re: "Recruiting Season" 2023 Class

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In its continuing effort to sign a large haul of offensive linemen in the 2023 class, Florida added its second player at the position to its commitment list on Monday.

Bryce Lovett, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound standout at Rockledge (Fla.) High School, announced his pledge to the Gators via Instagram Live. Lovett, who is also celebrating his 17th birthday on Monday, picked Florida over three other finalists, Iowa State, Louisville and Missouri.

Lovett, who is viewed as an offensive tackle by Florida, said his decision to commit to the Gators came down to his connections within the program.


“I just feel like my relationship with the whole coaching staff and how I feel comfortable there and what they have to offer for me with the [offensive line] and how they dedicate a lot to the [offensive line],” Lovett told Swamp247. “It really made it easy.”

A three-star prospect ranked No. 761 overall in the 2023 cycle on the 247Sports Composite, Lovett had plenty of opportunities to forge strong relationships with Florida’s staff members as he was among the team’s most frequent visitors this spring.


Lovett took five unofficial trips to Florida throughout the spring, including a visit on Jan. 29 when he received a scholarship offer. At one point, Lovett took visits to Florida on three consecutive Saturdays. It swayed him to ultimately pick the school.

“I went the first time when they offered me just to go see practice and everything,” Lovett said. “That’s when I learned that they were getting a new facility and how they ran practice and, obviously, that’s when I met the coaches for the first time. That first time seeing the practice really opened my eyes a lot because I wanted to get out of Florida to go to college but after that it made me think. Then it was just about going back and building a relationship with the rest of the coaching staff and it just made it easy.”

Lovett said his connections with Florida co-offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton clicked almost immediately and the three stayed in daily contact for roughly four months, which helped Lovett “make that decision because [he] felt comfortable.”

The three-star lineman, who reportedly attracted four other SEC offers, also built a good relationship with Florida head coach Billy Napier.

“We talk all the time and then when I go up there, we would always have little meetings to talk and then over the phone we would talk,” Lovett said. “What I like about him, he came in and instantly asked what the players wanted and there were three things he did off the bat that helped the players: living, eating, and parking. That’s the first thing he did and that shows a lot. Obviously, he’s focused on what the players want.”


Lovett’s frequent trips to Florida’s campus weren’t just about strengthening his connections with its staff. He also had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the program’s schedule for its athletes, how practices are run and even some of its offensive scheme.

He was particularly impressed with the practices, he said.

“The way they ran practice, they focus on your development more than I’ve ever even seen,” Lovett said. “They’ll teach you something and instantly go into a team period and practice that and they’ll do that like three times a practice so you can tell that they’re trying to get you better.”


Lovett was also able to have conversations with some of the Gators’ current players, including sophomore offensive lineman Richie Leonard, who went to high school just five miles from Lovett’s school. Lovett also spoke with junior starting left tackle Richard Gouraige and junior starting center Kingsley Eguakun, among others.

“They just came out and told me that they love the coaching staff way more,” Lovett said. “They like it way better than the old one.”

With his commitment out of the way, Lovett said he plans to spend the next several months focused on self-improvement with a goal of graduating in December and enrolling early at Florida.

“I think everything needs improvement,” Lovett said. “That’s just how I am. I don’t think I’m perfect at anything because I’m not. So all around, I need to just keep working.”

Lovett is Florida’s fifth 2023 commitment, joining four-star athlete Aaron Gates, four-star offensive lineman Knijeah Harris, three-star athlete Creed Whittemore and three-star wide receiver Tyree Patterson. The Gators rank No. 30 in the country in 2023 recruiting, surpassing Miami.

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