Tag: Naeshaun Montgomery

Gators add speed to early signing day haul with this 4-star WR

This lighting-quick pass-catcher out of South Florida will be looking to get some playing time during his true freshman season in 2025.

Florida football added another talented wide receiver to its 2025 recruiting class on early signing day when four-star prospect [autotag]Naeshaun Montgomery[/autotag] officially made his decision to join the Gators at 10:45 a.m. ET Wednesday.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pound pass-catcher out of Miami (Florida) Central committed to the Orange and Blue at the end of August ahead of the 2024 regular season’s start. He chose Florida over finalists Alabama,  Florida State, LSU, Oregon and Penn State while streaming live on Instagram.

Even after a rough start for the football team this fall, Montgomery reaffirmed his commitment to the Gators in mid-September.

Montgomery’s outlook

“My goal in college is to play as a freshman,” he offered back in October. “I don’t expect anything handed to me, and know I have to work for it, but it’s still good to see how they give the freshmen opportunities. Coach (Billy) Gonzales always has told me that if a freshman is balling, he’s going to play him. That has always stuck with me.”

After the win over the UCF Knights, Montgomery began to see things fall into place for Florida.

“I liked seeing how they were throwing the ball around, and how they spread the ball around to different receivers,” he offered. “I understood they had some players out in the game — like [Eugene] Wilson was out for the game — but even with guys out, they worked around that. That opened my eyes.

“They were throwing it around to different receivers, and throwing it to the running backs. Tank (Hawkins) had a good game too. They were spreading it around, and as a receiver, it’s good to see that you know if you are open, they will find you.”

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 175 overall and No. 22 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 273 and 40, respectively.

Miami Central coach Jube Joseph had the following to say about Montgomery, via On3.

“He high points the ball. His ball skills are elite. Separation at the top of the route. That is elite as well. And there were a lot of questions about his foot speed and then he went to the LSU camp and he ran a 4.4. His foot speed is second to none. He can go vertical. He can go deep,” Joseph notes.

“Naeshaun is a yes sir, no sir kid. When you get high-caliber kids like that they usually kind of have a bravado, but Naeshaun is a real humble kid. I recall a conversation we had. He was like, ‘Coach, how do I get my ranking up?’ I said, ‘Run track.’ Some kids would be like, ‘Man, I don’t want to.’ But he went and ran track. And he actually became a state finalist and he had never done it before. That’s just the type of kid he is.”

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Florida WR commit provides positive update on status with UF

Florida might lose a commitment or two before the 2024 season ends, but wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery says he’s still high on UF.

Despite witnessing a loss for Florida on Saturday, Gators wide receiver commit [autotag]Naeshaun Montgomery[/autotag] left Gainesville with a positive outlook on his future with the program.

“I’m feeling really good,” Montgomery said to Blake Alderman of Swamp247 regarding his commitment. “They have a good offense, as a program they are doing good, and I believe in them.”

Montgomery paid close attention to [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] during the game. Lagway will be the primary quarterback starting next season, and there’s plenty of excitement about playing with him.

“In limited snaps that (Lagway) had today, he did good,” he said. “He threw a touchdown, and then he had a few good plays. Definitely the future is going to be great.”

Montgomery got to speak with wide receivers coach Billy Gonzalez before and after the game, offering some insight on how the coaching staff handles a tough loss.

“They didn’t really get the ball that much because Texas A&M had the ball the majority of the game,” he said. “(Gonzalez) is proud of the receives and the way they played.”

Montgomery plans to return to The Swamp for the UCF game. He says the noise surrounding Billy Napier isn’t enough to begin considering decommitment, but Power Four teams such as Auburn, LSU and Penn State remain in contact with him.

Recruiting Summary

Despite earning a three-star grade from both 247Sports and On3, Montgomery is a four-star recruit, according to both major composite rankings.

The 247Sports composite puts him at No. 179 overall and No. 18 among wide receivers in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 253 and 34, respectively.

Florida is the overwhelming favorite to sign Montgomery thanks to his verbal commitment to the program. The On3 recruiting prediction machine gives the Gators 94.9% odds of landing Montgomery during the signing period, followed by LSU (1.4%) and Penn State (1.0%).

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Four-star WR Naeshaun Montgomery commits to Florida

Florida’s future wide receivers room grew stronger on Sunday following the commitment of four-star wideout Naeshaun Montgomery.

Florida’s earned a commitment from four-star Miami Central wide receiver [autotag]Naeshaun Montgomery[/autotag] on Sunday.

Montgomery chose Florida over finalists Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oregon and Penn State while streaming live on Instagram.

Florida hosted Montgomery on several visits, including an official visit over the weekend of May 31. It was then that Montgomery started to consider Florida his future home, according to Chad Simmons of On3, ultimately leading to a verbal pledge almost three months later.

Montgomery has developed a strong relationship with the Gators over recent months thanks to a strong line of communication. Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzalez has been his main point of contact, and their conversations extend beyond football.

“I like how they develop receivers,” Montgomery said. “Coach Billy Gonzales, coach (Billy) Napier and the rest of the coaching staff know what to do with receivers. They do a great job of developing players and that was the main thing I cared about.”

Montgomery is the 14th recruit from the class of 2025 to commit to Florida. The Gators moved up two spots to No. 19 on On3’s team recruiting rankings. 247Sports is a bit less bullish on the class, but Florida still moved from No. 30 to No. 24 on their list.

His commitment ensures another trio of high-profile recruits at the receiver position will be headed to Gainesville. Montgomery joins fellow four-stars Vernell Brown III out of Orlando and Joshua Moore out of Broward County.

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is a three-star recruit by 247Sports and On3’s measure, but both ESPN and Rivals grant him four-star status. Both major composite rankings grade him out as a four-star recruit as well.

The 247Sports composite puts him at No. 179 overall and No. 18 among wide receivers in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry rankings have him at Nos. 249 and No. 33, respectively.

Prior to Montgomery’s commitment, 247Sports submitted a pair of crystal balls in favor of the Gators — one from Florida insider Blake Alderman on June 17 and the other from national recruiting analyst Tom Loy on July 23.

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Gators one of two teams standing out for 4-star WR target

Following another visit to Florida, four-star wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery says the Gators are pushing the hardest for him.

After narrowing things down to a top six, Miami Central wide receiver [autotag]Naeshaun Montgomery[/autotag] is noticing which teams are amping up the pressure.

Following a visit to the University of Florida for the Grill in the ‘Ville cookout, Montgomery said the Gators and LSU Tigers are standing out the most, according to Gators Online. Alabama, Florida State, Oregon and Penn State round Montgomery’s top six.

“They’re all pushing hard but I feel like Florida is really pushing it,” Montgomery said. “Like they turned it up a notch after I dropped the top six.”

Despite some rain, Montgomery said this weekend’s visit was a positive one. He was impressed with DJ Lagway’s arm while observing OTAs and noticed the increased attention he’s received since picking up an offer.

Montgomery said that it feels like the coaching staff and players are all trying to get him to be a Gator, and he even heard from a few commits in his own class.

With his commitment date closer than a month away, Montgomery being this high on Florida can only be a good thing for the Gators.

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 181 overall and No. 18 at his position according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 246 and 34, respectively.

He holds four-star status at ESPN and Rivals but not 247Sports or On3. However, both major composite rankings grant him that all-important fourth star.

Florida holds both crystal ball predictions from 247Sports following a flip from National Recruiting Analyst Tom Loy, who previously favored the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Gators have an overwhelming lead in On3’s recruiting prediction machine, which gives them an 93.4% chance, followed by the LSU Tigers (1.8%) and Penn State (1.3%).

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4-star LSU receiver target sets August commitment date

One of the top wide receivers in the 2025 recruiting class is nearing his commitment date.

One of the top wide receivers in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] is nearing his commitment date. LSU is one of the six schools that are still remaining in the race to land him.

LSU joins Florida, Penn State, Alabama, Florida State and Oregon in the race for four-star wide receiver [autotag]Nae’shaun Montgomery[/autotag] from West Palm Beach, Florida. He plays for Miami Central High School, and at this time the Florida Gators have received crystal ball projections to land him on 247Sports and the Gators are an 87% favorite to land him per On3.

LSU’s 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked as the No. 4 class in the country and is headlined by three five-star players. [autotag]Bryce Underwood[/autotag], a five-star quarterback. [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag], a five-star cornerback, and [autotag]Derek Meadows[/autotag], a five-star wide receiver.

Kelly has done a great job recruiting so far on the Bayou as he has had back-to-back top-10 classes and it looks like he will do it again this year.

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Florida learns commitment date for priority 2025 WR target

Florida already has a pair of top-end receivers committed from the class of 2025, but Billy Napier is trying to make it a trifecta.

Miami Central High wide receiver [autotag]Naeshaun Montgomery[/autotag] will announce his commitment on August 25, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Montgomery set a top-six of Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oregon and Penn State, but he has long been considered the UF’s to lose. Only the Gators and Nittany Lions have gotten him on in town for an official visit.

He recently announced plans to return to Gainesville at the end of the month for the Grille in the ‘Ville event to close out the summer recruiting period. All signs point to the Orange and Blue here, but Gators fans know by now that nothing is certain until the kid is on campus.

Montgomery would become the third elite wideout to commit to Florida in the 2025 recruiting cycle. [autotag]Vernell Brown III[/autotag], a top-50 overall recruit in the class, recently joined West Broward four-star [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] in the Gators’ class.

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 182 overall and No. 18 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 247 and 34, respectively.

He holds four-star status at ESPN and Rivals but not 247Sports or On3. However, both major composite rankings grant him four-star status.

Florida holds both crystal ball predictions from 247Sports following a flip from National Recruiting Analyst Tom Loy, who previously favored the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Gators have an overwhelming lead in On3’s recruiting prediction machine, which gives them an 87.3% chance, followed by the LSU Tigers (3.5%), Penn State (2.5%) and the Miami Hurricanes (1.7%).

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Blue-chip 2025 WR eyes Grill in the Ville visit date with Florida

The Gators may have added another top name to its RSVP list for the Grill in the Ville event next Saturday.

Florida football’s annual Grill in the Ville event is a little over a week away and the list of top prep prospects planning on attending the festivities continues to grow.

Among those who are eyeing a stop in the Swamp on Saturday, July 27, is four-star wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery out of Miami (Florida) Central in the 2025 recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pound in-state pass-catcher recently revealed that he will be taking a bit more time before making his verbal commitment but appears to still be bullish on the Orange and Blue.

“I really want to get back and chill with the coaches and the players again,” Montgomery told Swamp247. “Just get back and build more of a bond with those players and coaches, so that if I do end up going to Florida, the bonds are already there, and strong.”

Montgomery’s feelings about Florida

“Everything’s been really good with them,” Montgomery offered previously. “I talk to DJ Lagway here and there. That’s my biggest thing because that would be my quarterback if I did go to Florida.

“I definitely have to be in touch with him. Me and the coaches talk all the time, so I don’t really have to worry about that.”

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 183 overall and No. 19 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 244 and 36, respectively.

Florida and the Penn State Nittany Lions both hold a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports with the latter favored by 75% against the former’s 25% chance of signing him.

The Gators have an overwhelming lead in On3’s RPM, which gives them an 87.3% chance, followed by the Miami Hurricanes (3.5%), Penn State (2.5%) and the LSU Tigers (1.7%).

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Blue-chip 2025 WR favored for Florida delays commitment announcement

The Gators are going to have to exercise some patience with the 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pound pass-catcher out of Miami.

Florida football is strongly favored for four-star wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery out of Miami (Florida) Central in the 2025 recruiting cycle — although the Penn State Nittany Lions are also well in contention.

It seems, however, that the Gators are going to have to exercise some patience with the 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pound in-state pass-catcher as he recently revealed that he is taking more time to make his commitment decision.

“I’m going to wait a little bit longer. I’ve been talking to my family and I’m going to wait longer,” Montgomery told Gators Online. “To be honest, it will be whenever it feels right. I think it’s going to be after my first or second game at the latest though.”

Montgomery’s feelings about Florida

“Everything’s been really good with them,” Montgomery offered. “I talk to [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] here and there. That’s my biggest thing because that would be my quarterback if I did go to Florida.

“I definitely have to be in touch with him. Me and the coaches talk all the time, so I don’t really have to worry about that.”

Another trip to the Swamp likely

Montgomery is expected to attend Florida’s Grille in the Ville recruit event, which is expected to be on the final weekend of July in Gainesville. The gathering gives the many visitors — which is comprised of a plethora of blue-chip prospects — a chance to hobnob with the Gators’ staff as well as other potential teammates.

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 185 overall and No. 20 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 244 and 36, respectively.

Florida and Penn State both hold a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports with the latter favored by 75% against the former’s 25% chance of signing him. The Gators have an overwhelming lead in On3’s RPM, which gives them an 87.3% chance, followed by the Miami Hurricanes (3.5%), Penn State (2.57%) and LSU (1.7%).

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Gators earn 2nd prediction from On3 for blue-chip South Florida WR

Florida appears to have the upper hand over Penn State for this coveted 4-star wide receiver.

The fruits of the Florida football program’s labors this month have been booming now that the summer official visit season is in the rearview mirror.

[autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. appear to have done a solid job on the recruiting front with major scouting agencies giving the Gators a good chance at grabbing some of the top recruits in the 2025 cycle. Over the past week-plus, the recruiting projections have been rolling in, including a second from On3 for four-star wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery out of Miami (Florida) Central.

On Monday, Gators Online’s Corey Bender submitted another On3 recruiting prediction machine pick for the 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pound pass-catcher.

Justification for Florida’s RPM pick

“After speaking with a source on Monday, I feel even more confident in the Florida Gators’ strong standing,” Bender begins. “That is due to where Montgomery stands with Penn State.”

“It’s obviously a prospect the Nittany Lions like, but there could be as many as four receivers higher on their board. In a perfect world, they would like to see Montgomery be patient and not decide any time soon.”

As for Montgomery’s feelings toward the Orange and Blue, things are looking really good entering the summer.

“I’m a priority for them and I can definitely be a game-changer as a freshman and work with DJ Lagway,” Montgomery told On3’s Chad Simmons after his OV. “They’ve always been high, but it definitely put them up another notch.”

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 172 overall and No. 19 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 243 and 35, respectively.

Florida and Penn State both hold a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports with the latter favored by 75% against the former’s 25% chance of signing him. The Gators have an overwhelming lead in On3’s RPM, which gives them an 87.3% chance, followed by the Miami Hurricanes (3.5%), Penn State (2.57%) and LSU (1.7%).

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Gators earn crystal ball prediction for blue-chip South Florida WR

4-star wide receiver out of Miami gets a crystal ball pick for Florida, giving the Gators a major edge on the competition.

Billy Napier and his army of staffers have been hard at work this month hosting high school recruits from the 2025 cycle for their official visits. All of their efforts have not been for naught as the program earned a pair of crystal ball predictions from 247Sports on Tuesday.

Four-star wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery out of Miami (Florida) Central was one of Blake Alderman’s picks in favor of Florida. According to Alderman, the rising high school senior has not announced a timeline for his final decision but expects to make a choice before his final prep season begins.

As for Montgomery’s feelings toward the Orange and Blue, things are looking really good entering the summer.

“I’m a priority for them and I can definitely be a game-changer as a freshman and work with DJ Lagway,” Montgomery told On3’s Chad Simmons after his OV. “They’ve always been high, but it definitely put them up another notch.”

Remaining official visit schedule

Montgomery’s remaining official visit schedule wraps up with the Penn State Nittany Lions the weekend of June 21. He is coming off an OV with the LSU Tigers last weekend and Florida on the final weekend of May.

The Alabama Crimson Tide were still reported to be in the mix but nothing official has been set.

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 172 overall and No. 19 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 243 and 35, respectively.

The Nittany Lions also hold a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports but trails Florida in On3’s RPM, which gives the Gators a 76.4% chance of signing him. The Miami Hurricanes (6.6%), Penn State (4.7%) and LSU (3.2%) lag far behind for the Sunshine State product.

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