Tag: Sharif Denson

Florida football recruiting rises in rankings after recent blue-chip commitment

The Gators got a boost in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings with their recent commitment from Sharif Denson.

Florida football got some good news on the recruiting front recently when 247Sports gave the Gators a 10-spot bump in their rankings for the 2023 class after four-star cornerback [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] committed to the program on Monday. While still sitting outside the top 25, UF moved up from No. 38 to No. 28 nationally in the prestigious publication’s rankings.

The boost comes on the heels of some disappointment for the Orange and Blue as highly-sought quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] picked the Miami Hurricanes while four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag] chose the Florida State Seminoles as their collegiate destinations.

The 5-foot-11.5-inch, 170-pound defensive back is a legacy at Florida through his parents, both of whom competed on the track team during their time at the university, which likely made a difference in his decision.

Denson is Florida’s ninth commitment in the class of 2023, the eighth of whom coming from within a 350-mile radius of campus — on par with Billy Napier’s desire to dominate the hotbeds of talent that reside nearby. Out of Gainesville, there is four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Gavin Hill[/autotag] and three-star wide receiver [autotag]Creed Whittemore[/autotag], while four-star edge rusher [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag] (St. Petersburg), four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] (Bradenton), three-star offensive lineman [autotag]Bryce Lovett[/autotag] (Rockledge), three-star wide receiver [autotag]Tyree Patterson[/autotag] (Eustis) and three-star offensive lineman [autotag]Tommy Kinsler[/autotag] (Ocala) round out the rest of the eight.

Four-star athlete [autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag] is the ninth recruit, hailing from Sharpsburg, Georgia, and represents the only other projected defensive back in the class so far, though Florida is still going after top-ranked cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag].

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Gators land third 4-star defensive commitment of the week

The Gators added another four-star recruit to its class of 2023 on Monday.

Jacksonville is Gator country.

That was the message repeated throughout four-star Bartram Trail defensive back [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag]’s commitment video on Monday. Joined by a group of former Gators from the Jacksonville area, Denson made his pledge to the University of Florida and became the third four-star defensive commit to join Billy Napier‘s recruiting class of 2023 in the last week.

Denson, who has long been considered Florida’s to lose, picked his parents’ alma mater over Miami and Texas A&M after taking unofficial visits to all three programs in June. He set the top three on Wednesday with plans to take officials throughout the season.

Defensive Coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] has been a key player in this recruitment as had cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], according to Gators Online. Denson feels that the duo has the potential to mold him into an NFL-ready defensive back. The plan is to play him at the STAR position but also at outside corner since his versatility allows it.

Florida is now up to nine commits in the class of 2023 and No. 17 on the On3 team recruiting rankings list. Denson is the second-highest-ranked recruit in the class so far at No. 196 overall on the On3 consensus. Only former UCF commit [autotag]Isaiah Nixon[/autotag] is ranked higher, and [autotag]Gavin Hill[/autotag] is right behind him. All three four-star recruits have been added within the week.

Four-star athlete Aaron Gates is the only other projected defensive back in the class so far, and Florida is still going after top-ranked cornerback [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] as well.

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4-star defensive back works out with Florida, sets top 3 schools

The Gators made the cut for this blue-chip defensive line recruit.

Florida football has played host to a handful of recruits this week for its 7-on-7 camp which has already begun to bear fruit. One of the bigger names that came away impressed was four-star defensive back [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] out of Jacksonville (Florida) Bartram Trail, who got a refresher visit to the Swamp on Wednesday.

The 5-foot-11.5-inch, 170-pound cornerback has been to campus plenty of times prior, but it had been a while since his last stop in Gainesville. Denson got a chance to meet with [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and some of the staff after his team was defeated in the quarterfinals of the camp’s tournament, including co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag].

“It is always good to be around coach PT (Patrick Toney), that’s my guy for real,” Denson told Gators Online and others. “He had a little presentation in there after we toured the building. We went to the meeting room and he had put together some clips that I had and just some things that he thought I could get better at just to give me a little snapshot of what he could do for me.”

Florida’s cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] has also been working on developing a relationship with the talented defender.

“He’s texting me all the time. We’re cool. We definitely still need to build our relationship more, like me and coach Toney are closer. Coach Raymond is definitely a good coach and a guy that is showing interest in me.”

His most recent visit also gave him his first gander at the new facilities in addition to the personnel.

“I haven’t been to the new facility yet, so that was my first time doing that,” the rising high school senior told Swamp247. “It wasn’t even close to ready the last time I was here, they were only like laying down the floors then. Seeing all the stuff being built looks good and they moved fast. It’s always good coming back. I am just getting more familiar with the place, more familiar with the area, and the building. So it’s always good.”

Subsequently, the Gators made the cut for his top three schools, which also includes the Texas A&M Aggies and Miami Hurricanes. “Florida is definitely near the top,” Denison offered when asked where the Gators stand among the finalists. “It’s just the constant love from the whole staff.” However, he does not plan on making a decision on his commitment until the fall, declining to set a firm date.

Denson is currently ranked No. 206 overall and No. 24 nationally at his position according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 196 and 23, respectively. Florida currently holds his lone crystal ball projection from 247Sports while also having the upper hand in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with an 87.7% chance of landing him.

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Florida lands recruiting prediction from On3 for this 4-star CB

How good are Florida’s chances to land this in-state, legacy, four-star cornerback? Good enough for the experts to submit official predictions for the Orange and Blue.

As the 2023 recruiting cycle continues, Florida’s chances of landing top-end recruits become clearer and clearer by the day. The folks at On3’s Gators Online are confident enough at this point that Florida will land four-star [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] that they have submitted a prediction to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Corey Bender said that the pick was submitted with 60% confidence, and the RPM gives the Gators an 87.6% chance to sign the legacy recruit from Bartram Trail in Jacksonville, Florida. Both his parents graduated from UF and the Gators offered him during his freshman year. That was under [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s staff, but Napier and Co. have kept the relationship going strong.

Denson named Florida one of his top five schools on May 9 as well as Florida State, Ohio State, South Carolina and Texas A&M. He’s set to return to Gainesville for the third time this year on June 24 and has been to College Station (TAMU) as many times too.

Official visits aren’t scheduled just yet, but they may come over the summer and one would expect his top five to get them.

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While being a legacy recruit does help things, Florida’s new coaching staff is the better draw for Denson and one of the main reasons experts feel he’ll commit to UF.

“Coach Toney and [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] are top-tier coaches and will develop me to be an NFL DB. Also, Florida has been my dream school growing up,” Denson said.

The On3 Consensus ranks Denson as the No. 182 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 19 cornerback in the cycle. Florida also holds a crystal ball prediction from Swamp247 from back in January.

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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.

Gators get this 4-star CB scheduled for Orange and Blue Game visit

Four-star cornerback Sharif Denson will be in attendance for Florida’s Orange and Blue Game on April 14.

Florida reeled in one Bartram Trail cornerback back in 2018 in [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag]. This cycle the Gators are trying to do it again by pulling four-star [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag], who currently sits high on coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag]’s board.

Denson told Gators Online on Tuesday that he will visit the Swamp again for Florida’s Orange and Blue game on April 14. Denson is ranked as the 160th-best player overall and the 19th-best cornerback, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

He last visited the Gators on March 3 and has visited Texas A&M and Ohio State over the past month. Florida made a strong first impression on him during his first trip to Gainesville under the new coaching staff.

Denson said he enjoyed dissecting film with multiple defensive coaches and his one-on-one time with Napier.

Even though he is considered a cornerback, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] envisions Denson playing multiple roles in his secondary.

He currently holds offers from the schools previously mentioned along with Notre Dame, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee.

However, Florida holds an advantage because his parents both graduated from the University of Florida.

“They definitely added themselves in and maybe solidified a top spot,” Denson said after last month’s visit. “They didn’t say anything about an offer, but I mean, they were asking what they have to do to get me here, so I guess it’s a given. It was great; I loved the new staff. They are going up for sure.”

The Gators have some targets higher on their board than Denson that they sit in a good spot with like [autotag]AJ Harris[/autotag], [autotag]Tony Mitchell[/autotag] and [autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag]. So he may be a backup option if one of their top targets chooses to go elsewhere.

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4-star in-state defensive back high on Florida after Thursday visit

Gators in the mix for this talented defensive back.

Florida football’s recruiting efforts are back on full blast this week as Billy Napier and his army host the next crop of prep prospects on campus. The visits began rolling in on Tuesday and continue through this weekend, with no shortage of blue-chip names making appearances in Gainesville.

One of those highly sought recruits is four-star defensive back Sharif Denson from Bartram Trail in Jacksonville, Florida. The 5-foot-11-inch, 170-pound high school junior made his visit on Thursday, spending quality time with defensive backs coaches Patrick Toney and Corey Raymond while also getting some face time with other members of the new staff.

The two coaches made quite an impression on Denson in their first meeting, with the Gators’ staff offering him a clear vision of what his role at Florida would look like.

“They said that they will develop me completely as a corner because of my versatility and that I have a great shot to play early based on what I did on tape,” Denson told Swamp247. “I sat in the film room with Coach Toney, and he showed me some tape that also had my film in there with it. Just showing me everything I can do in their scheme.”

The talented young defender was reluctant to make a commitment, however, but despite the lack of a current top school, Denson stated, “Florida sits in a very great spot.” He also mentioned that he was putting off any major decisions to focus on the upcoming spring football season as well as trips to other schools. 247Sports Composite’s No. 167 overall prospect noted that he plans to visit Florida State on Saturday, followed by Ohio State the first weekend of April and South Carolina on April 19.

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Another 4-star defensive back is planning to visit Florida

Four-star DB Sharif Denson is planning another visit to UF and is hoping to get more time with cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond.

No exact date is set yet, but four-star defensive back Sharif Denson plans to be at the University of Florida during the first few days of March, according to Gators Online.

The Jacksonville cornerback out of Bartram Trail High School is still picking a date between March 1 and 4 to visit before stopping by Florida State the following weekend. The Gators were one of the first teams to offer Denson, but that was more than two years ago and under a different staff. This visit should give him the opportunity to meet Billy Napier and all of the new coaches.

After the 2022 class was complete, Napier’s staff began to prioritize certain recruits and Denson is one of them.

“After the second signing day is when the staff started going after me hard,” Denson said. “I talked to basically all of the staff except for Corey Raymond, which confuses me. But coach Toney and I had a long talk the other day about my film and what he likes about me. Coach Hamilton also talked to me yesterday about how I have position versatility. They could see me play anywhere in the secondary for the Gators.”

Raymond’s lack of contact could be an accident, but it could also be a strategic move by Napier. The two should get a chance to speak more when Denson gets into town, and it’s not exactly a bad thing to have a blue-chip recruit knocking on your door for a meeting with a position coach.

Denson doesn’t deny Florida stands in a good spot in his recruitment. Both of his parents graduated from the university, and it’s been an option for him since he was a freshman. A spring visit should put the Gators near the top of the list going into his senior year.

The 247Sports composite lists Denson as the No. 158 overall recruit in the country and the No. 18 cornerback. The On3 consensus is even higher on him, ranking Denson No. 138 nationally and No. 15 at his position.

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