Previewing decision day for elite DB Ben Hanks Jr.
Ben Hanks Jr. of Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington is one of the top cornerback prospects in the entire country. And Friday, he will make one college program and its fan base very happy. That’s the day Hanks will announce his commitment decision. Florida, Louisville and Miami are his finalists. All told, Hanks had dozens of offers. And they came from most of the nation’s leading programs. As his decision nears, the Gators are the favorites in the ON3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Can Billy Napier & Co. seal the deal?
Here’s a quick preview of Hanks’ commit announcement:
TIME: Approximately 4 p.m. ET via social media. You can follow Hanks on X HERE.
RANKING/RATING: Hanks, listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, is the No. 11 corner and No. 102 overall recruit nationally for the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He holds a stellar 93.12 rating in the On3 Industry and is a 93 with On3, which has him as the No. 10 corner in the class.
THE 411: Hanks’ father, Ben Hanks Sr., also is a Miami native and he played for the Gators in the early/mid-1990s. When then-coach Steve Spurrier un-retired the No. 11 jersey he wore at Florida in the 1960s, Hanks was the first Gator to get it — and he was a solid player during a great era for the program.
Despite those ties to UF, it has been no forgone conclusion Ben Hanks Jr. would be a Gator. In fact, earlier in the year many viewed Miami as the favorite. Although Hanks had visited the Gators prior to his June official visit, that seems to be when Florida began to make a major move. By all accounts, that weekend trip went extremely well for both sides, with one source telling Gators Online at the time Florida had “moved the needle.” On the visit, Hanks and his father caught up with Spurrier at the Saturday dinner.
Ben Hanks Jr. visited the Gators twice in June
Two weeks later, Hanks was back in Gainesville. He took part in the Friday Night Lights 7-on-7 event with his teammates. But Hanks actually arrived in town the previous day. And he got to watch the Gators participate in organized team activities, better known as OTAs. “I loved the energy,” Hanks said. “I felt like it was a place I could come and compete at. And it felt great.” The other significance of Hanks being in Gainesville for Friday Night Lights was that it delayed the start of his official visit to Miami that weekend. The Hurricanes nonetheless seemed to make a strong impression on his official to Coral Gables.
Meanwhile, Louisville made its presence known without much fanfare. The Cardinals, who have a history of recruiting well in south Florida, hosted Hanks on an official the first weekend in June. And some think that program has ended up being arguably the Gators’ biggest threat. But as Hanks’ commitment date approached, there probably has been more confidence at Florida than at Louisville or Miami. Bonds have been built with people in Gainesville such as secondary coach Will Harris and Napier — and the chance to continue the family legacy at Florida is appealing.
That said, Hanks hasn’t tipped his hand.
RECRUITING PREDICTION MACHINE: The ON3 Recruiting Prediction Machine favors the Florida Gators with a projection rate of 94.6 percent.
WHY IT COULD BE FLORIDA: Relationships, comfort, being a legacy, player development, academics.
WHY IT COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE: Hanks and his father are close with and have respect for John Herron, Director of Recruiting, and others at Louisville. Meanwhile, the chance to represent his hometown school has some allure.
OUR PICK: Florida. In the end, we think the arrow is pointing toward Gainesville.
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