re: "Recruiting Season" 2023 Class

quote:

---

The Florida Gators opened the day with the No. 37 ranked 2023 recruiting class on Monday, but that changed with the newest commitment of Rockledge (Fla.) three-star offensive lineman Bryce Lovett. The in-state big man picked the Gators over other finalists Iowa State, Missouri, and Louisville.

This addition moved the Gators up to No. 30 in the latest 247Sports team recruiting rankings for the class of 2023. The Gators jumped the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Iowa State, Oregon, and Miami on their climb up. The Gators now hold 5 verbal commitments to date for their 2023 recruiting class.

The Gators have been seen as the odds on favorite for the 6-foot-5, 330-pounder for most of the spring, after he was a regular visitor to Gainesville. New offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton worked quickly to forge a strong bond with Lovett. Along with them, the Gators also have other staffers who are hands on with offensive linemen. The attention to his position was one of the biggest standouts to Lovett about the Orange and Blue.


"It's the relationship I have with the new coaching staff and what they are trying to do," Lovett said when asked what he likes about the Gators. "And then they got like five o-line coaches. They are so dedicated to the offensive line, it's crazy."

The Gators are high on the versatility Lovett brings along the front line, and see him being able to be a plug and play type player.

"They want to bring me in to play tackle, but I can play anywhere and they know that," he said. "So they said if there's an opportunity for me to play guard, they would put me at guard or wherever I need to be. They want to slim me down a little bit, cut some weight and put some muscle on.


"I'm cool with anything. I can play all over the line. I've been playing all over the line my whole life."


Lovett is set to use his official visit to Florida the first weekend of June, on the 3rd through the 5th. He's had the Gators leading in his recruitment since his most recent visit to Florida when he was up for the team spring football game in April.

The Gators 2023 class currently sits at 5 verbal commitments to date with the addition of Lovett. Those other names include Sharpsburg (GA) Trinity Christian School four-star athlete Aaron Gates, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star interior offensive lineman Knijeah Harris, Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz four-star wide receiver Creed Whittemore, and Eustis (Fla.) three-star wide receiver Tyree Patterson.

The 247Sports Composite, an industry generated average, currently ranks Lovett as the Nation's No. 726 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class and No. 61 ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 recruiting class.

---