Billy Napier: ‘Pretty good night’ for Florida Gators’ recruiting

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA — Not long after the Florida Gators wrapped up their 29-16 win over No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday night at The Swamp, Billy Napier’s program got some very good news on the recruiting front. It came when 4-star running back Waltez Clark committed.

Just days earlier, Clark had told Gators Online he probably wouldn’t make a commit decision until November or December. But after watching the Gators roll Saturday, he decided to make the move now.

That’s the kind of impact days like Saturday — when the Swamp is packed and the Gators beat a big-name opponent — can have.

“You’ve got to get them in the building and you’ve got to cash it in, right?” Napier said during his post-game press conference. Clark committed to him a short while later.

He’s the first commitment for Florida in the 2025 class. For 2024, the Gators have 21 verbals and the No. 3 class in the country for On3.

For Florida, the first step, as Napier suggested, was getting them on campus. He’s always believed once that happens the Gators will have a shot.

But Saturday, they not only had several high-level prospects on campus they played extremely well and deceived a memorable win for them. On top of that, the Swamp was electric.

Billy Napier, recruits rave about Saturday’s game and energy at The Swamp

One recruit after the other praised the team — and the energy in Gainesville — upon leaving Ben Hill Griffin Stadium late Saturday night.

“It was a big win for them. The crowd was loud, very loud,” Statesboro (Ga.) 4-star receiver Kam Mikell. told Gators Online. “I just really loved how the atmosphere was and how the fans reacted to the team.”

Added 4-star 2025 offensive tackle Solomon Thomas of Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines. “They’re still young but they’re already rolling.”

All in all, it was the type of night the Florida team needed — and the type of day that can catapult Gators recruiting in the coming weeks and months.

“You know, that place is special,” Napier said. “I grew up watching games on TV, right? I grew up watching Florida and Tennessee. So we’ve got one of the best game-day experiences in all of football. I mean, that place, when it’s sold out and they’re into it like they were tonight, there’s not another place like it in the country, right? So to get kids in there for them to have a front row seat to that, for them to see our players play with the effort and to play with the loyalty that they played tonight, I mean, it only helps. It adds to the product and the experience that we have to offer the players. University of Florida is unmatched, the student-athlete experience here is second to none, right? So pretty good night. Pretty good night.”

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