No. 1-ranked running back Harlem Berry has major connection to Florida Gators
BRADENTON, FL. — Although he is tabbed as the top-ranked running back in the 2025 class, Harlem Berry continues to rack up scholarship offers.
The latest school to join the fray is the University of Florida, which extended an offer on June 20. That was just roughly 24 hours after the Metairie (La.) St Martin’s Episcopal School standout camped in Gainesville for the second time, as Billy Napier’s staff hosted Berry last summer as well.
According to the On300 rankings, Berry is the No. 1 running back, No. 11 player overall, and top-ranked rising junior in the state of Louisiana.
“I’ve been speaking with them for a minute,” Berry told Gators Online at Future 50 Media Day. “That was actually my first camp I’ve ever been to down there at Florida. It’s been a good relationship going on and they finally gave me the offer, which is a good thing.”
There are plenty of things Berry likes about the Gators. It’s one of the more prestigious programs in the SEC in terms of history and also not too far from his home in the Bayou State.
“Great coaching staff in general. Billy Napier is a good head coach,” Berry said. “It was beautiful down there when I went down. They had just renovated the campus, so it’s looking nice.”
However, there is one box the Gators check that no other program does.
“(Running backs) coach (Jabbar) Juluke is my uncle. I’ve been around him since I was little,” Berry said. “He is a great mentor, great coach. I’m glad he is someone I can look up to and ask questions.”
Florida is ahead of most schools on Berry’s list
With that said, does Berry’s family connection give Florida the leg up over additional suitors?
“That definitely puts them at the top because I would know what I would be looking for if I went down there,” said Berry. “Nothing is given and I still have to work hard even though he’s down there, but they are definitely up there (with some others).”
One of them are the in-state LSU Tigers, who are trending heavily in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Those odds are currently at 98 percent. Multiple predictions have been submitted for Brian Kelly’s program as well.
In addition to the Gators and Tigers, the 5-foot-10.5, 177-pound Berry possesses offers from Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, USC, Oklahoma, Michigan and Stanford among others.
Berry was a top performer at Under Armour Future 50
“Four-star running back Harlem Berry is electric, plain and simple. He has unbelievable burst and possesses the ability to stick his foot in the ground and disappear from his defender. The foot speed and change of direction are truly special and it allows him to make defenders wrong even when they play things right. Not only is Berry sudden and agile, he has the long speed to hit the home run ball consistently.
“In the Fastest Man 40-yard dash Challenge to end the morning session, Berry ran a 4.31 (according to my watch) to get into the finals and then won the contest with a 4.28 to win the competition. All of this was done after completing a two-hour workout. Berry, who plays at Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s Episcopal School, is an offensive weapon and let everybody on the field today know that he is the last one anyone wants to try and defend out of the backfield in one-on-one situations.” — On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings assistant Cody Bellaire
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
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