{"id":60580,"date":"2024-07-13T19:36:50","date_gmt":"2024-07-14T00:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=60580"},"modified":"2024-07-13T19:36:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T00:36:50","slug":"florida-gators-recruiting-the-defensive-hot-board-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/florida-gators-recruiting-the-defensive-hot-board-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Gators recruiting: The defensive Hot Board"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a recent run of commitments, the Florida Gators currently have nine verbals in the 2025 recruiting class. Even so, there\u2019s still lots of work ahead for\u00a0Billy Napier<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0& Co. before the early signing period in December \u2014 especially on defense.<\/p>\n

**RELATED<\/strong>:\u00a0Florida\u2019s 2025 commitment list<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Who are the top targets and what is the Gators\u2019 standing with each? The Hot Board has some of the answers. Below are the recruits we think (\u201cthink\u201d being the key word) are the main prospects at each position and my guesses at Florida\u2019s chances of signing them as of today.<\/p>\n

Remember, this all my opinion. The folks at the Florida football complex may have a different take.<\/p>\n

SIGN UP FOR THE FLORIDA GATORS NEWSLETTER AND GET BREAKING NEWS SENT TO YOU FOR FREE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Defensive line (3-4 est.)<\/h2>\n

Name (star rating)<\/strong>Hometown<\/strong>UF<\/strong>OV<\/strong>Previous<\/strong>Current<\/strong>\/UF%<\/strong>Jeramiah McCloud<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(3)Havana, Fla.5-31GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITMalik Autry<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(4)Opelika, Ala.6\/14AUBURN COMMIT\/35%AUBURN COMMIT\/30%Xavier Ukponu<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(3)Denton, TexasTBD15%25%Jarquez Carter<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(3)Newberry, Fla.5-3145%25%Zavion Hardy<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(3)East Miss. CC.\u201315%20%Floyd Boucard<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(3)\u00a0Miami, Fla.\u201315%15%<\/p>\n

McCloud seems to be fairly locked in with the Gators. Now, they need to add a couple more pieces here. But this is one position where new names are likely to emerge and you could also see Florida circle back to some old ones. The Gators continue to work on Autry, who officially visited in June, but now Ohio State also is viewed as a challenger. Per Corey Bender of Gators Online, Ukponu will officially visit Florida this fall. He has a top three of Florida, Arkansas and LSU. Carter announces July 18 but currently is trending elsewhere. If the Gators look good this season, they could stay in the game with him.<\/p>\n

Expected Gators edge signees (2)<\/h2>\n

Name (star rating)<\/strong>Hometown<\/strong>UF OV<\/strong>Previous<\/strong>Current<\/strong>\/UF%<\/strong>Jalen Wiggins<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(4)Tallahassee, Fla.6-07GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITJavion Hilson<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(4)Cocoa (Fla.)5-31FSU COMMIT\/30%FSU COMMIT\/20%Richard Scott<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(3)Fort Lauderdale, Fla.\u201315%15%Brooks Williams <\/a><\/strong>(3)Port Saint Lucie\u2013\u2013USF COMMIT\/10%Cedric Works<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(4)Dayton, Ohio30%KENTUCKY COMMIT\/10%<\/p>\n

Wiggins recently shut down his recruitment, which was big news for the Gators since he had been flirting some with FSU. Hilson says he\u2019s locked in with the \u2018Noles, but we wouldn\u2019t be shocked to see him at The Swamp this season. Williams camped at Florida in June and he said the feedback was positive, though he hasn\u2019t been offered yet.<\/p>\n

Linebacker (2)<\/h2>\n

Name (star rating)<\/strong>Hometown<\/strong>UF OV<\/strong>Previous<\/strong>Current<\/strong>\/UF%<\/strong>Myles Johnson<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(3)Brewton, Ala.\u00a06-07ALABMA COMMIT\/50%GATORS COMMITTy Jackson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(4)Loxahatchee, Fla.6-1435%40%Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng<\/a><\/strong>(4)Bradenton, Fla.TBD30%30%Jakaleb Faulk<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(4)Highland Home, Ala.6-07AUBURN COMMIT\/20%AUBURN COMMIT\/20%Tavion Wallace<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(4)Jesup, Ga.6-1445%ARKANSAS COMMIT\/10%<\/p>\n

Johnson, the former Tide pledge, committed to the Gators earlier this week. Jackson, arguably Florida\u2019s top overall defensive target, officially visited in June and now plans to return to Gainesville on July 27. He is not expected to have a commitment decision until later in the year but it appears the Gators are a strong contender, along with the likes of Alabama, FSU, Georgia and Penn State. Owusu-Boateng will officially visit Florida this season; he\u2019s in no rush to commit. Faulk told Gators Online this week that while he\u2019s solid to Auburn, he\u2019s really only considering one other school and it\u2019s Florida. If he doesn\u2019t shut things down this summer, it\u2019s possible he could visit the Gators for a game. <\/p>\n

Expected Gators Cornerback signees (1-2)<\/h2>\n

Name (star rating)<\/strong>Hometown<\/strong>UF OV<\/strong>Previous<\/strong>Current<\/strong>\/UF%<\/strong>Ben Hanks<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(4)Miami, Fla.6-0740%40%Chris McCorkle<\/a><\/strong> (3)Sarasota, Fla.\u2013\u201320%DJ Pickett<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(5)Zephyrhills, Fla.\u00a08-3125%10%<\/p>\n

Having added young transfers\u00a0Jameer Grimsley<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Alabama, 2024 signee) and\u00a0Cormani McClain<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Colorado, 2023 signee), that puts a lot less pressure on the Gators here this cycle. Pickett is the clear top target but the Gators are not a strong contender with a decision coming next week. Florida made a significant move with Hanks during his official visit in June but has a battle on its hands with Miami, whom some view as the favorite. McCorkle is a former Indiana commit with a Gators offer. We\u2019d be surprised if new names didn\u2019t emerge soon.<\/p>\n

Safety (2-3)<\/h2>\n

Name (star rating)<\/strong>Hometown<\/strong>UF<\/strong>OV<\/strong>Previous<\/strong>Current<\/strong>\/UF%<\/strong>Bryce Fitzgerald<\/a><\/strong>(4)Miami, Fla.6-1445%45%Lagonza Hayward<\/a><\/strong>(4)Lyons, Ga.6-1440%35%Kaylib Singleton<\/strong><\/a>(3)Fleming Island, Fla.5-31RUTGERS\/15%RUTGERS COMMIT\/20%Hylton Stubbs<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(4)Jacksonville, Fla.6-14USC TROJANS COMMIT\/45%MIAMI COMMIT\/20%Trey McNutt<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(5)Shaker Heights, Ohio6-0720%20%Jerome Smith<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(3)Indianapolis (Ind.)\u2013Miami (OH) COMMIT\/TBDMiami (OH) COMMIT\/TBD<\/p>\n

Fitzgerald plans to announce in August and there apparently is optimism on both the Florida and FSU sides. Hayward commits July 27; Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee are the three to watch but there seems to be a good bit of confidence coming from Knoxville.\u00a0It\u2019s possible the Gators could circle back to Rutgers commit\u00a0Kaylib Singleton<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0of Fleming Island (Fla.), a one-time Florida lean. Smith, who claims a Michigan State offer, told Gators Online last week he\u2019s been communicating with Florida defensive backs assistant\u00a0Beyah\u00a0Rasool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

PUNTER\/PK (1)<\/h2>\n

Name (star rating)<\/strong>Hometown<\/strong>UF<\/strong>OV<\/strong>Previous<\/strong>Current<\/strong>\/UF%<\/strong>Hayden Craig<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(3)North Bridgton, Me.\u2013\u2013GATORS COMMIT<\/p>\n

Craig committed to the Gators after visiting in June.<\/p>\n\n

The post Florida Gators recruiting: The defensive Hot Board<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After a recent run of commitments, the Florida Gators currently have nine verbals in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60580"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60623,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60580\/revisions\/60623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}