Tag: Kamari Wilson

2023 Recruiting Profile: Can Florida land 4-star safety Joenel Aguero?

One of the top safeties in the class of 2023, four-star Joenel Aguero, has UF in his top four and will announce his decision on July 23.

One of Florida’s top out-of-state targets is four-star safety [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] out of St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts. He’s set to make his college decision on July 23 and will choose among the Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Georgia is considered the heavy favorite with a 93.6% chance on the recruiting prediction machine, but Florida has done its best to compete with the Bulldogs for the former IMG Academy defensive back. Aguero has shown interest in reuniting with former teammate [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] in the Gators’ secondary and has developed decent relationships with safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag].

[autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. hosted him on an official visit in June, but it was sandwiched between trips to Georgia and Ohio State, and Miami ended up getting the final visit. Mario Cristobal has been on a tear lately, so this would be a nice win over both UM and UGA for Napier if he can pull it off.

Here’s all you need to know about the blue-chip defensive back.

2023 Recruiting Profile: 4-star Will Norman would shore up Florida’s DL

The Gators are well-positioned to land a commitment from four-star IMG Academy defensive lineman Will Norman, who hopes to decide before his senior season starts.

It’s no secret that [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is looking to bring IMG Academy’s best to Gainesville, and he’s managed to do it a few times already in his short time as Florida’s head coach. Five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] headlined the transition class and will be a true freshman this season, and four-star [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] is committed to the Gators’ recruiting class of 2023.

Now, a third Ascender is close to joining the mix, four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]. Experts from 247Sports and On3 have predicted that he’ll land at Florida, and he outright said that UF was in his top two following a June official visit (the only one he took over the summer break).

Penn State has a crystal ball logged in their favor by a Florida State insider, but that came months before the others and it seems like Norman is Florida’s to lose at this point. Although the other team in his top two is unknown, it’s likely one of his previous top five and the Nittany Lions fit the bill.

Landing Norman would be huge for Florida considering Gervon Dexter could be headed to the NFL draft after this season. Adding depth to the trenches has been a priority for Bill Napier since arriving at Florida, and a commitment would shore things up for the future on the defensive line.

Norman’s plan is to make a decision before his senior season begins, and it appears he’s still on track with that timeline.

Here’s where Florida football stands in ESPN’s top 25 Future Power Rankings

You’re probably not going to like where ESPN ranks the Gators. We certainly didn’t.

Florida’s football program reached stratospheric heights during the first decade of the 21st century under head coach [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag], but since his departure, the team has taken a massive U-turn back into a level of mediocrity not seen since before [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag]’s tenure. Exacerbating the issue is the coaching carousel that the Orange and Blue experienced in recent years, having burned through three new skippers before bringing on [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] to right the ship.

There is little question that the new administration has a steep hill to climb to get the Gators back to their previous level of success. Even though [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s tenure saw three straight New Year’s Six bowl game appearances, it still came to a tumultuous close as the program imploded upon itself due to neglect, leaving things in shambles for the next coach to clean up.

With that in mind, ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg recently published his college football’s top 25 future power rankings and where he placed Florida may rustle a few jimmies among the Gator Nation. Take a look at his entry below.

22. Florida Gators
2022 Future QB ranking: Not ranked
2022 Future offense ranking: Not ranked
2022 Future defense ranking: 21
2021 Future team ranking: 8

Scouting the Gators: Florida is the type of program that could surge in these rankings as soon as 2023. There’s always talent in Gainesville, and coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] looks like a smart hire for a program that hasn’t made the CFP and last won the SEC in 2008, the Gators’ most recent national championship. But an unexpected transition — no one pegged [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] to be fired at this time last year — could lead to a down year or two, especially in the improving SEC East Division. The biggest immediate question is the offense and whether dual-threat quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] will provide a consistent spark. Richardson must show greater accuracy and fewer mistakes in the pass game, but he has sophomore eligibility and room to grow under Napier.

Florida also received some QB insurance in Ohio State transfer [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag]. Running back could become a multiyear strength. [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] followed Napier from Louisiana to Florida after a 12-touchdown season as a freshman in 2021. Johnson leads a sophomore group that includes [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright [/autotag]and [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag]. Florida also added ESPN 300 recruit [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag]. Junior [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] leads a young wide receiver group with opportunities to shine. The Gators need sophomores [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] to stay healthy, or someone else to emerge. They return two veteran tight ends in [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag] and [autotag]Dante Zanders[/autotag] but need options for 2023 and 2024. Offensive line has some concerns, especially depth at tackle, but returns junior center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] and some other interior pieces. Florida has a 2023 commitment from [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag], ESPN’s top-rated center in the class.

The defense has fewer immediate questions. Florida returns proven players such as safety [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag], end [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. and tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag]. Both Cox and Dexter could play multiple seasons and lead a line that needs others to emerge this fall, including sophomore end [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag]. Florida could become a back-to-front defense in Napier’s first few seasons, as the secondary returns Dean and sophomores [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] at safety, and talented young cornerbacks such as [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]., an ESPN top-50 recruit who appeared in every game as a true freshman. [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], ESPN’s top-rated safety and No. 18 overall recruit, headlined Napier’s first class. Seniors [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] and [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] lead a linebacker group that will look to build long-term depth this season. [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag] has sophomore eligibility, and Florida added ESPN 300 linebacker [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] in the 2022 recruiting class.

Despite just making the top 25 list by a few spots, the future is beginning to look bright again in Gainesville. Napier and Co. have done a great job on the recruiting front so far, and once the new regime has its plans for the future fully implemented, the Swamp should once again be a favorable destination for the best in the business.

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Gators land in top 10 for this 2024 4-star defensive back

Tavoy Feagin is ranked just outside of the top 50 in the class of 2024, and he has Florida in his top 10 early on.

With over a year left in his recruitment, one of the top-ranked defensive backs in the class of 2024 has narrowed things down to 10 schools and Florida made the cut.

Four-star cornerback [autotag]Tavoy Feagin[/autotag] named Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, Ohio State and Oklahoma as his current top schools but also noted that his recruitment was still open to other programs. Feagin was by Florida for an unofficial in late March and noticed a big change in the way the program is run under Billy Napier.

With [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] on staff, it should at least be difficult for the Carrollwood Day (Tampa) cornerback to say no to his home state’s top program. That said, Feagin is ranked as a safety by 247Sports and could play either position in college. Florida’s recently prioritized the secondary, adding [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag] in the class of 2022 and possibly [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] and [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] in this cycle.

Beating out the likes of the Buckeye, Bulldogs and Crimson Tide isn’t easy, but Florida at least has the advantage of proximity. However, Florida State and Miami are both still in the race, so he hasn’t picked a favorite among the three just yet.

The 247Sports composite ranks Feagin fourth among projected safeties in the class of 2024 and he stands at No. 51 nationally. It’s always good to see Florida land on one of these lists, but there’s a lot of work to be done to get Feagin on board.

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5-star offensive tackle blown away by ‘crazy’ Florida visit

It would be HUGE if the Gators can land this offensive lineman.

As summer continues to creep in, Florida football’s recruiting efforts have matched the rising temperatures as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. continue to impress some of the best prospects in the nation who have made their way to the Swamp so far. Among those was five-star offensive tackle [autotag]Francis Mauigoa[/autotag] out of Bradenton (Florida) IMG Academy, who arrived in town on Tuesday and stayed until Thursday on his official visit to Gainesville.

The native of ‘Ili’ili, American Samoa, had seen the sights around the Swamp a few times prior, but his official stop saw the red carpet rolled out for the 6-foot-5-inch, 330-pound lineman. Mauigoa’s connection with a couple of current Gators from his time at IMG, [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag], added to his positive experience.

“This OV was crazy,” he told Swamp247. “It was one of my favorite OV’s now. Keep on coming back here, you start to feel like more of a relationship. Kind of starting to feel that bond and now I am comfortable with them. I think that is one of the biggest things in recruiting. I just felt the hospitality, I felt the love, and the family bond through the coaches from the coaches to the players.”

The blue-chip recruit also got a chance to hobnob with the entire football staff including offensive coordinator [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag], all of whom made a strong impression on the young athlete.

“We had a meeting with them and they’re some cool dudes,” Mauigoa told Gators Online. “They showed me a lot of things, taught me a lot of things. I was in the meeting room with them and going through film. They are constantly fixing their mistakes and going down the line making sure everything is taken care of.”

The coveted recruit currently has the Alabama Crimson Tide, USC Trojans, Tennessee Volunteers, Miami Hurricanes and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, along with the Gators, as his preferred collegiate destinations. Florida was the second stop on his summer tour after passing through Tuscaloosa last weekend, with the Vols, Trojans and ‘Canes coming up next. The Aloha State got an unofficial visit on June 1.

Mauigoa is currently ranked No. 9 overall and No. 1 nationally at his position according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus him at Nos. 10 and 2, respectively. Tennessee currently holds the edge on his recruitment with a 59.7% chance of signing him per On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, with USC in second at 33.6%, UM third at 2.6% and UF trailing in fourth at 1.2%.

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2023 Recruiting Profile: Will 5-star OL Francis Mauigoa stay in Florida?

Five-star offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa keeps coming back to Florida and Billy Napier’s staff keeps impressing him. Could the blue-chip recruit wind up a Gator?

Florida’s new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] broke the IMG Academy curse almost immediately after taking over at UF by landing five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] out of the Bradenton powerhouse. He’s added four-star interior offensive lineman [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag], but one of the biggest targets Florida has out of IMG is five-star [autotag]Francis Mauigoa[/autotag].

At worse, he’s a top-25 prospect and his ceiling is being the best offensive lineman to come out of the class. It’ll take a lot of work to get there, but Mauigoa plans on making it to the NFL so he can return home to American Samoa and share his success.

Mauigoa has kept a steady line of communication with the Gators over the last year or so. Offensive line coaches [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag] and [autotag]Darnell Stapleton[/autotag] have taken the lead and the rest of the staff has gotten to know him as well after several visits to the Swamp.

His most recent trip on June 14, which was one of his five official visits, was the best one yet. He’s developing relationships with players and coaches alike and Florida seems well-positioned to stay near the top of his recruitment down the stretch.

Florida near top for this 4-star IMG Academy DL following official visit

Billy Napier is working toward adding another IMG Academy recruit to the class of 2023, and an official visit over the weekend helped out a ton.

One of the many visitors in Gainesville over the weekend was four-star IMG Academy defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]. He got an extended look at the facilities and campus on his official visit and came away admitting that Florida was in his top two at this point, according to Sports Illustrated’s All Gators.

“Just seeing everybody and spending a weekend with them was definitely eye-opening and it let you know something could be great from this 2023 [recruiting] class,” Norman said.

With hopes of committing some time before his senior season begins, Norman is getting close to decision time, but there’s still plenty of recruiting to be done down the home stretch. LSU, Michigan, Penn State and Texas A&M help make up his top five, but he says he’d like to see Tennessee and USC too.

It remains to be seen just how many schools he’ll get to over the summer, but a June 24 visit with the Nittany Lions is scheduled next.

Norman got a chance to talk with coaches during the visit and learned a bit more about where he’ll be playing if he does end up with the Orange and Blue. Not being locked into one spot on the line is big for him, and the Gators intend to utilize his versatility by moving him around. That’s a plus for Norman, but will it be enough to get pen to paper?

A few more visits could be in store to ensure that it does. July’s Friday Night Lights event is a possibility and he’s already planning a return for a game in the fall.

Napier has already landed two IMG Academy recruits since taking over in December. Five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] is the star of his transition class and four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] is on board for the class of 2023.

247Sports ranks Norman as the No. 115 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and at No. 17 among defensive linemen.

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Florida considered a frontrunner for No. 1 recruit in class of 2024

The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024 is looking at the Gators early on.

We’re still a few years away from seeing the class of 2024 make its way to college, but that doesn’t mean recruiters are waiting to get in good with the nation’s top talent. The No. 1 player on both the 247Sports composite and On3 consensus is IMG Academy cornerback [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag], and Florida is surging early on in his recruitment, according to Gators Online.

It’s no secret that Billy Napier has prioritized recruits out of IMG, snagging five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] for his transition class and adding four-star [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] to the class of 2023. Both are helping the coaching staff keep the Orange and Blue at the front of Ricks’ mind, which is good considering he’s the crown jewel of 2024.

Florida, Alabama, LSU and Miami are the four schools standing out early, but there’s plenty of time for those to change. His family is moving to Florida currently, so Florida and Miami could surge in the coming months on proximity alone. A recent trip to Coral Gables has created a lot of buzz and Ricks isn’t shy about his reverence of Gators cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag].

“Coach Corey Raymond, I can’t turn him down,” Ricks said to Chad Simmons of On3. “He’s the GOAT at the end of the day. It’s all about getting developed, and there that wouldn’t be a question.”

At 6-foot-1-inch and 175 pounds, Ricks is a good size for a cornerback and is battle-tested against the nation’s best.

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Top-5 safety plans Florida official visit with decision date looming

Florida was the only team in Joenel Aguero’s top four that didn’t have an official visit planned with him when the list dropped on Monday. That’s now been corrected.

On Monday, four-star [autotag]Joenel Aguero[/autotag] named Florida to his top four ahead of a planned July 23 commitment date. The Gators were the only program left in the race with a scheduled official visit, but that’s now changed, according to Gators Online.

The St. John’s Prep (Danvers, Massachusetts) recruit had a planned unofficial visit for June 18 on his itinerary, but it makes more sense for him to turn that visit into an official one. Although he’s booked for the next three weekends, Aguero has found a three-day gap in his schedule to fit the Gators in. He’ll be in town even earlier expected from June 14-16, similar to the Tuesday to Thursday visit [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] is wrapping up with the Gators right now.

“I am visiting Georgia this weekend,” Aguero told On3. “Then I am visiting Florida June 14-16. Ohio State is next June 17-19 and then I will go to Miami June 24-26.”

That gives the former IMG Academy prospect a little under a month to mull things over and figure out where the best landing spot is for him. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine favors Georgia considerably at 92.9 percent. Ohio State is second with 2.3 percent and Florida is third at 2.0 percent. A good visit could change those numbers, and Aguero has expressed a desire to reunite with [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag]. He’s also high on the coaching staff, defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] in particular.

The On3 consensus ranks Aguero No. 40 overall in the class of 2023 and as the No. 5 safety in the country. The 247Sports composite has him a bit higher at No. 34 overall and No. 2 at his position.

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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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