rushers in the class on the 247Sports composite and is No. 141 nationally on the On3 consensus.

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Gators get commitment from this 2023 quarterback recruit

The Gators added some depth in their quarterback room with this commitment.

The quarterback room has been an absolute nightmare for Florida football after the departure of [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] to the NFL draft as well as seemingly endless issues with other players. With [autotag]Jalen Kitna[/autotag] kicked off the team for child pornography charges, the revocation of 2023 commit [autotag]Marcus Stokes[/autotag]’ scholarship offer after a video of him using a racial slur surfaced, and the [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] saga to boot, it is a tough time to be a signal-caller for the Orange and Blue.

One of [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s solutions to patch up his fledgling corps was the addition of Wisconsin transfer [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag], who grades a strong “meh” among both the media and fanbase. Not content with just that addition, the program added some more depth under center with the commitment of two-star quarterback [autotag]Jordan Gile[/autotag] out of Chattanooga (Tennessee) Christian School in the 2023 class, who made his announcement on Twitter Tuesday night.

There is not much available as far as scouting evaluations on the incoming freshman but you can check out his Hudl senior highlight video below.

Gile is ranked No. 162 at his position nationally and No. 86 overall in his state according to 247Sports — good enough for a two-star rating. Neither On3 nor Rivals have any data on him.

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