Florida Gators football recruiting Hot Board: Offense
The Florida Gators have 22 commitments in their 2024 recruiting class with 10 projected to play on offense. Despite having limited spots left to fill, there’s still some work to be done for Billy Napier & Co. before the early signing period begins in December.
**RELATED: Florida’s 2024 commitment list
What is left for Florida on offense in the 2024 class? Who are the top recruits at each position and what is the Gators’ standing with each?
The Hot Board has some of the answers.
Below are the recruits we think (“think” being the key word) are the top targets at each position and my guesses at the Gators’ chances of signing them as of today. Keep in mind, the percentages below are Florida’s chances against the field.
Remember, this all my opinion. The folks at Gators HQ may have a different take.
*We will update this weekly and/or whenever there’s a major addition or subtraction to make.
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Florida Gators Hot Board for offense
Quarterback (1)
Name (On3 Industry star rating)HometownOVPreviousCurrentDJ Lagway (5)Willis, Texas6/02GatorsGators
Florida wanted one quarterback in the class and has its top target at the position on board. Lagway is the No. 4 QB in the country, per the On3 Industry Rankings, and the No. 31 overall recruit. He committed to Florida over Clemson and Southern California. He will attend the Florida-Tennessee game on Sept. 16.
Running backs (2)
Name (star rating)HometownOVPreviousCurrentKahnen Daniels (4)West Point, Miss.6/16GatorsGatorsJadan Baugh (3)Decatur, Ga.–Arkansas/25%Arkansas/25%Jerrick Gibson (4)Gainesville, Fla.–Texas/10%Texas/10% TBD
Florida has one running back committed and would like to add a second. The Gators officially offered Baugh the first week of August and he visited them earlier this year. Florida continues to recruit him and hopes he will visit again. At this time, however, it is unclear if and when he would make a return trip. Gibson told Gators Online on Aug. 11 he’s solid to the Longhorns but still plans to attend a Gators home game in 2023.
Thursday night, he let On3 know he had no plans to attend the Florida-Tennessee game at this time. We will check with him again next week. Meanwhile, the Gators are evaluating multiple backs behind the scenes to determine whom to target.
The Gators would like 1 more receiver … if he’s elite
Wide receivers (3-4)
Name (star rating)HometownOVPreviousCurrentJerrae Hawkins (4)Wheeling, W.V.6/09GatorsGatorsTawaski Abrams (4)Fort Myers, Fla.6/16GatorsGatorsIzaiah Williams(4)Tampa, Fla.6/02GatorsGatorsKam Mikell (4)Statesboro, Ga. TBD25%20%Jeremiah Smith (5)Hollywood, Fla.6/02Ohio State/15%Ohio State/15%TJ Moore (4)Tampa, Fla.–Clemson/5%Clemson/5%TBD
Florida has three commitments at receiver and would love to add an elite player to this group. Smith visited the Gators three times this summer but nobody thinks flipping him from the Buckeyes will be easy. He has said he’ll likely attend a game at the Swamp this season — and it possibly could be for the Florida-Tennessee matchup. We should know about that by early next week. According to Smith, Florida will have to show him something on the field this season to have a chance.
Georgia leads big for Mikell in the On3 RPM, but the Bulldogs like him at cornerback — and he wants to play receiver. He told Gators Online last month he plans to officially visit Florida. He wanted it to come during the season. The Gators prefer he take it in December. Meanwhile, he’ll official to Colorado this weekend. Mikell said he could be at the Florida-Tennessee game. His recruitment is all over the map, so we dropped his percentage up above.
It’s possible more names could emerge here in the near future.
Tight ends (1)
Name (star rating)HometownOVPreviousCurrentAmir Jackson (4)Portal, Ga.6/16GatorsGators
The Gators seem to be content taking one tight end this class. They’re thrilled to have Jackson, who they view as having a tremendous upside. Auburn and Miami continue to heavily recruit him and hope to get Jackson back on campus at least once more. As of today, he has no plans to visit other schools and appears to be solid.
The Gators might not be done on the offensive line
Offensive line (4-5)
Name (star rating)HometownOVPreviousCurrentFletcher Westphal (4)Leesburg, Va.6/16GatorsGatorsMarcus Mascoll (3)Snellville, Ga.6/09GatorsGatorsNoel Portnjagin (3)Schwabisch Hall, Germany12/08GatorsGatorsMike Williams (3)Baltimore, Md.6/09GatorsGatorsJordan Seaton (4)Washington, D.C.–40%30%Favour Edwin (3) McDonough, Ga.––20%Kalolo Ta’aga (3) Palo Alto, Calif.–San Jose StateSan Jose State/15%
Florida has four offensive line commits and doesn’t necessarily have to add anyone else, but the Gators would love to land one more high-level player. The preference would be at tackle from the sound of things. Seaton, a top-50 national recruit, told Gators Online he will officially visit Florida this fall.
That trip was originally scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 16.
But Seaton told On3 this week his official visit date to Florida — along with those to Ohio State, Oregon and South Carolina — now is to be determined. Meanwhile, Florida State appears poised to get an official visit, too.
The team to watch? Seaton said Alabama probably is sitting in the top spot right now.
Edwin, at last check, planned to be in Gainesville on Sept. 16. Florida is being patient there, but in the meantime he has scheduled an official to Auburn for late September and that is something to track.
Ta’aga, whom Florida offered earlier this week, is in his first year of football but offers are starting to come in from Power-5 schools. He said he’ll officially visit the Gators later in the year.
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