Give Me Five: 2025 linebackers to monitor closely for the Florida Gators
In the latest edition of Give Me Five, Gators Online highlights five linebackers UF fans need to monitor for the 2025 class.
Here, we’ve considered where we think each player sits on the Florida board, the the Gators’ chances of landing the prospect as well as the recruit’s skill set.
Let’s dive in.
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Top-100 recruit Tarvos Alford
With plans to decide in December, Alford is one of the 2025 prospects Gators fans are already quite familiar with. I submitted an RPM in favor of Florida earlier this year and still feel good about that pick, but keep an eye on Ohio State too. That is the other school near the very top of Alford’s list.
However, Gators were labeled the front runner for a number of months before the Buckeyes entered the picture to form a top two. That level of familiarity in Gainesville, largely due to proximity, is why I am giving the Gators the slight edge early on. They have going all in for a number of months and it’s definitely paying off. Georgia, Miami, Florida State and Tennessee are some other schools in the mix.
Inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman is aiming to make a splash in back-to-back cycles, and it all starts with Alford for the 2025 class.
Top-30 recruit Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng
Like Alford, IMG Academy’s Owusu-Boateng is a top priority for the Gators next cycle as well.
The native of Manassas, Virginia relishes the home-like feel in Gainesville and is feeling like a major priority for several staff members, including the aforementioned Bateman.
And although he has yet to name any leaders, Owusu-Boatseng recently said Florida is one of the schools that “really stands out” to him. He has visited multiple times this year and plans to return in September for a game.
The Gators’ odds of 31.3 percent are good enough for No. 1 in the RPM; however, there is no doubt they have plenty of top-level competition. Additional suitors for the All-American include Ohio State, Oregon, Miami, LSU, Michigan, USC, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
Four-star prospect Gavin Nix
Owusu-Boatseng is not the only IMG Academy linebacker trending toward the Gators in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, as Gavin Nix is heavily on the program’s radar too.
There are others likely higher on the board, but UF is plenty familiar with the Orlando native after hosting him a handful of times. Like the others, you can expect Nix to be inside the Swamp this fall as well.
Nix previously said he wants to go somewhere he feels loved, and the University of Florida definitely checks that box, labeling his relationship with Bateman as “amazing.” It was also one of the first schools to offer him a scholarship, so Bateman and company have UF trending up here.
In addition to the Gators, Nix possesses offers from Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Auburn among others.
Top-100 prospect Darrell Johnson
A four-star athlete from Eastman (Ga.) Dodge County, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Johnson was offered in June and has made two trips to Gainesville this calendar year. His first meeting with the Gators took place in March, while he was also on campus for the Grill in the Ville cookout on July 29.
According to Johnson, “Florida is different.” He is being contacted by Bateman on a daily basis and says it just feels like home in Gainesville. That is largely due to the all-around hospitality, as a number of staff members rolled out the red carpet upon his arrival for the cookout. That made a very strong impression.
Going forward, Johnson plans to release a top 10 in the near future and you can expect Florida to make the cut. Additional offers include Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn, Texas A&M, North Carolina and N.C. State.
The Gators, according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, are trending with odds of 38.5 percent.
Top-100 recruit Riley Pettijohn
Napier’s staff first welcomed the McKinney (Texas) standout to campus on June 3 and made a very strong impression. He then returned for the Grill in the Ville, so mutual interest is very high early on.
Also, it sure does not hurt that Pettijohn is teammates with Gators safety commit Xavier Filsaime and was with the five-star prospect for both visits. Having that strong connection to the Gators is a big deal itself, but the staff is doing their part as well.
Bateman has told Pettijohn he is one of the few linebackers at the top of the board and that he’s one of the more athletic ones as well. They are intrigued by his ability to play all over the field.
There is plenty of competition for the Lone Star State native, but the Gators are one of the more realistic contenders early on.
Texas, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Auburn, Florida State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Notre Dame are some additional offers on the table.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
The post Give Me Five: 2025 linebackers to monitor closely for the Florida Gators appeared first on On3.
