Tag: Will Norman

Social media reactions to Florida building a top-10 recruiting class

Gators Twitter has been on fire all weekend with commitment after commitment coming in for the orange and blue.

This was the wrong weekend to go on vacation if you’re a fan of the Florida Gators. [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his army of a recruiting staff put together another huge weekend and landed commitments from a quartet of four-star recruits.

Three of those commits come from the class of 2023 and have propelled UF into the top 10, according to both 247Sports’ team rankings and On3’s. Defensive linemen [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag] made their announcements on Saturday, and defensive lineman [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] joined the class on Sunday. Linebacker [autotag]Myles Graham[/autotag], a legacy commitment in the class of 2024, made his decision shortly after James announced.

It all happened pretty quickly and the excitement from Gator fans, coaches and players was hard to contain. Fortunately, we live in the age of social media where dishing out reactions to the masses is but a click away. Here are some of the best social media reactions to a very busy weekend from the Orange and Blue.

Gators score huge commitment from this IMG Academy defensive lineman

The Gators scored a major coup from one of the hottest high school athletic institutions in the country — IMG Academy — on Saturday.

Billy Napier scored big on Saturday when four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag] out of IMG Academy in Bradenton — an institution that the Gators have put a significant emphasis on recruiting from — committed to play for Florida football.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 290-pound in-state prep prospect had the Texas A&M Aggies, Penn State Nittany Lions, LSU Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers and Auburn Tigers along with Florida as his preferred destinations. It appears that Napier along with co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Sean “Chaos” Spencer helped tipped the scales toward the Orange and Blue when push came to shove.

“I’m closest with coach Napier, coach Spencer and also coach (ILB/OLB defensive analyst Jamar) Chaney, as well as the whole D-line room,” Norman said according to Gators Online. “I look forward to being used similar to how they are currently using [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag], showing versatility as an interior defensive lineman.”

Norman is ranked No. 143 overall and No. 21 at his position in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 156 and 18, respectively. Florida had held a solitary crystal ball prediction from 247Sports prior to his decision while On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gave the Gators a 63.3% chance of landing him.

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On3’s RPM puts Florida in lead for two defensive linemen

According to On3, the Florida Gators are front-runners to land two highly regarded defensive lineman recruits.

After missing on a couple of high-level defensive line prospects, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] have turned their eyes toward a pair of highly regarded in-state defensive line recruits.

The Gators currently have a 63.3% chance, according to On3’s recruiting prediction machine, to land [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag], a 6-foot-4-inch, 276-pound Camden, New Jersey, native who plays his high school football at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Norman has taken three unofficial visits to Gainesville in 2022, most recently attending last weekend’s Friday Night Lights and recruiting cookout event. He also took his official visit to Florida in June, the only official visit he has taken thus far.

On3’s Corey Bender is confident Norman will land in Gainesville, going so far as to say that he would be “very surprised” if Norman landed elsewhere. Norman has said that he plans to take full advantage of his remaining four official visits, listing Penn State, Tennessee and Jackson State as potential locations. Bender also notes sources close to the situation believe Norman will commit sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Kamran James has skyrocketed to the top of On3’s recruiting rankings; he is the No. 3 defensive lineman and No. 23 overall player in the 2023 class. Spencer got in early on the 6-foot-5-inch, 265-pound Orlando native, offering him earlier this year.

The early attention seems to be a positive thing in James’ recruiting. On3’s RPM giving the Gators a 96.2% chance to land the Olympia High School lineman. James was also in attendance at last weekend’s Friday Night Lights and recruiting cookout event, one of the four unofficial visits James has taken since March of this year. He also took an official visit to Florida in June, the same week he took an official visit to Georgia, the primary challenger in this recruiting battle.

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4-star DL recruit still favoring Florida despite opening up to other options

The Gators are still in the mix for one of the top defensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting class.

Florida football is coming off its hottest stretch on the 2023 recruiting trail and there is still some headroom for more heat to build. After roping in a few commits and handing out several offers at the end of July, the Gators remain vigilant when it comes to wooing the top prep prospects in the country.

Among those still pondering the potential of a future in the Swamp is four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag] out of the prominent IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The 6-foot-5-inch, 290-pound trench warrior had the Orange and Blue in his top five targeted programs heading into summer. However, he has subsequently added some schools into the mix, including Deion Sanders’ Jackson State Tigers, which has complicated the process for the top contenders.

“I still have four OVs to use,” he told 247Sports. “I’m definitely trying to go to the Tennessee–Alabama game. I have that set up right now. (IMG) doesn’t have a game that weekend right now, but our schedule can get mixed around. So, as of right now, I’ll be at Tennessee-Alabama. I’m definitely trying to make a Jackson State game, too.

“Kentucky is also now on my list. I definitely want to go see what they are talking about.”

Before opening the process up, Norman had the Texas A&M Aggies, Penn State Nittany Lions, LSU Tigers and Michigan Wolverines in his top five in addition to the Gators. Along with Jackson State, the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers appear to be contenders for the rising senior’s talents as well.

As far as what Gainesville has to offer the big defensive lineman, he expressed his comfort with the familiarity that an in-state destination has to offer.

“It’s a comfortable place for me. I go to IMG. So, with us being in their backyard, it’s always good to keep guys like me home. That’s their big message. They got my brother ([autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag]) last year. They want to keep guys like us home. They are always recruiting me hard.”

Norman is ranked No. 143 overall and No. 21 at his position in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 156 and 18, respectively. He holds one crystal ball prediction from 247Sports for Florida and On3’s recruiting prediction machine gives the Gators a 63.3% chance of signing him.

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Florida looking to get this 4-star DL back on campus before end of July

Getting Will Norman back on campus at the end of July could be huge for the Gators.

The last weekend of July is going to be a busy one at the University of Florida. The football team’s Friday Night Lights camp is set for Friday, July 29, and the recruiting cookout is the following day. IMG Academy four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag] should be in attendance that weekend, according to 247Sports, but the plans aren’t set in stone just yet.

Norman told 247Sports that he would “probably” be there for the events after telling them a week ago that he was unsure if he could make it or not. The Gators have hosted him three times this year already, but the blue-chip recruit seems to be slowing things down to give him some time to think. He took an official to the Swamp on June 10 and then shut things down shortly after that.

That might not be great news for Florida.

“My whole plan was to come home and commit in the summer,” Norman said in an interview with the Varsity Podcast. “That was why I took my one OV and called it quits. I had to slow everything down. When I get back to school, I am just going to let the season take place. See where things goes and let God take the lead. I wouldn’t say I was rushing things, but I kind of was falling in love too quick.”

Billy Napier and Co. have been fairly aggressive in recruiting Norman since taking over at UF and that’s unlikely to change. Getting him to commit before the season starts is still the goal, but he’s clearly taking a step back from it all right now. Hopefully, UF doesn’t fall out of favor entirely with the blue-chipper.

Norman is ranked No. 116 overall on the 247Sports composite and No. 17 among defensive linemen in the class of 2023. Penn State is considered Florida’s biggest competition right now, but LSU, Michigan and Texas A&M are in the hunt among others.

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Top-ranked 2024 running back to attend Gators’ recruiting weekend

Top-10 overall player in the 2024 class Jerrick Gibson is scheduled to visit Gainesville this month along with his IMG Academy teammates.

Arguably [autotag]Billy Napier'[/autotag]s biggest target in the 2024 class will be in Gainesville at the end of the month for a massive recruiting weekend.

[autotag]Jerrick Gibson[/autotag], the No. 1 running back in the 2024 class, is scheduled to be a part of Florida’s Friday Night Lights recruiting event on July 29. Friday Night Lights is an annual recruiting event where recruits get one-on-one work with Florida coaches and staff underneath the lights of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Gibson, a Gainesville native, should also be in attendance at the Gators’ cookout scheduled for July 30. He is expected to be joined by IMG Academy teammates [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag], [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag], and [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]. IMG Academy, a private boarding school and training facility in Bradenton, has become a priority for Napier and his staff, landing only Florida’s second ever player from the academy in Napier’s transition cycle when five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] early-enrolled in January.

Gibson previously committed to the Gators at last year’s Friday Night Lights under [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s staff but reopened his commitment in February of this year. The 5-foot-10.5-inch, 190-pound back made his first visit with Napier on March 5, making this his second trip back to his hometown to meet with the new head ball coach.

According to the On3 consensus ranking, Gibson is listed as the No. 9 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class and holds offers from programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, Texas, Texas A&M, Oregon, Miami, Tennessee, and many others.

It’s safe to say that this top-10 overall player, IMG Academy standout and Gainesville native is near the top, if not at the top, of Billy Napier’s 2024 recruiting board.

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Florida football jumps up in ESPN’s latest recruiting rankings

The Gators broke the top 20 in ESPN’s latest recruiting rankings after landing multiple 4-star recruits.

Following the commitment of four-star quarterback [autotag]Markus Stokes[/autotag] and four-star running back [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag], Florida jumped five spots in ESPN’s 2023 recruiting rankings

Coming in at No. 17, the Gators are quietly building a solid recruiting class in [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first full cycle as Florida coach. The new head coach’s strategy of keeping talent inside the state seems to be working, with 10 of the Gators’ 12 commitments hailing from the Sunshine State.

Florida’s 2023 class is highlighted by [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag]. The 5-foot-11-inch, 165-pound athlete is considered to be a top-30 player in the state of Florida according to 247Sports. The Gaither (Tampa, Florida) standout is the latest in a group of players to commit to the program, announcing his commitment on July 8.

The Gators will almost certainly continue to rise in the recruiting rankings. They are in the running to land Cormani McLain, a consensus top-five player in the country (No. 2, On3; No. 3, ESPN & 247Sports). After a visit to Gainesville in April, the Lakeland cornerback said his decision is down to Alabama and Florida.

McLain’s decision, along with [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag]’s, [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]’s and [autotag]Daquayvious Sorey[/autotag]’s, among others, will go a long way towards showing players and fans alike that the future of Florida football is bright.

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2023 Recruiting Profile: 4-star Will Norman would shore up Florida’s DL

The Gators are well-positioned to land a commitment from four-star IMG Academy defensive lineman Will Norman, who hopes to decide before his senior season starts.

It’s no secret that [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is looking to bring IMG Academy’s best to Gainesville, and he’s managed to do it a few times already in his short time as Florida’s head coach. Five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] headlined the transition class and will be a true freshman this season, and four-star [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] is committed to the Gators’ recruiting class of 2023.

Now, a third Ascender is close to joining the mix, four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]. Experts from 247Sports and On3 have predicted that he’ll land at Florida, and he outright said that UF was in his top two following a June official visit (the only one he took over the summer break).

Penn State has a crystal ball logged in their favor by a Florida State insider, but that came months before the others and it seems like Norman is Florida’s to lose at this point. Although the other team in his top two is unknown, it’s likely one of his previous top five and the Nittany Lions fit the bill.

Landing Norman would be huge for Florida considering Gervon Dexter could be headed to the NFL draft after this season. Adding depth to the trenches has been a priority for Bill Napier since arriving at Florida, and a commitment would shore things up for the future on the defensive line.

Norman’s plan is to make a decision before his senior season begins, and it appears he’s still on track with that timeline.

Florida near top for this 4-star IMG Academy DL following official visit

Billy Napier is working toward adding another IMG Academy recruit to the class of 2023, and an official visit over the weekend helped out a ton.

One of the many visitors in Gainesville over the weekend was four-star IMG Academy defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]. He got an extended look at the facilities and campus on his official visit and came away admitting that Florida was in his top two at this point, according to Sports Illustrated’s All Gators.

“Just seeing everybody and spending a weekend with them was definitely eye-opening and it let you know something could be great from this 2023 [recruiting] class,” Norman said.

With hopes of committing some time before his senior season begins, Norman is getting close to decision time, but there’s still plenty of recruiting to be done down the home stretch. LSU, Michigan, Penn State and Texas A&M help make up his top five, but he says he’d like to see Tennessee and USC too.

It remains to be seen just how many schools he’ll get to over the summer, but a June 24 visit with the Nittany Lions is scheduled next.

Norman got a chance to talk with coaches during the visit and learned a bit more about where he’ll be playing if he does end up with the Orange and Blue. Not being locked into one spot on the line is big for him, and the Gators intend to utilize his versatility by moving him around. That’s a plus for Norman, but will it be enough to get pen to paper?

A few more visits could be in store to ensure that it does. July’s Friday Night Lights event is a possibility and he’s already planning a return for a game in the fall.

Napier has already landed two IMG Academy recruits since taking over in December. Five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] is the star of his transition class and four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] is on board for the class of 2023.

247Sports ranks Norman as the No. 115 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and at No. 17 among defensive linemen.

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Gators set to host another IMG Academy recruit on official visit

The Florida Gators have been after 4-star DL WIll Norman for months. He’ll spend an official visit on the Gators in June.

Head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is always recruiting, but there seems to be a special place in his heart for IMG Academy in Bradenton. It’s no secret that Florida’s new head coach wants to create an in-state pipeline from the blue-chip factory to Gainesville, and things seem to be coming along nicely.

Last year, the Gators snagged five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], and they have four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] already committed for the class of 2023. Now, top 100 defensive lineman [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag], who Florida has steadily courted over the last few months, will head to the Swamp for an official visit.

He’ll arrive on June 10 and reunite with co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Sean “Chaos” Spencer. The two have known each other from his time with the New York Giants. Spencer would give Norman pointers that are now translating to the college game.

Florida last hosted Norman in April and the 6-foot-5-inch, 290-pounder left town extremely high on UF. It seems to be a race between the Gators and the Penn State Nittany Lions, who currently hold a 50-50 split of Norman’s crystal ball projections on 247Sports. LSU, Michigan, and Texas A&M round out the top five.

There’s no timeline for a decision, but the summer months before his senior year seem plausible given that he’s now scheduling official visits for June. That’s usually a sign that things are getting serious, and Florida’s been after him for some time now.

Norman is the No. 88 overall recruit on the 247Sports composite and is No. 11 among defensive linemen in the class of 2023.

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