Tag: profile

2022 Gators Football Recruiting Profile: Sam McCall

Florida Gators recruiting class of 2022 features five-star athlete and cornerback Sam McCall from Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, FL.

Name: Sam McCall

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 189 lbs

Hometown: Lakeland, Florida

High School: Lake Gibson

Twitter: @alabama313

247Sports Composite: Five-star

Rivals.com: Four-star

Overview:

Listed as the No. 4 athlete in the 2022 class by the 247Sports Composite, which also ranks McCall as the fifth-best player in the talent-rich state, he committed to the Gators on October 28, choosing the program over the Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida State Seminoles and Oklahoma Sooners.

Cornerbacks coach Torrian Gray was McCall’s primary recruiter, with an assist from passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales.

“Athlete” can be a wide-ranging term when it comes to recruiting, but the expectation, according to many people around the program, is McCall will play cornerback in Gainesville, with the possibility existing of him contributing as a wide receiver, too.

Earning a grade of .9844 from the Composite, he is the 41st-highest all-time commit for Florida.

Presently, McCall is one of just two members in the Gators’ 2022 class, joining Miami four-star wide receiver Syveion Ellis.

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Noah Keeter

This is a player profile card for outside linebacker transfer from UCLA Noah Keeter, who returns home to Gainesville to play for UF in 2020.

Name: Noah Keeter

Number: 48

Position: Outside Linebacker

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 224 lbs

Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.

High School: Buchholz High School

Twitter: @NoahKeeter_25

2019 statistics:

Did not play for the UCLA Bruins

Overview:

A standout for F.W. Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Keeter was rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 94 weak-side defensive end and a top-240 player in the state in the 2019 class.

Racking up 153 tackles (26 for loss), 22.5 sacks and an interception during his final two seasons with the Bobcats, he committed to Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins, located roughly 2,400 miles northwest, on January 12, 2019, the day after taking his official visit, and signed his National Letter of Intent (LOI) less than one month later.

He did not appear in any games during his lone year in Los Angeles and entered the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal on December 2.

On January 3, 2020, he announced he would be coming home and joining Dan Mullen’s program as a preferred walk-on. Coincidentally, this was the same day running back Lorenzo Lingard, a five-star in the 2018 cycle and former Miami Hurricane, shared he, too, would be joining the Gators.

Profiling as more of an outside linebacker than defensive end at the collegiate level, Keeter did not appear on Florida’s first two-deep defensive depth chart, released on September 21, but has four years of eligibility remaining to carve out a role for himself.

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Zack Sessa

This is a player profile for kicker Zack Sessa, a freshman transfer from Georgia Southern who looks to join the Gators in 2020 as a walk-on.

Name: Zack Sessa

Number: 36

Position: Kicker

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 170 lbs

Hometown: Venice, Fla.

High School: Venice High School

Twitter: @ZackSessa

2019 statistics:

Signed with Georgia Southern but never enrolled.

Overview:

A graduate of Venice High School, Sessa played wide receiver and defensive back, in addition to handling kicking duties, during his time with the Indians.

Making 22-of-34 (65-percent) of his prep field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder as a freshman in 2015, he was rated as a two-star prospect, the No. 28 kicker in the 2019 class, and a top-375 player in the state, per the 247Sports Composite.

Sessa committed to the Sun Belt Conference’s Georgia Southern Eagles on February 6, 2019, the same day he signed his National Letter of Intent (LOI), but never enrolled at the school and was granted his release.

“Zack asked for a release from his LOI due to personal reasons and we granted his release,” Eagles head coach Chad Lunsford told the Savannah Morning News on June 23, 2019.

“He will not be attending Georgia Southern and we wish him the best.”

Joining Dan Mullen’s program as a preferred walk-on in June, Sessa has been competing with redshirt junior Chris Howard for the backup job behind junior Evan McPherson, who connected on 17-of-19 (89-percent) field goal attempts in 2019.

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2021 Gators Football Recruiting Profile: Corey Collier

A four-star prospect himself, the 247Sports Composite rates Collier as the No. 3 safety in the class and a top-15 player in the state.

Name: Corey Collier

Position: Safety

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 170 lbs

Hometown: Miami, Fla.

High School: Palmetto High School

Twitter: @_ccollierjr2

247Sports Composite: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

Collier committed to the Florida Gators on August 10, one day after his Miami Palmetto Senior High School teammate, four-star cornerback Jason Marshall, Jr.

A four-star prospect himself, the 247Sports Composite rates Collier as the No. 3 safety in the class and a top-15 player in the state.

Primarily recruited by quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, one of the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) best on the trail, and cornerbacks coach Torrian Gray, he chose the Gators over the Baylor Bears, Clemson Tigers, Virginia Cavaliers, Washington State Cougars, and 30 reported others.

Listed at 6-foot-2-inches and 170 pounds, Collier should continue to add muscle to his frame once he enters strength and conditioning coach Nick Savage’s program.

Although there seem to be some growing pains in his man coverage abilities on tape, he has shown the ability to take smart angles to the football while in the air and a willingness to help against the run.

The second-highest rated member in the class, trailing only Marshall, Collier is one of five defensive backs in the cycle for Florida, joining four-star Canonsburg, Pennsylvania safety Donovan McMillon and two three-stars, Winter Park safety Dakota Mitchell and Tampa cornerback Jordan Young.

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Jordan Pouncey

Wide receiver Jordan Pouncey has two more seasons of eligibility post-transfer and he should see action this season as a 2nd-team receiver.

Name: Jordan Pouncey

Number: TBA

Position: Wide Receiver

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 205 lbs

Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.

High School: Winter Park High School

Twitter: @_pouncey

2019 statistics:

G Rec Yds Avg TD
5 2 19 9.5 0

Overview:

The second cousin of former Florida and current NFL offensive linemen Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, Jordan Pouncey originally played for Texas.

A three-star recruit out of Winter Park, he redshirted as a true freshman in 2017, not appearing in a game. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he appeared in seven games, but his appearances were limited to special teams and he didn’t record any statistics.

He finally got to see the field as a receiver during his redshirt sophomore season. He made his first career catch in the season opener for 11 yards, and he had another eight-yard catch in another game.

Following the season, Pouncey graduated, and he elected to join coach Dan Mullen and the Gators as a graduate transfer. His younger brother, Ethan Pouncey, was a four-star cornerback recruit who signed with UF in the 2020 recruiting class.

Pouncey has two more seasons of eligibility, and he should see action this season as a second-team receiver.

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Justin Shorter

Name: Justin Shorter Number: TBA Position: Wide Receiver Class: Redshirt Sophomore Height: 6’4″ Weight: 226 lbs Hometown: Monmouth Junction, N.J. High School: South Brunswick High School 2019 statistics (with Penn State Nittany Lions): G Rec Yds Avg …

Name: Justin Shorter

Number: TBA

Position: Wide Receiver

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 226 lbs

Hometown: Monmouth Junction, N.J.

High School: South Brunswick High School

2019 statistics (with Penn State Nittany Lions):

G Rec Yds Avg TD
8 12 137 11.4 0

Overview:

Coming out of high school, Justin Shorter was one of the top players in the nation. The No. 1 receiver in the nation and the No. 7 player overall according to 247Sports, the five-star Monmouth Junction, N.J., product committed to play for James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

As a true freshman in 2018, he appeared in four games, making just three catches for 20 yards in addition to a nine-yard rush. He redshirted the season.

His redshirt freshman year in 2019, he saw more action, appearing in eight games (including three starts). He totaled 12 catches for 137 yards, but he is still yet to snag his first career touchdown reception.

After the 2019 season, he transferred to Florida. After an offseason of uncertainty as to whether he would be eligible to play in 2020, his waiver was approved.

Shorter joins an already talented receiver room, but the former five-star recruit should be a significant factor on the field this season.

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2021 Gators Football Recruiting Profile: Jason Marshall Jr.

The highest-rated commit in the Florida Gators’ 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite, Marshall is the No. 2 cornerback in the cycle.

Name: Jason Marshall, Jr.

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 180 lbs

Hometown: Miami, Fla.

High School: Palmetto High School

Twitter: @jasonjr3_

247Sports Composite: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

The highest-rated commit in the Florida Gators’ 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite, Marshall is the No. 2 cornerback in the cycle, trailing only uncommitted Pinson, Alabama product Ga’Quincy McKinstry, and the No. 7 player in the state.

Primarily recruited by quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson and position coach Torrian Gray, he announced his commitment on August 9, the day before his high school teammate, four-star safety Corey Collier, did the same.

Also a standout basketball player at the prep level, Marshall, listed at 6-foot-2-inches and 180 pounds, drew high praise from 247Sports Miami Hurricanes Insider Andrew Ivins, who compared him to former Florida State Seminole Xavier Rhodes.

Although he has not been asked too much at Miami Palmetto, he has shown the ability to press wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and, while not the fastest athlete in the class, he has more than adequate speed to stay with burners downfield.

Set to participate in the 2021 Under Armour All-America Game at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on Thursday, January 7, Marshall has all the tools to continue Florida’s tradition of elite defensive back play.

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Lorenzo Lingard

A five-star prospect and the No. 2 tailback in the 2018 class, per 247Sports, Lingard began his collegiate career with the Miami Hurricanes.

Name: Lorenzo Lingard

Number: 7

Position: Running back

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 200 lbs

Hometown: Orange City, Fla.

High School: University High School

Twitter: @d1champ99

2019 statistics (with Miami Hurricanes):

Appeared in two games, exclusively on special teams.

Overview:

A five-star prospect and the No. 2 tailback in the 2018 class, per the 247Sports Composite, Lingard began his collegiate career with a different Sunshine State program, the Miami Hurricanes.

Then-coached by Mark Richt, he saw immediate action as a freshman, carrying the football 17 times over four games for 136 yards (eight avg.) and two touchdowns.

Just as Lingard’s debut campaign in Coral Gables was taking off, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in an October 22 practice. He rehabbed and returned to the Hurricanes, now-coached by Manny Diaz, in 2019, but played in just two games, only seeing the field on special teams.

Electing to seek a fresh start, he entered the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal on December 30 and announced his intention to enroll at Florida just four days later.

Receiving immediate eligibility from the governing body in late-May, he projects to compose half of an intriguing duo with junior Dameon Pierce in the Gators’ backfield this fall. With Lingard known for his game-breaking speed and Pierce being more of a thumper, these two figure to complement each other well.

How he looks nearly two years removed from his knee injury remains to be seen, but head coach Dan Mullen and co-offensive coordinators Billy Gonzales and John Hevesy have themselves a potentially high-reward piece to deploy in 2020.

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Longhorns Profile Snapshot: No. 78 Denzel Okafor

LonghornsWire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas roster. Today, we will be looking at senior RG Denzel Okafor.

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Going into the 2020 football season, LonghornsWire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas roster.

Over the summer, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Tom Herman this season.

Today, we will be looking at senior right guard Denzel Okafor.

Denzel Okafor, Right guard

Height: 6-4 / Weight: 317

Class: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Lewisville, Texas

High School: Lewisville

HS ranking (247Sports): Four-star / No. 243 overall / No. 12 position / No. 36 in-state

HS ranking (Rivals): Four-star / No. 244 overall / No. 14 position / No. 34 in-state

Analysis: Going into his fifth season with the program, Denzel Okafor is going to be the oldest member of the offensive line. Part of the 2016 recruiting class, Okafor was a Charlie Strong recruit.

Redshirting during his junior year, Okafor returned in 2019 and appeared in all 13 games. He made one start throughout the year against Iowa State. The redshirt senior has five career starts going into this season.

Head coach Tom Herman said he feels “better today than ever” about Okafor taking over as the starting right guard. Playing guard and tackle during his time in Austin, Okafor will now be apart of an interior offensive line that must improve in 2020.

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2021 Gators Football Recruiting Profile: Desmond Watson

This is a prospect player profile for defensive tackle Desmond Watson of the Florida Gators football recruiting class of 2021.

Name: Desmond Watson

Position: Defensive Tackle

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 380 lbs

Hometown: Seffner, Fla.

High School: Armwood High School

Twitter: @DesmondWatson12

247Sports Composite: ⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

Successful in landing four-star running back/wide receiver Charles Montgomery’s commitment on May 24, the Florida Gators landed another Armwood High School Hawk, located in Seffner, about 130 miles south of Gainesville, in three-star Desmond Watson on July 30.

A massive defensive tackle at 6-foot-5 and 380 pounds, he is the No. 21 player at his position and a top-55 player in the state, per the 247Sports Composite.

The whirlwind life of a Power Five student-athlete is not unfamiliar to Watson, as his half-brother, Darrian McNeal, a three-star prospect in the 2017 class, played one season for then-head coach Willie Taggart’s Oregon Ducks, catching two passes for 10 yards (five avg.) and adding three rushing attempts for 21 yards (seven avg.).

Unfortunately, McNeal’s athletic career took a dark turn, as he left the Ducks in the spring of 2018 and was arrested and charged with first-degree theft and second-degree robbery in June 2020, following an incident at a Eugene apartment.

As for Watson, he originally picked up his Florida offer on January 17, 2019, and he attended two Junior Days in an approximately five-week span from February 1-to-March 7, 2020. Primarily recruited by defensive line coach David Turner and cornerbacks coach Torrian Gray, he chose the Gators over the Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Atlantic Owls, South Florida Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers and 16 reported others.

Andrew Ivins, a Miami Hurricanes insider for 247Sports, highlights Watson’s quick hands and effectiveness against double teams as some of his strengths and points to his weight as a possible concern.

Overall, he is the fourteenth-highest rated of the program’s 24 commits in the upcoming cycle and the eighth-highest on the defensive side of the football. Turner has picked up pledges from three defensive linemen in the class, with Fort Lauderdale’s Tyreak Sapp and Sumter, South Carolina’s Justus Boone, both four-stars, joining Watson.

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