re: "Recruiting Season" 2023 Class

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida's decision to move its spring game from Saturday to Thursday appears to have been highly beneficial for at least one top prospect who was in the Swamp last night to take in the action.

Four-star running back Treyaun Webb from nearby Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville was in town for the game and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

"It was great," Webb told 247Sports' Blake Alderman. "Honestly, coach (Billy) Napier moving it to Thursday, I was able to go. Because if it was on Saturday like it originally was I wouldn't have went."

More than 300 high school prospects were on campus for the evening -- though certainly not all are Florida-caliber players -- and the atmosphere was good from start to finish. The team ran out onto the field to pyrotechnics, while recruits had some of the best seats in the house on the alumni side of the stadium, a change implemented by Napier and his staff.

Webb was recognized several times on his visit, something that seemed to appeal to the 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect.

"The fans were amazing," he said. "I feel like Florida is the only place where I can really go -- either Florida or South Carolina, well I haven't been to South Carolina yet -- as far as I can go and walk around, feel comfortable like it's my home. I can walk around, basically do anything I want. It's basically home away from home. Fans, everything. The staff, they treat me like I'm one of their own.

"Anything I can look for in a school, I've got it in my back yard. It's that overall feeling, that home feeling, I can go there, feel comfortable just walking around, talking to fans. The fans is crazy. I've never felt love from any fans (like that). It feels good going to a place where fans know you, take picture with you. You've got little kids looking up to you and stuff like that, I like that."

UF sits in commanding position in Webb's recruitment, with South Carolina also standing out.

Webb plans to take official visits to Florida (June 3), Penn State (June 11), Tennessee (June 18) and South Carolina (June 24) before making a commitment sometime in July. He may also officially visit Baylor, but he hasn't ironed out plans on that one yet.

"Florida is probably my leader in my recruitment for a while now," Webb said. "That's kind of where it's at in my recruiting right now, Florida's always been my leader, really."

In addition to the atmosphere Webb was able to soak in on Thursday night, he also got a chance to watch the offense in person. He also took an unofficial visit to UF earlier this spring, so it wasn't his first time watching the unit.

It was his first time seeing it under the lights in a game setting, though.

"It was great, I kind of got a little taste of the atmosphere of how it's going to be with coach Napier and the fans," he said. "Just the overall game atmosphere, there was nothing like it. It was kind of my first time really being in that atmosphere. It was electric."

He was impressed by what he saw on the field, too.

"I like how the offense is," he said. "Kind of how it was at that 'Bama offense when they won a natty with DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris. They kind of base their offense off the run game. The use the run game to set up RPOs, quick shots, stuff like that."

Webb said UF's whole staff has been active in his recruitment, and he came away from the visit feeling like he's wanted by the Gators.

"Big takeaway, I would probably say that I'm a priority and they need me," he said. "They're trying to build a special national championship team and they're making great strides with that at Florida."

Webb is ranked as the No. 115 overall prospect in the country in the 247Composite, an industry-generated recruiting ranking. He checks in as the No. 5 running back in the nation and the No. 23 overall player in the state of Florida in the 2023 recruiting class.

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CHECKING IN
Name: Tyree Patterson

Class: 2023

Position: Wide Receiver

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Location/School: Eustis (Fla.) High

Committed to: The University of Florida

On3 Consensus Ranking: Three-star prospect | No. 224 wide receiver | No. 225 player in the state of Florida

SCOUTING REPORT
While many are primarily focused on his ranking, and understandably so, I believe Patterson is poised to eventually receive a significant bump in that department.

For a big-bodied pass catcher, Patterson shows deceptive speed and is accustomed to stretching the field and getting behind defenses. He has fluid movements and shows decent acceleration off the line of scrimmage as well.

Whether it’s high-pointing the ball or extending out across the middle, Patterson does a good job of catching the ball away from his body. He possesses decent length and takes advantage of it when he has to.

It’s not often when Patterson is in those jump-ball situations, as he typically as several steps on the defender and catches the ball in stride. Much of that is due to the level of competition, but I believe he possesses the tools to make those contested grabs, especially once it’s time to get vertical.

Most high school wide receivers are all about racking up yardage and touchdowns; however, with Patterson, you have a kid who takes pride in freeing up teammates as well. He plays under control as a run blocker and is physical until the whistle is blown. I also like his consistency with getting his hands inside.

Patterson is overlooked in multiple categories
The 2023 prospect needs to continue to expand his route tree, but that is the case with a number of primary targets at the prep level.

Patterson hauled in 53 catches for 1,078 yards and 13 touchdowns, so you can’t say Eustis’ game plan did not work. He often dissected defenses with seam routes, averaging 20.3 yards per catch, but shows decent footwork when getting in and out of his break.

Overall, I believe Patterson is underrated and should possess additional scholarship offers.

I think he has the tools and skill set to eventually become a four-star prospect; however, seeing him in camp against improved competition will give us a better gauge of where he should be ranked. I’m sure he will be camping in Gainesville this summer, so I’m eager to see him compete.

Overall, this is a kid with intriguing size and length who is known for coming up with the big play. He has decent speed and is accustomed to getting behind defenses for six points.

There is no doubt Patterson could be a big riser during the second half of 2022.

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Jacksonville (Fla.) Westside four-star defensive lineman Jordan Hall visited the University of Florida for the second time in a weeks span this past Thursday to take in the Gators spring football game. The Gators had a decent turnout for just a spring game, which gave the North Florida defender a good idea of how the fan support will be under new head coach Billy Napier.

"Honestly the environment for the spring game was kind of crazy. You don't really see stuff like that. Everyone is involved. There were more fans than I expected to see. Each side of the stadium was kind of packed. The environment was good, the band was even into it, and we had fans screaming. I don't know what they were saying, but it was a good thing to be around. I love coming down here. It feels great and it's just a great vibe."

Through previous visits to Florida, Hall has been able to see the team hit the practice field. That has given him a good idea for how the coaches interact with their players and the talent level on UF's roster. Still, having more of a game like atmosphere gave him yet another understand for the Gators defensive line again. Of course he keyed on his position, but watched even more in-depth to watch the younger guys on the roster closer.

"It was good seeing the guys work harder than what you see in just a practice. Everyone looks at Dex, and then just all the other dudes. Dex is probably the best d-lineman overall, but Tyreak Sapp showed up and played his arse off. Him and a couple other players were ones I was keyed on. The incoming freshman and all those guys was a great thing to see and the impact Coach [Sean] Spencer has on them. It was a crazy thing to see what they can do in a couple months. As a recruit, you want to a coach do well with them. Me, I am trying to come in and play as early as possible and seeing that opened my eyes."

Florida defensive line coach Sean Spencer has done a good job recruiting Hall since joining the coaching staff. The two got to spend some more time around one another on Hall's most recent visit.

"Same ol' same ol'," he said of Spencer's message. "We just rekindle the friendship every time. Just seeing him and being around him and asking the questions he has. It's like an interview with him. He just wants to check up on you basically. Everything is fun with him and he's a good vibe all the way around."


Hall is taking his time with his recruiting process and has only cut things down to a Top12. While that is a pretty deep field of teams, Florida continuing to get him on campus helps their chances each and every time.


"Most definitely," he said. "It's like coming back to your cousins house. See what type of game we can play today and see where we can go next. It's always a good vibe. Everything is really fun to be down here. It's always love coming down. People screaming my name. I ain't gonna lie to you. If I see a sign that says we want Big Baby, I'm coming here. It's just being around and I love being here."

Hall noted his plans to visit Auburn on Monday following his visit to UF. He will likely slow down on visits after that until after his own spring football season. Next month though, he will look to try and get back to Gainesville.

"Maybe in May," he said. "Get my mom down here since she's never been down here."

247Sports currently ranks Hall as the Nation's No. 157 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class.

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Dang, I thought he'd make a bigger impact in Mullen's offense

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