5-star OT Jordan Seaton: Upcoming Gators official visit is crucial to UF’s chances

The race for 5-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy seemingly could go in a number of directions.

Alabama impressed him during a summer official visit and is a major player. Tennessee hosted him last week and things went so well he’s expected to return for an official. Meanwhile, schools such as Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Carolina also are in the mix.

And then there is Florida.

Seaton, the No. 2 tackle in the country for the On3 Industry Rankings, will officially visit the Gators this weekend. And, he told Gators Online, it’s a visit that is crucial in his recruitment.

“Important visit for them,” Seaton said. “This could make ’em lead the race or exit the race.”

Seaton, listed at 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, is one of the Gators’ most important remaining targets. Florida currently has four offensive linemen committed in the 2024 class but the Gators would love to add a franchise left tackle to the fold.

Florida has been a major factor in Seaton’s recruitment for several months.

Jordan Seaton likes UF’s offensive line coaching setup

One reason for that: He’s extremely high on the Gators’ two offensive line coaches.

“I love the two-coach system at Florida,” Seaton told On3 in September. “It is great how they do things with coach Rob Sale and coach Darnell Stapleton. Having both sides and both worlds makes it different with Florida. Coach Stapleton knows me, he is a lot like me and I can relate to him. If he isn’t available, then I can go to Coach Sale and vice versa. I just like the system Florida is running. Then coach Billy Napier is relentless and he is an interesting guy. I can talk to him and I can vibe and chill with him. Coach Napier is a guy you want to be around once you get to know him. It is about the coaches for me with Florida. They are good people.”

Seaton has a game Friday night in the metro-Jacksonville area. Once that game ends, he will head to Gainesville.

The Gators prefer not to do official visits during the season because of the time constraints for the coaching staff on a game weekend. However, Seaton is such an important recruit they made an exception for him.

What does Seaton hope to experience in Gainesville?

“Open book — (I’m coming to enjoy every second of it,” he told Gators Online.

Meanwhile, 5-star Florida quarterback commit DJ Lagway, who plans to also be in Gainesville this weekend, took to social media Thursday night to let fans know how important Seaton is. He Tweeted the following: “Gator nation we’re going to have THE #1 OL in the country, Show him some crazy love this weekend on his OV. Let him know where home at. @JordanSeaton_”

Seaton told Gators Online he is impressed by Florida’s recruiting class, which is No. 4 in the rankings.

“Coach Napier is doing a great job, especially landing (DJ) Lagway and (Myles) Graham,” Seaton said.

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