Tag: unofficial visit

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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Class of 2026 QB target impressed after Florida visit

Florida is eyeing an in-state quarterback from the class of 2026, and things are going well after a junior day visit.

The Florida Gators presented Tampa Bay Tech quarterback [autotag]Logan Rogers[/autotag] with a scholarship offer over the summer, and the sophomore signal-caller hasn’t shied away from visiting The Swamp since.

His most recent visit came at the beginning of the month, when Florida hosted its first junior day of the cycle, according to 247Sports. Rogers spent time with coaches and players, seeing more of the school than ever before. A meeting with head coach Billy Napier went a long way for him.

“I walked into the room and he knew everyone’s names, and just remembered every little thing about past conversations we’ve had,” Rogers told 247Sports. “That was cool. Made it feel like talking to someone that is family. I liked getting to catch up with him.”

When asked where Florida stands in his recruitment, Rogers said the Gators were “way up there.” Appalachian State and Florida A&M are the other two programs pursuing him.

Rogers hasn’t received a rating from any major service yet, but him still being a sophomore might explain that. He should receive a professional evaluation at some point, but his Hudl film is all there is to work off of for now.

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Four-star quarterback adds Florida to busy recruiting schedule

After presenting four-star quarterback Matt Zollers with a scholarship offer last week, the Florida Gators are getting him on campus.

Spring-Ford (Royersford, Pennsylvania) quarterback Matt Zollers plans to visit three programs in three days, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.

In between visits to USF and Georgia on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, Zollers will stop by the Swamp in Gainesville to meet the staff at the University of Florida.

Zollers completed just under 63 percent of his pass attempts as a junior in 2023, ending the year with 2,917 yards and 37 touchdowns. He’s a consensus four-star recruit, ranked the highest by 247Sports at No. 149 overall.

The On3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted average of all four major services, puts him at No. 203 nationally and No. 14 among quarterbacks. Penn State is the favorite to land him, per the On3 recruiting prediction machine.

Florida only offered him last Friday, though, so the Gators could pick up steam after making proper introductions. However, Zollers is hoping to make his decision once basketball season ends, according to Gators Online’s Corey Bender.

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Top-ranked tight end committed to UGA plans to visit Florida

Despite a verbal commitment to Georgia back in April, the top tight end in the class of 2025 plans to visit the Swamp for a junior day.

The Florida Gators are looking for an elite tight end recruit from the class of 2025, and what better place is there to start than the top?

The top-ranked tight end in the class, Georgia commit Elyiss Williams, has plans to stop by the Swamp next weekend for Florida’s final junior day of January, according to Gators Online. He’s expected in Gainesville on Saturday.

Williams committed to the Bulldogs in April, but there are still 11 more months for Florida to try and flip him. Getting him on campus for the first time is a start, but ensuring he makes a return visit is the real test.

The On3 recruiting prediction says Florida State, UCF and Tennessee are the teams most likely to make a run, but he also holds offers from Auburn, Miami, Notre Dame and South Carolina.

Williams is a consensus four-star recruit who is likely to earn a fifth star once he begins his senior year. He’s ranked No. 17 overall on the On3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted average of all four major services.

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Gators hosting Alabama offensive lineman decommit in February

Four-star interior offensive lineman Mason Short backed off his pledge to Alabama once Nick Saban left, and now he’ll visit Florida.

Evans High (Georgia) offensive lineman [autotag]Mason Short[/autotag] backed off his commitment to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Jan. 16 following the retirement of Nick Saban, and now Florida has another chance to recruit him.

Short posted to Twitter that he’d be in Gainsville for a visit on Feb. 3, tagging offensive line coach Rob Sale.

The Gators aren’t the only SEC team in on Short, though. Georgia is considered the favorite to land a commitment from him, according to the On3 recruiting prediction machine. Short has posted several times about Kirby Smart visiting his high school just hours after Saban’s retirement.

A good visit could go a long way for Florida, though. The Gators have been in this race since November 2022 when they hosted him for the South Carolina game and offered.

Clemson will also get Short on campus this Saturday for the Tigers’ first junior day of the year.

Short is a four-star recruit everywhere but On3. However, the On3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted average of all four major recruiting services, puts him at No. 194 overall in the class of 2025. He’s also ranked No. 10 among interior offensive linemen in the class.

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