Tag: Kenton Kirkland

Florida set to receiver an official visit from this 4-star DB legacy recruit

Florida is in a good position to receive an official visit from four-star safety Kenton Kirkland along with Georgia and Florida State.

Four-star safety Kenton Kirland told 247Sports that Florida, Georgia and Florida State are in the best position to receive an official visit from him currently. The Gators last hosted Kirkland for their Orange and Blue game on April 14.

Kirkland hails from nearby Jacksonville, Florida. The 247Sports composite rankings have him as the 354th best player nationally and the 31st best player at his position. He’s also considered a Gators legacy recruit because his uncle is Ephesians Bartley, who was an All-SEC linebacker for Florida in 1991.

On his last visit to the Swamp, he said that he believes head coach Billy Napier is the right coach to turn the program around. Kirkland added that he is impressed with defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag]’s record of developing players.

He isn’t sure when he will take his official visits but said he will definitely take one to the Gators. Besides Florida, Florida State and Georgia, Kirkland said that Kentucky, UCF, Alabama and Clemson are other schools communicating with him.

[mm-video type=video id=01g23hc2k3c5fn3c817m playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g23hc2k3c5fn3c817m/01g23hc2k3c5fn3c817m-fd5259eb161521e41f23c561a5d99fcf.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=83332,83318,83314,83306,83305]

[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 staff hits the road to evaluate recruiting targets

UF’s coaching staff is back on the road evaluating prospects as spring football kicks off in Florida.

Spring football has begun in the state of Florida and that means various Gators coaches are back on the road to see some of the top recruits on UF’s board in action.

[autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has done well to get several of the state’s top prospects on campus over the spring, and now he gets another chance to have his people evaluate those players. Napier has stressed the importance of his evaluation process from day one as the Gators’ head coach. Diagnosing the problem and finding the right tools to fix it is what he does best and it’s through a meticulous process.

Spring practices gave Napier and Co. a chance to see exactly what they had to work with, and it’s no secret that Florida lacks depth in various spots on the depth chart. Some of that will be addressed in the transfer portal but the long-term issues will need strong and focused recruiting to repair.

Here’s where some of the Florida football coaches are this Monday, according to 247Sports.

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.

[mm-video type=video id=01g0dhaw3ehvs2ycfr9w playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g0dhaw3ehvs2ycfr9w/01g0dhaw3ehvs2ycfr9w-5d6b990b2197f47ce6bbee07d49dd36f.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=81680,81675,81637,81268,81262]

[listicle id=81564]

[listicle id=81628]

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.