Florida LB commit Myles Graham has a close relationship with Alabama’s Robert Gillespie

So far this year, there hasn’t been much to discuss — from an Alabama perspective — when it comes to Myles Graham. The Florida Gators linebacker commitment has yet to visit Tuscaloosa in 2023, with his previously planned late January visit not materializing.

In an in-person conversation with BamaInsider last week, however, Graham says the Tide are in line to get him on campus again.

“Just have my OV set up June 9 to the University of Florida,” the Atlanta (Ga.) Woodward Academy product told us last week. “I haven’t decided yet [on other official visits], but there will be. Probably Alabama and Georgia, those schools.”

Graham, whose father, Earnest, played for the Gators over two decades ago, is maintaining weekly contact with Alabama’s Robert Gillespie. That bond with Gillespie goes back further than the Crimson Tide’s recruitment of Graham.

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“My relationship with Alabama is very deep. I definitely have ties there,” Graham said. “Coach G played college football with my dad at the University of Florida. He was there at his wedding. They’re like brothers. Coach Gillespie is like an uncle to me. He always will be. It’s bigger than football and recruiting with him and I. That’s family. I’ll do anything for him, and likewise.

“He’s definitely my biggest fan as well as my biggest recruiter. He recruits me the hardest and he supports me with everything I do,” Graham added. “Other than Florida, I definitely talk with Coach Gillespie the most. That’s my guy.”

Inside linebackers coach Robert Bala attended Graham’s practice last Wednesday as well. The two have not spoken as often as Gillespie has with him, but Graham explained what Bala’s message to him is.

“Coach Bala, he told me there’s no pressure. I can do what I want,” Graham said. “But, at the end of the day, they’d love to have me because they don’t want to play against me.”

Myles Graham reflects on prior Alabama trips: “I love going there.”

While that connection with Gillespie is playing a big part in his Alabama interest, the program’s production has caught Graham’s eye as well.

“They’ve had amazing, amazing players. [The NFL] is my dream, that is my goal,” Graham said. “That’s where I’m trying to go.”

The nation’s fifth-ranked linebacker has also been impressed on his prior trips to Tuscaloosa.

“I’ve been there a couple of times,” Graham said. “It’s beautiful. I love going there. It’s a great time every time I go.”

Alabama, Georgia, and others are continuing to do their best to flip the 6-foot-1, 212-pound linebacker. At this juncture, however, Graham is remaining firm in his pledge to the Gators.

“I’m completely locked in with Florida 100 percent,” Graham said. “It’s just my relationship is there, I’m a legacy, and I want to come in and play my freshman year. I want to do what I do best and bring back what Florida used to be.”

Graham has an On3 NIL Valuation of $145,000, putting him at No. 96 overall amongst all high school football players. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Alabama fans, also be sure to join the discussion about Myles Graham on the Talk of Champions message board. There’s always a lot of great team, recruiting, and off-topic conversations going on. So, we look forward to talking with you all there!

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