Tag: Xavier Filsaime

Five-star Florida commit Xavier Filsaime receives in-home visit from Steve Sarkisian

Steve Sarkisian visited five-star safety Xavier Filsaime on Thursday night.

As the transfer portal season begins in college football, fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of new players who might replace the current Longhorns who will not be with Texas next year.

Some players may be looking for more playing time, while others could be looking for a change of scenery or a better fit within a different program. As such, the transfer portal season is always an exciting time for college football fans, as it can bring fresh talent to the team and potentially change the course of the entire season.

On Thursday night, head coach Steve Sarkisian and safeties coach Blake Gideon visited Xavier Filsaime at his house. Filsaime is a five-star safety in the 2024 class and is currently committed to the University of Florida, but the native Texan could flip his recruitment if Sark can work his magic.

Filsaime is described by Gabe Brooks from 247 Sports as one of the elite safeties in his class and can play nearly every defensive back position due to his skills in coverage and physicality.

The five-star safety isn’t a lock to flip his commitment but could see promised playing time due to Texas’ lack of safety depth next season.

Florida commit, five-star S Xavier Filsaime schedules official visit to Texas

This could be a massive flip for Steve Sarkisian’s staff.

Texas received good news on the recruiting trail recently. Continue reading “Florida commit, five-star S Xavier Filsaime schedules official visit to Texas”

Texas offers five-star safety, Florida commit Xavier Filsaime

Xavier Filsaime is the No. 2 safety in the nation for the 2024 class.

Texas extended an offer to five-star safety Xavier Filsaime on Monday. Continue reading “Texas offers five-star safety, Florida commit Xavier Filsaime”

Florida’s 5-star S commit to attend Grill in the Ville this weekend

The Gators will get this 5-star safety commit on campus this weekend.

Florida football is getting set to host the first edition of the Grill in the Ville event, which welcomes prep prospects from a range of recruiting classes into the Swamp to get a gander at what Billy Napier and the Gators have to offer.

One of the Gators’ top commits will be in town this weekend for the event in five-star safety [autotag]Xavier Filsaime[/autotag] out of McKinney (Texas). The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound defender committed to Florida back in mid-April while in town for the annual Orange and Blue game, from which he came away with a high view of Napier and Co.’s program.

“What really stood out is the vibe and chemistry I had with the coaches when I first met them in person,” Filsaime told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “Also the fact that I’m from Florida and I’ll be back home. It’s only a two-hour flight from Texas, so it really worked out both ways.”

Since then, the high school senior hosted defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong at his school near the end of April and also had a scheduled official visit to campus for mid-June.

Filsaime is ranked No. 30 overall and No. 2 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 28 and 2, respectively.

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Official visit date set for 5-star Florida Gators safety commit

The middle of June is going to be LIT in Gainesville with all of the official visits scheduled.

Five-star 247Sports safety commit Xavier Filsaime out of McKinney (Texas) has an official date set with Florida football — the program he committed to back in April — for the weekend of June 16, according to Swamp247’s Blake Alderman. The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound prospect gave his word to the Gators during their spring football game after making a visit in March, which is when his interest in the Orange and Blue crescendoed.

“What really stood out is the vibe and chemistry I had with the coaches when I first met them in person,” Filsaime told On3’s Hayes Fawcett after his April stop in Hogtown. “Also the fact that I’m from Florida and I’ll be back home. It’s only a two-hour flight from Texas, so it really worked out both ways.”

Assistant head coach/secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong have both been working hard to woo the rising high school junior.

“I think ultimately the coaching staff when it came to Coach Raymond being able to develop guys and the amount of guys he’s put in the league,” his father told 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong last month. “I think for him it’s more that gut feeling.

“When you put everything on paper and look at the coaching staff in place, Napier what he does on the offensive side, him and Coach Armstrong hitting it off right away and the energy he brings to the team, and Coach Raymond developing the DBs and things of that nature and helping him get to the next level ultimately set Florida apart.”

Filsaime is rated at four stars and ranked No. 35 overall and No. 2 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking also rates him at four stars and has him at Nos. 32 and 2, respectively. Florida holds two crystal ball predictions from 247Sports while On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine strongly agrees with a 94.5% chance of the Gators signing him.

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5-star safety commit to get visit from Florida DC Austin Armstrong

The Gators are back out on the road pounding the recruiting trail pavement, starting with this 5-star commit.

After a month of hosting prep prospects during its spring practice season, Florida football’s staff prepares to hit the road in the next leg of the recruiting cycle. Billy Napier’s staff will be out and about, both checking up on current commits as well as convincing the undecided to sign on with the Orange and Blue.

Among those set to host a coaching visit is five-star safety commit [autotag]Xavier Filsaime[/autotag] out of McKinney (Texas), who is expected to receive Florida’s defensive coordinator [autotag]Austin Armstrong[/autotag] on Monday at his school’s practice. The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound prospect is at the top of the Gators’ docket as his visit date is on the first day of the spring evaluation period.

Filsaime already has a very positive impression of Napier’s burgeoning program but there is always room for growth.

“What really stood out is the vibe and chemistry I had with the coaches when I first met them in person,” Filsaime told On3’s Hayes Fawcett after his last visit to Gainesville. “Also the fact that I’m from Florida and I’ll be back home. It’s only a two-hour flight from Texas, so it really worked out both ways.”

Filsaime is rated as a five-star recruit by 247Sports, but according to the 247Sports composite he rates at four stars and is ranked No. 36 overall and No. 2 at his position nationally. Meanwhile, the On3 industry ranking also has him at four stars and ranked at Nos. 32 and 2, respectively. Prior to his commitment Florida had three 247Sports crystal ball predictions and a 94.5% chance of landing him from On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

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Friday Night Notes: Florida lands 5-star DB, Malik Blocton names his top 10 schools and more

The most significant recruitment of the week happened Thursday, when the Florida Gators got a commitment from one of the top safeties in Texas.

USA TODAY High School Sports‘ Friday Night Notes is a weekly high school recruiting recap that looks at the latest news from around the country—from the Class of 2023 to ’24 and beyond.

The Florida Gators earned themselves the biggest recruiting prize of the week on Thursday when they got a commitment from one of the top-ranked defensive backs in the recruiting class of 2024.

Here’s how McKinney (Texas) five-star safety Xavier Filsaime announced that he’s on his way to the swamp.

Filsaime had offers from 32 other programs, including Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Pitt.

Asked why he picked the Gators, he told Hayes Fawcett at On3 he feels close with Billy Napier’s staff and likes how they plan to use him.

“What really stood out is the vibe and chemistry I had with the coaches when I first met them in person… I’m close with a few guys… Coach CJ, Joe Hamilton, and coach Armstrong are the main guys I really talk to on a regular basis. But the way the plan on using me in their defense is not really much different from my high school coaches. Playing man, zone, and a lot more blitzing with me.”

Going by the composite rankings, Filsaime (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) is currently No. 2 among safeties in his class behind Buford (Ga.)’s uncommitted star, KJ Bolden. He’s also the No. 7 ranked recruit in the state of Texas and No. 36 overall in his class.

That makes seven hard commits for Florida’s class of 2024. Filsaime is the second-highest ranked prospect behind Willis (Texas) five-star quarterback DJ Lagway. This group ranks No. 6 in the nation.

For more Florida football news, follow USA TODAY’s Gators Wire.

Gators get commitment from this 2024 Lone Star State 5-star safety

While everyone was focused on the Orange and Blue game today this blue-chip safety committed to Florida.

The recruiting hot stove is scorching hot for Florida football as the Gators play their annual Orange and Blue game inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — which is just as much a barometer for the coming season as it is a powerful recruiting tool.

On Thursday, 247Sports five-star safety [autotag]Xavier Filsaime[/autotag] out of McKinney (Texas) committed to the Orange and Blue, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound defensive back chose the Orange and Blue over a handful of other suitors, including the Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers.

“What really stood out is the vibe and chemistry I had with the coaches when I first met them in person,” Filsaime told Fawcett. “Also the fact that I’m from Florida and I’ll be back home. It’s only a two-hour flight from Texas, so it really worked out both ways.”

As far as his recruitment, a few members of staff have been working hard to bring him into the fold.

“Coach CJ, Joe Hamilton, and Coach Armstrong are the main guys I really talk to on a regular basis. But the way they plan on using me in their defense is not really much different from my high school coaches. Playing man, zone, and a lot more blitzing with me.”

Filsaime is rated at four stars and ranked No. 36 overall and No. 2 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking also has him at four stars and ranked at Nos. 29 and 2, respectively. Prior to his commitment Florida had three 247Sports crystal ball predictions and a 94.5% chance of landing him from On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

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Florida named new leader for blue-chip safety by On3

The Gators are getting closer and closer to locking up one of the top athletes in the recruiting class of 2024.

When McKinney (Texas) safety [autotag]Xavier Filsaime[/autotag] announced his top five of Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oregon and USC, it was the Bulldogs that were considered the leaders in the race for one of the nation’s top defensive back recruits. Now, Florida can lay claim to that title, at least according to the new numbers posted by the On3 recruiting prediction machine.

The Gators now boast 85.9% odds to land the Lone Star State native, with Georgia in a distant second place at 3.5 percent. Corey Bender of Gators Online submitted an expert prediction in favor of Florida for Filsaime, which is why the numbers are so skewed.

“It was the visit on March 10, however, that cemented Florida as a real contender,” Bender wrote.

Filsaime got to meet with UF’s new defensive coordinator, Austin Armstrong, and the duo really hit it off. There may have been some questions about Armstrong’s youth when he was announced as Billy Napier’s new defensive play caller, but he’s at least hit the ground running in the recruiting department

Filsaime seems like Florida’s to lose at this point, but those who follow recruiting closely know that nothing is guaranteed until a letter of intent is signed. And even then, it doesn’t always work out.

Nabbing a five-star recruit, by 247Sports’ measure, would be massive for Florida. He’s ranked No. 44 overall on the 247Sports composite and is No. 3 among safeties in the class.

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Five-star 2024 DB planning multiple return trips Florida

The Gators are looking to bring one of the best players in the 2024 class back for a second visit, with new DC Austin Armstrong playing a key role in the prospects’ recruitment.

Billy Napier isn’t letting up on the recruiting trail. After a top-15 finish in 247Sports’ 2023 team recruiting rankings, the Gators are looking to continue acquiring talent.

Currently the No. 9 class in the 2024 ranking, the Gators are looking to bring in five-star defensive back recruit [autotag]Xavier Filsaime[/autotag] back to Gainesville for a second visit for the Orange and Blue game, according to Swamp247.

After completing a two-day stay earlier in March, Filsaime confirmed that he will be visiting Gainesville again for an official visit, but did not specify a date. The No. 3 safety in the 2024 class has Florida roots. Despite currently living in Texas and playing for McKinney High School, Filsaime lived in Florida until middle school, when his family moved to the Lone Star State.

When talking to 247Sports, the six-foot-one, 180-pound prospect was very impressed during his first visit to campus. He specifically mentioned new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, who replaced Patrick Toney after the latter left for the NFL, and how he believes Armstrong is the right man for the job.

This is good news, given that Filsaime was offered a scholarship by Toney. Lots of people had questions about how Armstrong would be able to build relationships with recruits after the departure of Toney. If one of the best players at his position is any indicator, Armstrong will be just fine.

According to the 247Sports composite, Filsaime is Texas’ No. 7 player in the class of 2024. His anticipated official visit to Florida will come sometime this summer, possibly paired with his official visit to Georgia which is currently scheduled for June 16.

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