Tag: unofficial visit

Gators impress recently offered South Florida defensive lineman

A defensive line recruit out of South Florida stopped by Florida on Friday for a visit, and he left town high on the Gators.

Miami Central defensive lineman [autotag]Floyd Boucard[/autotag] was in Gainesville on Friday as part of a bus tour for prospects, according to Swamp247.

It was Boucard’s first trip to Florida, and he left the Swamp much higher on the Gators than he expected.

“Going to Florida, it was amazing,” Boucard said. “I didn’t think I was going to like the campus like that, but as soon as I stepped on campus I feel in love with it.”

Boucard added that he hopes to return to Florida for another spring visit and an official visit. He only spent around 24 hours in Gainesville and wants to see more of what the university has to offer.

Friday also presented Boucard an opportunity to meet the Florida coach in charge of his recruitment, defensive line coach Gerald Chatman. The Gators offered Boucard just  few weeks back, so this was a major step in the growing relationship between the two parties.

Boucard also visited Florida State during the bus tour, and he’s local to Miami. The Hurricanes have already hosted him three times this spring making them the early favorite. Florida made a strong impression, though, and is climbing the ranks.

Both Rivals.com and On3 have Boucard listed as a three-star recruit, while 247Sports and ESPN have yet to evaluate him. The On3 industry ranking, which considers all four major recruiting services, puts him at No. 663 overall and No. 57 among defensive linemen in the class of 2025.

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Four-star IMG Academy recruit gets live look at new Florida LB coach

Four-star IMG Academy linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng visited UF recently and got a live look at the Gators’ new linebackers coach.

Like any serious recruit, IMG Academy linebacker [autotag]Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng[/autotag] wants to know more about the coaches in place to develop him at the universities he’s still considering.

At the University of Florida, that would be Ron Roberts, who the football program hired as an executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach over the offseason. Owusu-Boateng visited the Swamp for one of Roberts’ first weekend of spring practices.

The experience was an eye-opening one for the linebacker, according to Swamp247.

“I was seeing the way Coach Roberts does things with his linebackers,” Owusu-Boateng said to Swamp247. “Not only that, but seeing the way he interacts and the way they interact with him as well. It tells me a lot just about his coaching or about his leadership, and how he sees his linebackers being fit for the scheme he has for them.”

Owusu-Boateng got a chance to see where he’d fit in Florida’s scheme and how those practices would run. Should he sign with UF, Owusu-Boatgeng is likely to spend time at both the MIKE and WILL linebacker positions in Gainesville.

A return visit isn’t on the books just yet, but an official visit might be in the works. Right now, he has summer dates locked in with Georgia, Stanford and South Carolina. An official visit to Florida might have to wait until the season begins.

Owusu-Boateng is a consensus four-star recruit ranked the highest by Rivals.com at No. 24 overall in the class of 2025. The On3 industry ranking, which considers all four major services, puts him at No. 59 nationally and No. 5 among linebackers in the class.

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Gators getting South Florida EDGE recruit back on campus

Florida was one of the many teams that jumped on edge rusher Richard Scott earlier this year, and now he’s scheduled a return visit.

After picking up an offer from the Florida Gators and visiting in January for a junior day, class of 2025 edge rusher [autotag]Richard Scott III[/autotag] is planning another visit to The Swamp in April, according to Swamp247.

Scott transferred from one Broward County powerhouse to another after his junior year. He left Cardinal Gibbons for national power St. Thomas Aquinas, sparking a recruiting rush that included the Florida Gators.

He’s in contact with position coach Mike Peterson and met with Billy Napier during his last visit to Gainesville in January. He is set to return on April 6 when Florida will have its second spring scrimmage.

Miami is the other team getting him on campus this spring, and the Hurricanes have somewhat of a home-field advantage being the closer program. The ‘Canes also have a good relationship with St. Thomas Aquinas.

Scott says he doesn’t have a list of top schools figured out but that Florida has done enough to earn that designation.

Scott doesn’t have a rating on any of the four major recruiting services, but that should change as more and more eyes get on him.

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Blue-chip IMG Academy IOL sets unofficial visit, eyes return for official

This IMG Academy standout would make a great addition to Florida’s 2025 recruiting class.

Things have been quiet on the college football recruiting front of late but that does not mean that Billy Napier and Co. are sleeping at the wheel. In fact, it is quite to the contrary — the Florida football staff has continued to work tirelessly behind the scenes to woo the top prep prospects to Gainesville.

Among the many the Gators are pursuing is four-star interior offensive lineman [autotag]Kaden Strayhorn[/autotag] who is originally from Novi, Michigan, but plays for the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Inittially offered a scholarship back in 2023, the 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pound trench warrior is looking to return to the Swamp once the contact period restrictions are lifted.

“I’m going to be visiting Florida (March 23), Alabama (March 26), Georgia (March 28), Ohio State and Miami this spring,” Strayhorn told Swamp247’s Blake Alderman at IMG’s Pro Day last Thursday.

The last time the 2025 recruit visited campus was for the win over the Tennessee Volunteers last fall.

The coveted blue-chipper also plans on setting his official visit schedule once his first round of trips is in the books and is eyeing a Hogtown stop. Some of the programs also mentioned were the USC Trojans, Michigan Wolverines and Texas Longhorns, plus possible returns to see Miami and Georgia.

“After I get through this round of (spring) visits, I’ll be going to start scheduling those and drop the dates in the summer,” Strayhorn told Alderman.

As for what stands out about the Florida Gators from the other schools, it is the vibe that the campus nurtures that stood out to Strayhorn the most.

“The culture that they have up there,” he noted. “When I went to the Tennessee game, the fan base was crazy. It was one of the best games I’ve been to. Also, my ex-teammate Knijeah Harris goes there, and he gives great reviews about the program. They also have programs like GatorMade.”

Strayhorn is rated at four stars and ranked No. 380 overall and No. 20 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking rates him at three stars and has him at Nos. 448 and 28, respectively.

On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has the Michigan State Spartans with an 84.8% lead in the race for his talents, followed by Michigan (4.0%), Alabama (2.3%) and Florida (1.9%).

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Four-star RB adds Florida visit to busy spring schedule

The University of Florida will be the first of many spring visits for Akylin Dear, one of the elite running backs in the class of 2025.

Several of the top uncommitted recruits from the class of 2025 are loading up their spring schedules with visits to Power Five programs. Quitman (Mississippi) running back [autotag]Akylin Dear[/autotag] plans to start his spring tour with a stop at the University of Florida.

Dear visited The Swamp last spring with a group of Mississippi-based prospects. After sitting on a scholarship offer for almost a year, he’ll return to Hogtown March 7-9, according to Swamp247’s Blake Alderman. Florida running backs coach Jabbar Juluke is among the most persistent recruiters after him.

Juluke landed fellow Mississippi native Kahnen Daniels in the 2024 class and has Florida in the mix with Dear. He’s also planning to visit Georgia on March 16 and Florida State on March 23. Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are on the list but don’t have dates yet. Alabama, Texas A&M, and the two in-state schools will likely host official visits over the summer. Florida is hoping to join that list.

Dear isn’t going to rush a decision. He could wait until after the start of his senior season to pick a school, but that doesn’t mean Florida can slow down its pursuit of him.

Dear is a consensus four-star recruit ranked the highest by ESPN at No. 58 overall in the country. The On3 industry ranking, which considers all four major recruiting services in the country, puts Dear at No. 149 overall and No. 10 among running backs in the class of 2025. He’s also the fourth-highest-ranked recruit out of Mississippi in his class.

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Gators set to host 4-star Auburn DL commit on spring visit

Florida is pushing to flip four-star defensive lineman Malik Autry from Auburn after a yearlong commitment. He’ll visit The Swamp next month.

We’re currently in a dead period of the NCAA recruiting calendar, but the quiet period opens back on March 4 and runs through April 14. One of the players already planning on visiting the University of Florida during that quiet period is Auburn defensive line commit [autotag]Malik Autry[/autotag], according to Swamp247.

The Opelika (Alabama) recruit pledged his services to the Tigers over a year ago, but he’s kept an open mind through the process. He last visited The Swamp in January for one of Florida’s junior days, and plans on returning March 29 for a multi-day visit.

An official visit will come next, but Autry is still ironing out the dates with the Gators. He also has plans to stop by the University of Central Florida and Ole Miss this spring.

Autry is a four-star recruit on the On3 industry ranking. He checks in at No. 238 overall in the class of 2025 and is No. 22 among defensive linemen.

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Four-star 2025 QB prospect leaves first Swamp visit with offer

Florida hosted four-star quarterback Keelon Russell on campus for the first time over the weekend and impressed the SMU commit.

The Florida Gators hosted SMU quarterback commit Keelon Russell on Saturday, and he left town with an offer in hand and a lot to think about, according to Swamp247’s Blake Alderman.

“I enjoyed my time,” Russell said. “… They gave me a big lift and sparked a spot to where I think this could be a place that heavily recruits me.”

Despite his commitment, it is clear that Russell is leaving the door open for any team that wants to make a strong push for him. The Gators appear to be a potential suitor with Billy Napier presenting Russell with an offer at the end of the visit.

Russell called it a “wow moment” for him and a “dream come true” before admitting that Florida jumped into his top two or three at the moment.

While he didn’t give a date, Russell expects to return to Gainesville soon. Spring camp is the next opportunity for recruits to stop by the Swamp.

Rusell has earned a fourth star everywhere besides 247Sports in the 2025 recruiting cycle. He is No. 247 overall on the On3 industry ranking, which considers all four major services.

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Florida set to host tight end target after presenting offer

Florida will host three-star Lehi (Utah) tight end Bear Tenney this weekend for the Gators’ final junior day of the January contact period.

The latest name added to Florida’s visitors list for Saturday is Lehi (Utah) tight ends [autotag]Bear Tenney[/autotag], according to Swamp 247.

Florida offered Tenney back in December, but it’s taken until now to get him on campus. He’s picked up over two dozen offers making him one of the more sought-after tight ends in the class.

“I’ve had a great relationship with Coach, Billy Napier, and Coach Callaway! They’ve kept up with me every week since they’ve been there. Can’t wait for the visit.”

Tenney has been to Oregon and Texas so far this month, and he’s mentioned that he could be nearing a decision. With no timeline in place, Florida’s recruiting staff must act quickly to secure a commitment from him.

Tenney is a consensus three-star recruit ranked the highest by Rivals.com at No. 24 among tight ends in the class of 2025. The On3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted average of all four major services, puts him at No. 538 overall in the class and No. 28 at his position.

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Florida hosts 4-star Alabama LB commit for junior day

Although four-star linebacker Myles Johnson has been committed to Alabama since October, he stopped by The Swamp for Florida’s junior day.

A lot has changed in Tuscaloosa since blue-chip T.R. Miller High linebacker [autotag]Myles Johnson[/autotag] committed to the University of Alabama, and the Florida Gators are still pushing to flip him.

Johnson was in Gainesville this weekend for Florida’s junior day on Saturday, according to Swamp247, and it was an eye-opening experience for the Crimson Tide commit.

“I am committed to Alabama, so it’s my first visit outside of Alabama,” Johnson said. “It really opened my eyes. Definitely will have to come back sometime. This being the first place, they really set the bar high for places outside (of Alabama). I really liked it. Really enjoyed it and the people, and the relationships already.”

When Johnson committed to Alabama, Nick Saban was still the head coach, but the door could be wide open for Billy Napier and Co. to flip him with Saban retiring earlier this month. It won’t be easy, though. Johnson has remained committed through the transition at Alabama so far and hasn’t shown any signs that he’s ready to bail on the program.

Johnson is a four-star recruit everywhere but Rivals.com, where he is a three-star talent. The On3 industry ranking puts him at No. 291 overall and No. 32 among linebackers from the class of 2025.

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Florida hosts 2025 wide receiver on campus for junior day

Florida got three-star wide receiver Tyler Williams on campus recently, and it has the Gators near the top of his recruitment.

Sumner High wide receiver [autotag]Tyler Williams[/autotag] was one of the many recruits in town last weekend for Florida’s most recent junior day, and he left Gainesville with the Gators near the top of his recruitment, according to Swamp247.

Florida will have to contend with teams such as Georgia, Miami, Oregon and Wake Forest for his services. Williams says he’s looking for a program with a good team culture, which is what Billy Napier has prioritized over the past two years.

Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzalez is taking the lead on this recruitment. The two are in the middle of developing a relationship, and Williams could return for a game in the fall to reunite with the Florida staff.

“The Gators are pretty high on my list,” Williams said. “… My family loved it, they felt at home and welcome.”

Williams a three-star recruit everywhere but ESPN where he is ungraded. The On3 industry ranking has him at No. 494 overall in the class of 2025 and No. 76 among wide receivers in the class.

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