Tag: Kamran James

Florida lands 4-star legacy LB as first commit in class of 2024

The Gators are having quite the recruiting weekend, and they may have just got their centerpiece for the class of 2024.

Gator Nation didn’t have much time to celebrate the commitment of four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] on Sunday. Shortly after James made his announcement, 2024 four-star linebacker [autotag]Myles Graham[/autotag] became the first junior to pledge his college years to the Orange and Blue.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 212-pound defender is the son of former UF running back [autotag]Earnest Graham[/autotag] and has been among the Gators’ top targets in the class of 2024. Being a blue-chip recruit and legacy had him on [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s radar immediately, and linebacker has become a position of need during the 2023 cycle. The 247Sports composite ranks Graham as the second-best linebacker in the class and No. 52 overall.

Being a legacy certainly helped Graham reach his decision, but it wasn’t the only factor that helped him select the University of Florida.

“Out of all the places, this was the one that just fell into place,” Graham said to Swamp247. “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.”

As a sophomore, Graham worked as both a running back and linebacker at Naples Evangelical Christian. He totaled 130 tackles, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception on defense, and rushed for 595 yards (8.8 yards per carry) and five touchdowns on offense. He transferred to Atlanta Woodward Academy ahead of his junior and is looking to build on that over the next two years.

Graham is ranked higher than any of Florida’s current commits in the class of 2023. His commitment puts Florida on the board (247Sports’ team recruiting rankings) at No. 13, one spot ahead of Miami. As the first commit in the class, Graham has decided to put on his recruiting hat and says he wants to help “build the best class that (he) can build.”

[mm-video type=video id=01ga43tw6zatp1vcr13c playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01ga43tw6zatp1vcr13c/01ga43tw6zatp1vcr13c-9ccab54d2d2c89d51866f0d3aa4a95c3.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=89357,89350,89332,89315,89321]

[listicle id=89245]

[listicle id=88493]

[listicle id=88059]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

 

Gators land third blue-chip DL in past two days

Billy Napier and his recruiting staff are en fuego this weekend after signing this big-name in-state defensive lineman.

Florida football’s recruiting team has been on fire this weekend as a third blue-chip defensive lineman made his pledge to wear the Orange and Blue in the past two days.

[autotag]Kamran James[/autotag], a four-star prospect out of Olympia High in Orlando, Florida, gave his word to [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] on Sunday, On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported. The 6-foot-5-inch 255-pound lineman was down to the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide and South Florida Bulls, among others, but opted to trek up to the state’s flagship university where he hopes to take the next step with his talents.

Take a look below at his scouting report according to On3’s Director of Scouting Charles Power.

“Tall defensive lineman who is one of the more athletic and disruptive prospects at the position in the 2023 cycle. Measured at over 6-foot-6 and around 265 pounds prior to his senior season. Ran an outstanding 4.98 second electronically-timed 40-yard dash. Primarily lines up as a big defensive end for his high school. A twitchy mover with explosive finishing ability behind the line of scrimmage. Has outstanding play speed at his size. Strokes down ball carriers from the backside. Consistently wins due to his athleticism and speed in pursuit. Shows a good burst off the ball and is borderline unblockable when he gets a good jump.”

James is ranked No. 188 overall and No. 28 at his position in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 213 and 26, respectively. The Orlando native had five crystal ball projections for the Gators coming into the weekend as well as a 97.2% chance of signing him per On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

[mm-video type=video id=01g8v1f70be6kez83tmc playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g8v1f70be6kez83tmc/01g8v1f70be6kez83tmc-4ea15a2ee8b72cdb3d5b8e8bd6f23814.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=89350,89332,89315,89321,89324]

[listicle id=89245]

[listicle id=89024]

[listicle id=88493]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Florida picks up commitment No. 18 from 4-star Alabama DL

Billy Napier can’t be stopped. Florida added commitment No. 18 to the class of 2023 on Saturday and jumped up a spot in the team rankings.

The Florida Gators earned a verbal commitment from four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] on Saturday.

Collins picked Florida over Alabama and Georgia at a ceremony held at Gardendale High in Alabama. Despite some technical difficulties, Collins delivered the news with an emphatic Gator chomp, signaling that UF had indeed picked up commitment No. 18 in the class.

He joins fellow defensive line commits [autotag]TJ Searcy[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Hill[/autotag] and [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag] in the class with the potential to add four-star lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] on Sunday. The 247Sports composite ranks Collins No. 70 overall in the class of 2023 and No. 6 among defensive linemen. Adding him moves Florida ahead of USC into the No. 12 spot on the 247Sports’ team rankings and adding James could move UF into the top 10.

Collins is now Florida’s highest-ranked commitment, per 247Sports’ rankings, and has the Gators on the cusp of bringing in one of the top defensive line classes in the country.

247Sports’ Blake Alderman reported that Collins narrowed things down to Alabama and Florida in the days leading up to the decision and informed Billy Napier‘s staff of his decision beforehand. It’s a big win for Napier, who proved he can go into Alabama as a first-year Power Five coach and land a kid the Tide wanted.

“I just fell in love with the program and the coaches,” Collins said. “They got a real plan. All the players have bought in for such a short period of time and that stuck out. The history all the coaches got and the energy they bring every day is something you want to be around.”

The early panic from Florida fans is now well in the past and Napier’s first real recruiting class is shaping up to be quite a success. Adding a few more blue-chip recruits ([autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] being the most important name on the wishlist) to round out a top-10 class should bring his approval rating to an all-time high.

[mm-video type=video id=01ga43tw6zatp1vcr13c playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01ga43tw6zatp1vcr13c/01ga43tw6zatp1vcr13c-9ccab54d2d2c89d51866f0d3aa4a95c3.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=89282,89278,89272,89271,88185]

[listicle id=89245]

[listicle id=88493]

[listicle id=88059]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

One of Florida’s top 2023 recruiting target sets another Swamp visit date

The Gators will get this highly-sought DL on campus for the season-opener against Utah.

Florida football’s season-opening game against the Utah Utes is just around the corner, and while the Gators gridiron warriors return to action, there will be a plethora of prep prospects on the sidelines getting a gander at Gainesville’s finest. Among those who will be in attendance for Billy Napier’s debut as the head coach of the Orange and Blue on September 3 is four-star 2023 defensive lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] out of Olympia High in Orlando, Florida.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 265-pound in-state lineman will be present for the Gators’ first game of the fall season, his father told Gators Online. His September stop will be his sixth on campus this year already, which included an official visit back in June from which he came away impressed with what Billy Napier and his staff are building at Florida.

“It was a great time getting to really see some of the coaches’ true personalities and getting to hang with some of the players for the weekend,” James told Swamp247’s Blake Alderman. “Getting more time here and not being rushed. The time was unlimited. You could really do what the coaches wanted to do. Sit down and eat with the coaches and eat with the players, so that was something new. They had a lot of icebreakers, like playing games at dinner and stuff. Showing their true characters was something that was really cool.”

James is currently ranked No. 188 overall and No. 28 at his position in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 213 and 26, respectively. The Gators were given a trio of crystal ball predictions from 247Sports for the rising senior and On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Florida a near-clinch for the prep prospect with a 96.2% chance of signing him.

[mm-video type=video id=01g8v1f70be6kez83tmc playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g8v1f70be6kez83tmc/01g8v1f70be6kez83tmc-4ea15a2ee8b72cdb3d5b8e8bd6f23814.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=89090,89046,89043,89026,89017]

[listicle id=89024]

[listicle id=88854]

[listicle id=88493]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

4-star DL enjoyed intensity of Florida’s Friday Night Lights camp

Four-star defensive lineman Kamran James has visited the University of Florida before, but his experience at Friday Night Lights gave him a taste of something new.

Florida’s Friday Night Lights camp was the first chance for many of Florida’s top targets and commits to get coached by the Gators’ staff. Four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] was in town over the weekend for both FNL and the Saturday Grill in the ‘Ville cookout, and he came away with some new impressions of the program, according to Gators Online.

“It was great,” he said. “I actually did enjoy my time out here. I was watching my teammate, Jalon Thompson. He was performing, doing one-on-ones, and he was out here for the Friday Night Lights camp, so I had somebody to watch.

“It was good, high energy. They’ve shown brief clips; I’ve been to practices and stuff, so I’ve seen how intense things can get, so it was real cool to just see more action.”

A big plus for him was the amount of coaching personnel Florida had at the event. He pointed out that plenty of other schools end up having kids attend camps and leave feeling left out. That wasn’t possible with the amount of staff Napier brought in.

James has been recruited by the Gators for some time, but Billy Napier and Co. are beginning to turn up the heat. They’ve let James know he’s a priority target for them and want him at UF. His main contacts have been defensive graduate assistant Kali James Jr. and defensive line coach/co-defensive coordinator [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag].

However, James has no public plans to announce a decision any time soon. This is just the beginning for him, so Florida’s strong start could mean very little if UF doesn’t follow up strongly with him.

“I really just started getting recruited, so to not really rush the process, I feel like I really need to see what these colleges can do for me and not just jump,” he said. ”And this is the next step in life, so I really need to take this slow and really consider everything.”

James is ranked No. 213 overall on the On3 consensus and No. 26 among defensive linemen in the class of 2023, but the site’s individual rankings are far more bullish. According to On3, he’s the 23rd-best recruit in the class and No. 3 at his position.

[mm-video type=video id=01g95kkdf8zxef930p5y playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g95kkdf8zxef930p5y/01g95kkdf8zxef930p5y-fa9a6ddbd321112e31f9e69a04952473.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=88587,88582,88583,88573,88533]

[listicle id=88493]

[listicle id=88195]

[listicle id=88059]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Gators set high bar for this blue-chip DL’s recruitment after official visit

Florida’s recruiting team continues to impress some of the top prep recruits as June continues to roll along.

Another successful weekend of hosting high school prospects is in the books for Florida football and among the many who came away feeling good about what the Orange and Blue have to offer was four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] out of Olympia High in Orlando, who finished his trek upstate on an official visit to the Swamp.

The 6-foot-6.5-inch, 265-pound trench warrior brought his family along for the ride, and apparently, they enjoyed their time around the players and coaches during his stay.

“It was a great time getting to really see some of the coaches true personalities and getting to hang with some of the players for the weekend,” James told Swamp247’s Blake Alderman. “Getting more time here and not being rushed. The time was unlimited. You could really do what the coaches wanted to do. Sit down and eat with the coaches and eat with the players, so that was something new. They had a lot of icebreakers, like playing games at dinner and stuff. Showing their true characters was something that was really cool.”

His recruitment has been led by co-defensive coordinator [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag], who he credits with helping him keep a level head about his talents. “He said to use football to get where I want to get. Since I want to get to the league, I could use football and appreciate the free college that comes from football versus just playing football to be a football player.”

While Florida was the first official visit James has used so far, he does not have any other schools lined up yet for his other four – though a stop in Athens to visit the Georgia Bulldogs next weekend is not out of the question. However, it seems that [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. have established a high bar for the young prospect early in his recruitment.

“They really set the tone this official visit with any other official visits that I would be going to. I wouldn’t say I narrowed it down just because I just started getting heavily recruited a few months ago. I am really new to the scene, so I feel like it’s too soon to choose where I want to go now. Just see everything. They have been doing a great job recruiting me and they are a local school. It’s hard to compete with but I am still open with the recruiting process right now.”

James is currently ranked No. 253 overall and No. 37 nationally at his position according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 348 and 44, respectively. The Gators currently hold all three crystal ball projections from 247Sports and dominate the field in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, which gives Florida a 98% chance of landing him.

[mm-video type=video id=01g60rmve191ebbj68tp playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g60rmve191ebbj68tp/01g60rmve191ebbj68tp-5b99cab2c9748ee5b4c8f521f226fb7b.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86058,86039,86031,86022,86009]

[listicle id=86046]

[listicle id=85883]

[listicle id=85653]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Coveted in-state 4-star defensive lineman to return for official visit

The Gators get this highly-sought recruit on campus next month.

It is nearing official visit season in Gainesville and new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] along with his army of staffers are lining up Florida’s football recruits as the calendar prepares to flip. While there have been plenty of plans already made by other preps such as four-star defensive lineman Kelby Collins and wide receiver Aidan Mizell to open up the month of June, there remains plenty of room for others to join the party in the Swamp this summer.

Four-star defensive lineman Kamran James out of Olympia High in Orlando, Florida, is another who will make the trek to Gainesville setting his official visit date for June 17, according to GatorsOnline. The 6-foot-6.5-inch, 265-pound trench warrior is among the hottest prospects in the region, gaining offers from SEC rivals such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Kentucky.

James and his father Eric both have a high opinion of the program Napier is building, with the elder offering that coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] “is awesome; so is coach Napier.” The younger James told On3 that “[Spencer] is real cool and upfront about things. He is real straightforward when he talks to me and I respect that.”

The defensive lineman does not have a ranking on the 247Sports Composite but 247Sports lists him at No. 174 overall and No. 28. at his position. The On3 Consensus ranks James at Nos. 335 and 43, respectively, while its Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Gators a 99.2% chance of signing him.

[mm-video type=video id=01g3sq65b67sdvptkjw2 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g3sq65b67sdvptkjw2/01g3sq65b67sdvptkjw2-197c62ebc9982f7edd4c3c0204fbd77d.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=84405,84397,84381,84358,84337,84321,84318]

[listicle id=84232]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Florida staying close with this 4-star DL out of Orlando

The Gators were one of the first teams in the SEC to offer 4-star defensive lineman Kamran James, but now the race is heating up.

Florida’s coaching staff is back out evaluating talent on Wednesday and co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] will be stopping by Olympia High in Orlando to see four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] in action, according to 247Sports.

The Gators have kept a good line of contact with James recently. He made it to campus three times over the spring, and this will be Florida’s second trip to his high school in as many weeks. Last time out it was area recruiter and assistant offensive line coach [autotag]Darnell Stapleton[/autotag], but things are clearly moving forward if Spencer wants to see him work in person.

James’ recruitment has steadily picked up over the last two months. The Gators were just the second Southeastern Conference program to extend an offer to him back in March but Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Kentucky have all jumped into the race since then. In-state rivals Florida State and Miami have also joined the list.

He hasn’t named any leader yet, but the Gators do have two crystal balls logged in their favor by 247Sports. James also received a four-star designation from 247Sports and is ranked No. 174 overall in the class of 2023. He’s No. 28 among defensive linemen in the class.

[mm-video type=video id=01g26ap7n0jhrayh42wb playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g26ap7n0jhrayh42wb/01g26ap7n0jhrayh42wb-52bd6fabe56060dbf9fbc2912bc171c5.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=83388,83382,83336,83334,83332]

[listicle id=83276]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Florida football offers this defensive lineman out of Orlando

Florida offered fast-rising 3-star defensive lineman Kamran James out of Orlando on Feb. 28.

Three-star defensive lineman Kamran James has considered the Florida Gators the top football team in the state for most of his life. Then on Feb. 28, coach Billy Napier extended a scholarship offer to suit for the Orange and Blue with his parents and high school coach standing nearby.

James told Swamp247 that it felt like a dream. He was excited to receive the offer from Florida because he now has the opportunity to play college football close to home. The green light from coach Napier and his staff to play for the Gators meant a lot to him because it was important to him that he stayed somewhere close to Orlando, so his parents can watch him play.

“It’s a huge opportunity and another step up,” he said. “It just opens up more doors, and I’m really excited. I’m from Florida, and they’re just a top dog in Florida, so it’s an honor to be offered by the top dog, my local school.”

Before Feb. 28, most of James’ conversations have been with defensive line coach Sean Spencer. When he spoke to Napier, the former Lousiana-Lafayette coach said he liked his size, mobility and potential.

The Gators are the second SEC school to offer James along with Ole Miss and his 14th offer overall. So far, he has visited UCF, USF and Cincinnati and has plans to visit the Swamp on Friday. Finally, he said that he isn’t going to make a decision anytime soon and that he’s focused on improving in order to reach his full potential.

[lawrence-related id=78740,78738,78680,78668,78673]

[listicle id=77787]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.