re: 2024 Recruiting Class

2025 QB is a lock!!!


also, there's talks of him "reclassifying" for 2023. not sure how that works.

Give Me Five: 2024 prospects trending up for the Gators in April
Corey Bender • 04/03/23

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As it stands today, Florida is armed with five commits and ranks fourth in the 2024 Industry Ranking Football Team Recruiting Rankings. The highest-ranked prospect in the class is quarterback DJ Lagway; however, four of the commits are ranked inside the On300 and coveted by the nation’s best.
In the latest edition of Give Me Five, Gators Online highlights five juniors who are trending up for UF.

No. 2-ranked safety Xavier Filsaime
Billy Napier’s program offered in January but has made up a significant amount of ground in recent weeks. It’s also worth noting that Filsaime grew up in Orlando and has family residing in the Sunshine State. Florida is a state he still calls “home.”

Georgia, LSU, USC and Oregon are additional programs on Filsaime’s short list; however, Florida is the school I have been hearing the most about in recent weeks. And based off recent intel, UGA is likely the Gators’ biggest competition right now.
During last month’s visit, Filsaime was highly impressed by Austin Armstrong and believes the Gators will flourish with him being the defensive coordinator. He is also noticing a culture shift and was intrigued by the camaraderie between the players and coaches, Several boxes were checked while he was in town.

Up next for Filsaime is a return trip to Gainesville for the Orange and Blue Game. That is scheduled for Thursday, April 13. That is a date to keep an eye on, UF fans.
Filsaime has not hinted at making an early decision, but I am hearing it’s a date to monitor closely. The Gators will be rolling out the red carpet and doing everything they can to seal the deal with Filsaime.

According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Gators are trending with odds of 85.9. That comes after I submitted a prediction for the Gators this past Friday.

Top-100 prospect Zay Mincey

As it stands today, I don’t believe the four-star safety leaves the Sunshine State for college.

Florida, Florida State and UCF are those schools to monitor, while schools like Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Texas A&M have offered as well. The Gators, however, are who I’m favoring right now.

The Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland star has visited Florida over a handful of times, including twice this year, and is a priority for Corey Raymond. They always say to track the visits and the Gators definitely check that box. According to his profile, UF has received the most visits by a long shot.

This one is not as concrete as others, as FSU and UCF are making a strong case as well, but I believe Florida would be the choice if today was decision day.
According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, UF is at the top with odds of 46.8 percent.

In-state cornerback Kevin Levy

The West Palm Beach (Fla.) Cardinal Newman athlete was offered in January, but the Gators were immediately inserted into his top three.

Florida is also Levy’s lifelong favorite school, so there was quite a bit of emotion once the offer was made. Corey Raymond is the coach heavily involved here, while Napier has made his presence felt in recent weeks as well. A return trip to campus is set for this Saturday.

The Gators are primarily recruiting Levy for cornerback but covet his versatility. They believe he could play all over the secondary. Also, this is a prospect on the rise who could unlock four-star status sooner than later.

This year, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Levy has earned offers from over a dozen programs. Those suitors include Florida State, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Minnesota and West Virginia.

The offer from the Seminoles is one to monitor as well. Like the Gators, they are also a part of the visit itinerary. The 2024 class features several UF-FSU battles and this could be another one of them.

On300 linebacker Kris Jones

The Virginia native lands on this list after we learned of a few prospects who do not have a committable offer at this time. Obviously, I like where the Gators stand with the four-star prospect, but there are others who I would have likely put in this spot. That is largely due to their very high interest in the Gators.

Circling back to Jones though, I believe UF is the hot team in his recruitment. He just wrapped up a three-day visit in Gainesville and I’m told the Gators knocked it out of the park with his family. Inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman, who is also a Virginia native, deserves most of the credit for UF’s high standing.

Here is the difficult part though: There are six schools Jones has visited at least three times, including Florida. And out of that group, Penn State has played host five times, so the Gators are not the only program with several meetings already in the books.

You always have to wary of those schools in Jones’ region, but outside of that area, there is no doubt the Gators are the hot program with him. I am not ready to submit a prediction, although the Gators continue to trend up after making another “big impression” on Jones’ family.

Four-star defensive lineman Kendall Jackson

Not a whole lot with Jackson; however, with Austin Armstrong now running the defense, the Gators are recruiting Jackson to play JACK, which is an edge-rushing position.

Jackson recorded 12.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss as a junior, so that is a natural fit for him. And depending on how much he grows, this is a player who could likely play several positions on the d-line.

The 2024 prospect has already set foot on campus nearly a dozen times and most recently visited on March 25. Additional schools are getting a fair shake though, as the likes of Miami, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas, Florida State, Kentucky and Georgia Tech are included in Jackson’s spring visit schedule.

Jackson has yet to name a clear-cut leader, but there is no doubt the Gators are trending. Those odds, according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, are sitting at 97.7 percent. Sean Spencer, Kali James and Billy Napier are among those pushing all the right buttons with the hometown product.

In addition to his mother and uncle having graduated from UF, Jackson is former teammates with Gators signee Gavin Hill. There is no doubt he is doing some recruiting as well.

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From another board:

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Dave from the Doscord is saying keep an eye on Filsaime, Jamari Howard and Kristopher Jones for commits this week.


He is the only one calling for Howard and Jones to pop right now... Filsaime seems to be a given at this point. Which is fantastic news. Ine of the top Safeties in the country. And we need a couple.

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Hope we can get Pride or Filsaime to commit by the end of the week.

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Got Filsaine

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Breaking: 5-star S Xavier Filsaime commits to Florida
By BLAKE ALDERMAN 17 hours ago

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The Florida Gators have been building some momentum on the recruiting front this spring. They landed one of the biggest recruits so far to date on Thursday following their Orange and Blue spring game when McKinney (TX) five-star safety Xavier Filsaime pulled the trigger and committed to Billy Napier and the Florida staff. He had been trending to the Orange and Blue since making his first visit to campus back in March. He picked the Gators over other finalists Georgia, LSU, Oregon, and USC.

Filsaime is from the Sunshine State originally, and still has some family around the Central Florida area. He was offered by the Gators back in January, by former assistant coach Patrick Toney. Florida has since filled Toney's vacancy with new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. Coach Armstrong oversees the defense as a whole, but also works a lot with the safeties during practice. Secondary Coach Corey Raymond was also a big factor here, but Armstrong was the coach that Filsaime got a lot of time around during his visit back in March.

"He is a young dude, he's like 29," he said of Armstrong. "I like the way he gets fired up. He likes to have fun in practice. It was a real good vibe. I felt like he was really getting into it with the players, and making sure they are really understood it. They don't sit in the meetings for more than 30 minutes. They walk through like crazy too. They showed a lot of love and they made it seem like even though it was my first time coming down here after they offered me a few months ago. They showed me a lot of love."



Having a chance to return to his home state was also a big appeal for the talented defender.


"It felt good. There is nothing like home. You are at a school where everyone can easily come to. My mom can come see me play. It felt good. Just coming back down here and seeing everyone."


Filsaime is now the second commitment for the Gators at the safety position, as well as the second addition from the state of Texas.


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Florida's 2024 class now sits at seven verbal commitments after adding Filsaime to the fold. Those other names in the Gators class include Willis (TX) five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, Atlanta (GA) Woodward Academy four-star linebacker Myles Graham, Largo (Fla.) four-star linebacker Adarius Hayes, North Palm Beach (Fla.) Benjamin School four-star running back Chauncey Bowens, West Port (MS) four-star running back Kahnen Daniels, and Nashville (GA) Berrien three-star safety Josiah Davis. Florida's class now currently ranks No. 7 according to 247Sports team recruiting rankings.

247Sports currently ranks Filsaime as the Nation's No. 32 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class and No. 2 ranked safety in the 2024 recruiting class.

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LINK

Give Me Five: 2024 prospects the Florida Gators would love to flip
Corey Bender • 04/15/23

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While the majority of the Gators’ targets remain on the market, there are a flurry of prospects they hope to flip as well. One of them was safety Jordan Pride, but he is now back on the market. It’s still early in the cycle, so UF has plenty of time to change the minds of those committed elsewhere.

With that said, Gators Online highlights five prospects from the 2024 class Florida would like to flip at some point. All but one line up at a skilled position as well.

Five-star Ohio State wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith

Let’s face it; flipping Smith away from the Buckeyes will be extremely difficult, but the South Florida native is taking his visits and recently returned to Gainesville. And to sweeten it up more, Gators quarterback commit DJ Lagway flew in the night prior to make sure he was present for Smith’s visit.

Having Lagway in the class is a huge plus for UF. Him being present for that visit improved the Gators’ chances over the long haul, but I believe Smith’s relationship with Billy Gonzales is the key here. The presence of Keary Colbert was arguably the No. 1 reason why the Gators were previously in the picture. so that bond with Gonzales is something we will be monitoring.

All in all, the Gators have to get Smith back on campus in the near future. The best case scenario is Smith taking 1-2 more unofficials and then returning for an OV. If the Gators were to somehow reel in Smith, it would be one of their biggest commits in recent memory.
Georgia, Miami and Alabama are schools actively pursuing the Big Ten commit as well, but I still like where OSU stands. That pledge is rock solid.

Michigan State cornerback commit Jamari Howard

This is one who might be trending toward the Gators right now.

Back in the fall, the top-50 prospect made a commitment to Michigan State. He continues to say all the right things about that pledge as well, but Florida and Florida State have been surging in recent months. Staying put in the Sunshine State seems like the most-likely scenario right now.

Howard grew up a huge Seminoles fan and has been in Tallahassee quite a bit. That could be the program trending behind the scenes, but I’m now giving the Gators the slight edge. He has been to campus several times over the past month and is planning to return for an official visit. Corey Raymond is turning up the heat and has the full respect of Howard. His resume is something other DB coaches do not have.

Also, I’m told new safety commit Xavier Filsaime is already in Howard’s ear as well. The South Florida native is well reserved when discussing his recruitment, but I believe it’s an extremely close battle between Michigan State, Florida and Florida State. I am giving UF the slight edge as of today though.

Texas A&M defensive line commit Dealyn Evans

Evans could be the most-likely flip addition for UF. He recently logged a three-day visit to Gainesville and was blown away by the experience. The Aggies are the in-state program that has held his commitment for over a year. UF, however, is right there threatening as the No. 2 option.

The On300 prospect has a strong liking for UF’s family-like feel and also praised Mike Peterson. He mentioned his NFL background as a player and believes his experience would benefit him greatly. The Gators definitely knocked it out of the park when hosting him.

Right now, Florida, Texas A&M and TCU are expected to receive official visits in June. The Horned Frogs are the lone program with a set date, but the Gators have the best shot at flipping Evans right now. And if they can secure another unofficial visit prior to the OV, it would be a massive step in the right direction.
All in all, the following quote from after Evans’ visit explains why he is on this list.

“I feel good here. It’s a close thing to A&M, maybe a little better if you ask me,” Evans said.

Georgia wide receiver commit Ny Carr

Last month, the Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County standout was in Gainesville for the first time this year. Prior to that, his last known visit to Florida took place last April, resulting in a scholarship offer.

It’s also worth noting that Carr’s teammate is five-star tight end and Georgia commit, Landen Thomas. UF has stopped by Colquitt County several times over the past year to check on the coveted duo, so familiarity between both parties is fairly high

So, considering that he recently returned to Gainesville, it’s safe to say the Gators are still somewhat on Carr’s radar. When looking at the big picture, however, I think it’s going to be difficult for any school to flip him from the Bulldogs. The same goes for Thomas, but visits are taking place. You can never officially close the book when a prospect is giving schools the opportunity to roll out the red carpet.

But for now, Kirby Smart’s staff should feel comfortable about where they stand with Carr.

Colorado cornerback commit Ju’Juan Johnson

The Louisiana native had Florida and LSU in his final three, and considering he lives in Louisiana, both SEC programs will remain in his ear. You also have the SEC factor, but proximity obviously favors them too.

It’s the presence of Corey Raymond that highlights Johnson’s interest though. Much of that is due to his resume and him consistently manufacturing NFL talent. Those two hit it off in January and will be reconnecting in the near future as well.
If all goes as planned, Johnson will be returning to Gainesville before the start of summer and then visiting again for an OV. Nothing has changed in terms of his relationship with the Gators; in fact, that is why the SEC program is going to receive additional visits. Johnson continues to feel like a top priority and remains interested in the possibilities under Raymond.

Colorado is buzzing on the recruiting trail right now. It’s not going to be easy to flip Johnson, but the Buffaloes should witness a number of hiccups on the field in year one. They finished strong in the transfer portal as well; however, I don’t think that will be enough to flip the script in such a short period of time.
Johnson is definitely one to monitor for the Gators. In-state LSU is one to mention as well.

Stay tuned to Gators Online.

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All but one Florida Gators commit lands in updated 2024 On300
Corey Bender • about 3 hours

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On Monday afternoon, On3 released the updated batch of On300 rankings for the 2024 class. And with Gators having entered the day with the No. 3-ranked class, it’s no surprise a handul of their commits made the list.

Leading the way for Florida is star quarterback, DJ Lagway, who straps up the pads for Willis (Texas) High. He moved up one spot to No. 20 overall and is labeled the No. 3-ranked quarterback in his class as well.

There is a strong chance Lagway finishes the cycle as a five-star prospect, as On3 has yet to extend the amount of five-star prospects in the class. We will see how it plays out though.

Lagway has proven to be an outstanding recruiter for the Gators as well. He is a special talent who has the makings of a multi-year starter in the SEC.

The most recent addition to UF’s class, Texas-based safety Xavier Filsaime, is currently ranked as the No. 48 prospect regardless of position. That is down seven spots from his previous ranking; however, there will be plenty of ranking adjustments over the next eight months.

Filsaime is an instinctive prospect who does a great job of coming downhill and making his presence felt. He made his commitment this past Thursday while attending the Orange and Blue Game.

Back in late February, running back Chauncey Bowens climbed nearly 180 spots to No. 104 overall. Now, the North Palm Beach (Fla.) The Benjamin School standout is on the move again, climbing 13 spots to No. 91 overall.

Bowens is certainly on a terror this offseason, as schools such as Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama are trying to flip him as he climbs the rankings.

Lagway, Filsaime and Bowens are the UF commits ranked inside the top 100; however, several future Gators are sitting comfortably in the back end of the rankings as well.

The Gators boast one of the stronger linebacker classes
Coming in as the fourth-ranked prospect in the Gators’ class is Largo (Fla.) linebacker Adarius Hayes. The versatile junior will be playing in the Under Armour All-America Game as well.

Hayes, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, checks in at No. 106 overall. He was previously ranked at No. 88 but is still regarded as one of the top linebackers in the Southeast. His commitment to the lifelong favorite Gators remains rock solid, so I don’t see much, if any, recruiting drama taking place.

The other linebacker in the Gators’ class is fellow UA All-American Myles Graham of Atlanta (Ga.) Woodward Academy. It’s safe to say this is the ranking UF fans are most upset with, as Graham checks in at No. 190 overall. He was previously at No. 156 after starting out inside the top 100.

Graham, the son of former UF running back Earnest Graham, committed to the Gators last August. His sister now attends the SEC school as well, and on top of that, he is a major priority. All in all, Florida is the total package for the four-star defender.

Closing out the list for the Gators is running back Kahnen Daniels. The West Point (Miss.) standout climbed three spots and is now the No. 277 prospect overall. He primarily played quarterback as a junior but spearheads a rush-heavy attack. He often operated in the gun and relied heavily on the read option.

Daniels, who committed to UF last week, recorded 203 carries for 2,032 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior. Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Oregon and Forfeit State University are some schools that offered him as well.

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Really that average will not stay that way.

There is no BAMA in that top ten so as soon as Saban gets the guys in he wants them things are going to be different in these standings plus Florida, Bama,Uga fighting for some of the same guys Florida is not going to win all those battles. plus flips so if they can stay in the 92.5 to 93 range that would be great and should have a top 5 class

Nm