Tag: Micah Jones

Florida signs trio of offensive skill players to round out early signing day

Rounding out the offensive signees from Florida’s early signing day haul are a trio of skill players, running back Chad Gasper, receiver Muizz Tounkara and tight end Micah Jones.

Florida added signed a trio of three-star offensive skill position players on early signing day: Katy Jordan (Fulshear, Texas) running back [autotag]Chad Gasper[/autotag], Clear Springs (League City, Texas) wide receiver [autotag]Muizz Tounkara[/autotag] and Madison Central (Mississippi) tight end [autotag]Micah Jones[/autotag].

Gasper has been committed to Florida since May and stuck through the roughest parts of the cycle, shutting things down by August. He dealt with injuries during his senior year, finishing his four-year varsity career with 1,566 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also hauled in 40 catches for 459 receiving yards.

A member of that late string of flips for Florida in November, Tounkara chose the Gators over Arizona nine days out from the early signing period.

Tounkara played four years of varsity with Clear Spring but wasn’t a consistent piece of the offense until his junior year. He leaves high school with 73 catches for 853 yards and seven touchdowns, hauling in at least 30 catches each of his final two seasons. Five of Tounkara’s touchdowns came as a senior.

Both Tounkara and Gasper should be familiar with DJ Lagway as Texas natives.

Jones picked Florida over Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss over the summer and shut down his recruitment for the rest of the year. MSU and Ole Miss both stuck around for a bit being in-state options for Jones, but he was firmly locked in with the Gators, especially once Billy Napier’s return was confirmed.

All three players are expected on campus next month as early enrollees.

Recruiting Summary

RB Chad Gasper

Gasper is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked the highest by Rivals at No. 43 among running backs. The 247Sports composite, which considers all for major recruiting services, puts him at No. 761 overall and No. 58 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 735 and 58, respectively.

He runs with physicality and can juke a defender in the open field with a single cut, but Gasper has played in a passing offense for most of his career. That should have him decently prepared to pass block and catch balls out of the backfield, which could get him playing time despite being part of a three-player class at his position.

WR Muizz Tounkara

Tounkara is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked the highest by 247Sports at No. 71 among receivers in the class of 2025. The 247Sports composite puts him at No. 788 overall and No. 114 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 694 and 114, respectively.

“Tall, long, lean, and athletic with a longer stride and corresponding build-up speed that influences field-stretching ability and return game juice,” 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks wrote in a July report. “Experience in all three phases with snaps at corner facing Texas 6A competition in Houston metro. Capable of winning contested throws in traffic thanks to frame, high-pointing acumen, and body control in the air.

“Capable of go-get-it grabs against overmatched high school defenders. Looks tough on tape with willingness to work the middle of the field and affect the screen/perimeter run games as a blocker. Still honing route-running snap/technique, but possesses the twitch to foster consistent late-separating ability and top-of-the-route pop. Arrow points up as senior year looms. Projects to P4 level with physical tools and functional athleticism to become an impact player who possesses ample long-term upside.”

Tounkara has the size that Billy Napier has been looking for at receiver. He’s 6-foot-3.5-inches tall and 195 pounds, which could give him an edge over smaller receivers on the roster when his time comes.

TE Micah Jones

Jones is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked the highest by Rivals at No. 27 among tight ends in the class of 2025. The 247Sports composite puts him at No. 637 overall and No. 33 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 588 and 31, respectively.

He has good hands for a tight end and is a big-bodied target who can make an impact in short-to-medium-range situations. He could end up being a red-zone threat for the Gators. The run blocking is still developing but there are positive signs there.

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Florida football lands commitment from TE Micah Jones

Florida’s recruiting class of 2025 continues to grow. The latest commitment comes from three-star tight end Micah Jones out of Mississippi.

No stranger to the University of Florida after a handful of visits to The Swamp over the past year, Madison Central tight end [autotag]Micah Jones[/autotag] announced his commitment to the Gators on Friday.

An official visit at the beginning of the month put Florida out in front for Jones. Several other SEC programs — Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss — were in the race before the Gators took a commanding lead.

The Bulldogs and Razorbacks got him on campus after the Florida visit, but those trips were more for Jones to guarantee he had no second thoughts.

“I think the program’s going up,” Jones said to On3’s Chad Simmons. “They had a couple of guys that were Freshman All-Americans. As those guys get older, they are going to get better and recruits are going to see that. I feel like Florida is coming up and in the next three-to-four years, Florida can be a contender for an SEC championship.”

Head coach Billy Napier and tight ends coach Russ Callaway played the biggest roles in this commitment. Jones noted a visit from Callaway on the opening day of the contact period helped solidify Florida as his No. 1 program.

Scouting Report

Jones is 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, which is the right frame for a tight end in the SEC. He’ll need to transform some of that weight into muscle, but that’s what strength and conditioning programs are for.

He isn’t the receiver-esque Brock Bowers type, but Jones is a reliable pass-catching option for Florida. Some work on route running will do him much more good than trying to add speed. He can catch balls while in traffic and sneaky off the block. He’s a perfect fit for the two tight end sets Napier likes to run.

Micah Jones’ fit in Florida’s TE room

Jones is coming to Florida at a good time, barring the incoming transfer of a superstar at the position. Florida is set with [autotag]Arlis Boardingham[/autotag], [autotag]Hayden Hansen[/autotag] and [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag] next year, but all three will be draft-eligible in the offseason ahead of Jones’ freshman year.

Even if Boardingham and Hansen return, they are gone by Jones’ second season in Gainesville, opening the door for him to get some serious playing time. His main source of competition will be 2024 signee [autotag]Amir Jackson[/autotag], but Florida runs enough dual-tight end sets for them to both thrive in 2025-26.

Recruiting Summary

Jones is a consensus three-star talent ranked the highest by ESPN at No. 18 among Y-style tight ends in the class of 2025 — although, he was ranked No. 14 a month ago.

The On3 industry ranking considers all four major services and has also dropped him slightly from No. 486 to No. 501 nationally. Jones remains at No. 28 among players at his position on the industry ranking. The 247Sports composite has him at Nos. 556 and 28, respectively.

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LSU tight end target Micah Jones sets commitment date with all-SEC final 5

The three-star tight end has trimmed his list down to five teams and will make a decision on Friday.

Decision day is quickly approaching for three-star LSU tight end target [autotag]Micah Jones[/autotag].

Jones, a Madison, Mississippi, prospect, is set to announce his commitment on Friday, according to On3. Jones has trimmed his list of finalists down to five, all of which are SEC squads. Joining LSU in that group is Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Jones ranks just inside the top 500 nationally, according to On3’s industry rankings, and he’s the No. 28 tight end in the 2025 class. He received a crystal ball prediction to Ole Miss from 247Sports in February, but his most recent crystal ball was in favor of the Gators earlier this month.

Coach Billy Napier’s team is also a heavy favorite according to the On3 recruiting prediction machine at over 90%.

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Florida getting Mississippi TE on campus for official visit

The Gators have already hosted this Mississippi-based tight multiple times, but now it’s time for the official visit.

After three visits to the University of Florida, Madison Central (Mississippi) tight end [autotag]Micah Jones[/autotag] is more than familiar with the Gators’ campus, but an official visit will ensure that no stone is left unturned with him.

Jones will be in Gainesville for the weekend starting Friday, according to Swamp247.

“I’ve really seen everything I need to see there,” Jones said. “For me, I just want to get that feeling. The feeling, you know, like the reassurance of this being a place I want to go.”

Right now, Florida is the only official visit on Jones’ summer itinerary. However, a trio of SEC programs are looking to get him on campus on back-to-back-to-back weekends, which could complicate the recruiting race. Arkansas, Auburn and LSU are the other three schools he’s looking at.

Recruiting Summary

Jones is a consensus three-star talent who is ranked the highest by ESPN at No. 14 among tight ends in the class of 2025. The On3 industry ranking considers all four major services and puts him at No. 486 nationally and No. 28 among players at his position, while the 247Sports composite has him at Nos. 550 and 28, respectively.

Ole Miss leads the On3 recruiting prediction machine with 89.6% odds of landing a commitment from Jones, followed by Florida (6.4%), Mississippi State (1.9%) and Alabama (1.6%).

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Gators add Magnolia State tight end to upcoming official visit list

Florida is looking to make some inroads with this big 2025 tight end out of Mississippi with an official visit to the Swamp.

Billy Napier and Co.’s early summer schedule is quickly filling up as Florida football continues to slate some of the top prep prospects in the nation for official visits to the Swamp.

One of the latest names added to the list of visitors is three-star tight end [autotag]Micah Jones[/autotag] out of Madison (Mississippi) County in the 2025 cycle. The 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pound end has visited the Gators twice this calendar year already and is now set to return for the weekend of May 31 on an official visit, according to Swamp247.

It is the first and only OV the high school junior has set so far.

Previous visit to the Swamp

On his most recent visit to Gainesville in March, Jones shadowed current freshman running back Kahnen Daniels to give the recruit an immersive experience on campus.

“Obviously (Daniels) is a Mississippi guy that went to Florida,” Jones said last month following the visit. “We kind of got a connection. I got to really ask questions of him and see how his experience has been there. The weather, you know the place.”

There were also lessons on how to communicate with the coaching staff as well as some other tricks of the trade.

“The coaches, with how you talk to them now is what you’re going to get even becoming a player. He told me early enrolling would be a good thing for me. Trying to get acclimated with college and the schedule. He’s been a real good person to talk to these past couple of days.”

Other schools in contention

While the three-star prospect has not officially released a list of preferred schools, he has dropped hints along the way for teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels and Florida. The Colorado Buffaloes might also be in the mix as well.

Recruiting summary

Jones is ranked No. 460 overall and No. 27 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 583 and 32, respectively.

The Magnolia State product has a crystal ball prediction for Ole Miss according to 247Sports while On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine also heavily favors the Rebs with a 90.3% chance of signing him. Florida and the Mississippi State Bulldogs lag well behind at 6.4% and 1.9%, respectively.

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Magnolia State tight end recruit to visit Florida this weekend

Here’s one name to keep an eye on as the college football contact period re-opens.

Florida football will begin hosting prep prospects on campus this weekend after a lull that allowed Billy Napier and Co. a moment to catch their breath. Now, the Gators will be jumping head-first back into the fray in an effort to restore glory to the Orange and Blue.

Among the visitors scheduled for this Saturday is three-star tight end [autotag]Micah Jones[/autotag] out of Madison (Mississippi) Central in the 2025 recruiting class. The towering 6-foot-5-inch, 225-pound prospect has already made a pair of stops in Gainesville since being offered last fall and he will be adding a third on March 9.

Hopefully, as they say, the third time is the charm.

Tight ends coach Russ Calloway, who extended the offer to Jones, has spearheaded the Magnolia State product’s recruitment so far. It appears that Florida is doing its due diligence in keeping communications open with the high school junior.

“Things (have) been going good,” Jones told Swamp247 of his relationship with the Orange and Blue.

He also has spring visits with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Mississippi State Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels — among others — set. There appears to be a chance for an official visit this summer with the Gators, but the details have not been ironed out yet and are pending the results of his Saturday stop.

“UF is in communication on a weekly basis and are definitely a place I’m looking to be one of my official visits,” he noted.

Jones is ranked No. 504 overall and No. 27 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 573 and 31, respectively. Ole Miss overwhelmingly leads the pack in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with a 94.2% chance of signing him.

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Gators getting pair of 2025 tight end prospects on campus

Florida is hosting a ton of class of 2025 recruits over the next few weeks, including tight ends Micah Jones and Hollis Davidson next week.

Florida is ramping up its recruitment of the class of 2025 and scheduling visits with several targets for the upcoming weeks. A group of prospects are expected in town over each of the next three weekends, and a pair of three-star tight ends just got added to the list.

According to a report from Swamp247, Florida will get a pair of three-star tight ends on campus on Jan. 20 — Peachtree City’s Hollis Davidson and Madison Central’s Micah Jones.

Jones picked up an offer from Florida in August, and he traveled to Gainesville to see the Gators take down the Tennessee Volunteers. Davidson was offered in October, but this will be his first trip to The Swamp.

Davidson is ranked No. 363 on the 247Sports composite and Jones is at No. 462. On3 is a bit more bullish on Jones, however, granting him four-star status and ranking him No. 290 on the site’s standalone list.

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Gators offer class of 2025 TE from Mississippi

Micah Jones, a three-star tight end out of Mississippi, is the latest class of 2025 recruit to pick up an offer from the Florida Gators.

One of the latest class of 2025 recruits to pick up an offer from the Florida Gators is Central High (Madison, Mississippi) tight end [autotag]Micah Jones[/autotag], according to Swamp247.

“I have been talking to them since last Friday,” Jones said. “So things have kind of picked up with them since they offered me. I kind of anticipated they could offer me, but it was still a surprise when it happens.”

Tight ends coach Russ Callaway extended the offer and has been a main point of contact for Jones at Florida.

The On3 recruiting prediction machine currently favors two Mississippi programs in the race for Jones’ services. Ole Miss leads the way with 65.6% odds and Mississippi State is in second with 30.1% odds. Louisville and Florida round out the top four with 2.3% and 2.0%, respectively.

Jones is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, but the other three major recruiting services have yet to grade him. Once those come in, a consensus grade will be determined, but until then, 247Sports ranks him No. 29 among tight ends in the class of 2025 and the 16th-best recruit out of Mississippi.

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Former Notre Dame 4-star receiver enters the transfer portal

A highly thought of receiver out of Gurnee, Illinois, never lived up to his 4-star rank coming out of high school. Jones rarely saw the field and finish his Notre Dame career without registering any statistics.

You can now add Micah Jones to the list of Notre Dame players who have entered the transfer portal and will no longer be part of the Irish program.

Jones will be leaving South Bend with a degree in hand, but will be moving on with his football career.

Related: Notre Dame football 2021 transfer-portal tracker

A highly thought of receiver out of Gurnee, Illinois, never lived up to his 4-star rank coming out of high school. Jones rarely saw the field and finish his Notre Dame career without registering any statistics.

This morning Jones, took to Twitter and posted this message:

Could he follow Jafar Armstrong and go back to his home state and play for Illinois? Or will he drop down to the FCS level like John Olmstead for a chance to play?

Time will tell, but Jones exiting with a degree from Notre Dame will go a long way even if his playing career doesn’t. We wish Jones the best luck on his next stop in his football journey.