BREAKING!!! HC Billy Napier Considering Resignation After He Sent A Fiery Message To Florida Gators CEO Amidst Tensions…
With only twelve names left in the class, the Gators still have their work cut out for them. Furthermore, the Gators will continue to pursue a number of noteworthy prospective targets, including flip and undecided talents.
Some candidates still wish to make a decision by the end of August, but the Gators will continue working toward finishing the course this autumn. There is still a lot of upward motion in this cycle. After a frenzy of additions in the last two weeks, Swamp247 reviews every verbal pledge made up to this point.
The class now consists of only twelve names, so the Gators still have a lot of work ahead of them. In addition, there are still a number of significant future targets that the Gators will pursue, both uncommitted and flip prospects.
The Gators will keep working to finish the class this autumn, and there are still some candidates who want to decide before the end of August. This cycle still has considerable upward motion. Following a flurry of additions over the past few weeks, Swamp247 examines each verbal commitment that has been made thus far.
Vernell Brown III, WR, 4 stars
Date of Commitment: July 21, 2024
Ranking: No. 7 among wide receivers, No. 4 player in the state of Florida, and No. 36 overall according to 247Sports
Weight/Height: 170 pounds, 5 feet 11 inches
Notes: Currently leading pledge in the Gators 2025 recruiting class. After a successful junior season, the legacy addition is prepared to step it up as a senior. This previous season, Brown had a significant impact on the game in all three phases and had a productive offseason on the camp and 7on7 circuits. This cycle, the Gators prioritized Brown as a target and focused on the wide receiver position. When he joined the Florida coaching staff last month, they saw this as a significant acquisition.
4-star Edge Jalen Wiggins
The commitment date is January 15, 2024.
Ranking: according to 247Sports, No. 77 overall, No. 13 player in the state of Florida, and No. 11 defensive lineman
255 pounds and 6 feet 4 1/2 inches in height
Notes: For the Florida Gators, this was a significant win early in the cycle. The Gators see Wiggins as a cutting edge even though 247Sports lists him as a defensive lineman. It is thought that he might play defense at the ‘F’ position, where he would have some variety in line up options. Given that he made his commitment so early in the year, Wiggins was still able to travel over the spring and summer. His hometown FSU allowed him to visit the school a few times, and he also made an official visit to Stanford. Additionally, Wiggins visited Gainesville frequently and declared that he would be ending his recruitment as the summer progressed.
Waltez Clark, RB, four stars
The commitment date is September 16, 2023.
Ranking: No. 30 player in the state of Florida, No. 14 running back, and No. 239 overall on 247Sports
194 pounds and 6 feet 1 inch in height
Notes: The commitment with the longest duration in the 2025 cycle within UF’s class. The Gators selected Clark as one of their top targets at the position and began after him early on. In addition to his influence as a running back, he has demonstrated his ability to make plays as a high school pass receiver. The Gators had high expectations for him early on because of his versatility in the game. After his early commitment last fall, he made a few travels, including a visit to UCF in June. He had briefly intended to pay the Knights an official visit, but that journey never materialized. He only made one formal trip to Florida in June, and he has persisted in saying he is trapped at UF.
He had briefly intended to pay the Knights an official visit, but that journey never materialized. He only made one formal trip to Florida in June, and he has persisted in saying he is trapped at UF.
Remarks: When Nick Saban was the head coach in Tuscaloosa, Johnson made an early commitment to Alabama. He was still in the Crimson Tide’s class when Kalen DeBoer took over, but he began to lose contact. Johnson was invited to the Gators’ campus for a Junior Day back in January, and that’s when they made the offer. That trip opened his eyes to options outside of his own state because it was actually his first time traveling outside of it. After viewing Johnson during the “Evaluation Period,” Florida started to step it up and continued to work on their case into the spring. After his formal visit to UF in June, he exuded an immense sense of confidence. It was only a question of time until he became a Gator, and that occurred in the first few days of July.
S Demetres Samuel Jr., 4 stars.
Date of Commitment: July 31, 2024
Ranking: No. 29 safety, No. 39 player in the state of Florida, and a four-star recruit who is not in the Top 247 of 247Sports.
Weight/Height: 185 pounds, six feet
Notable: A recent addition to the Gators, having enrolled on Wednesday. As a 2026 recruit, he had already pledged to the Syracuse Orange. He had spent the majority of the year taking serious looks at the Gators and was still being recruited by Florida. He told the coaching staff he would be committing to them this past weekend while he was on campus for the Grill in the Ville BBQ. He decided to commit to Florida when he came back on Wednesday for the start of Fall Camp. In addition, he disclosed that he will be moving up to the 2025 class from the 2026 class. He is Marcus Maye’s cousin, the former safety at UF.
3-star wide receiver Joshua Moore
Date of Commitment: June 26, 2024
Ranking: No. 43 wide receiver, No. 44 player in the state of Florida, and a 3-star prospect according to 247Sports
6 feet 4 inches tall and 205 pounds
Notes: As previously indicated, the Gators considered the wide receiver position to be a key area of emphasis for recruiting this cycle. The Gators specifically sought to add a big-framed player to the class at the X receiving position. Moore meets that description and was a top priority for the Gators in the 2025 cycle. He concentrated on the top three Florida universities, but when it came time to make his announcement, he decided to pledge to the Gators rather than Florida State.
He is thrilled with his pledge to the Gators, but the Seminoles and even the Miami Hurricanes will keep after him. Moore is scheduled to return to the area later this month for UF’s first-week matchup with Miami.
3-star Taeshaun Gelsey, TE
Date of Commitment: June 29, 2024
Ranking: No. 81 player in the state of Florida, No. 115 wide receiver, and a three-star prospect according to 247Sports rankings
6 feet 4 inches tall and 215 pounds
Notes: The Gators see Gelsey as a tight end at the next level, despite the fact that 247Sports lists him as a wide receiver. As the season approaches, Florida has already achieved its aim of adding two tight ends to the class this cycle. The Gators needed to add a player with the size to affect the passing game and the ability to block, so they targeted tight ends this cycle.
Gelsey fits the other player’s expectations because he is an excellent pass-catcher, which is what the other player wanted. In addition to having the size to come down with those 50/50 catches, he can be a mismatch who is used in a variety of offensive looks.
Jones’ official visit to the University of Florida occurred in June, and following that tour, he declared the Gators to be his team. In the weeks that followed, he made a few more official visits before declaring his commitment to UF.
Three-star Chad Gasper RB
Date of Commitment: May 10, 2024
Ranking: According to 247Sports, this prospect is rated as a three-star, the 63rd best running back and the 139th best player in Texas.
Weight/Height: 200 pounds, 5 feet 10 inches
Notes: In an effort to maintain a consistent group of running backs for the future, Florida wanted two running backs this cycle. Florida had seen the name Gasper earlier in the year and made an offer. Florida began to go up his list after spending a few days with him once in the spring. Shortly after that trip, he committed to college and has stayed with the group all summer.
We’ve heard that Florida running back coach Jabbar Juluke is enthusiastic about Gasper’s future potential and believes the player is underappreciated.
Three-star Jeramiah McCloud DL
Date of Commitment: May 2, 2024
Ranking: No. 95 defensive lineman, No. 95 player in the state of Florida, and a three-star prospect according to 247Sports rankings
Weight/Height: 280 pounds, 6 feet 3 inches
Notes: Following his January MVP victory at the Under Armour camp, McCloud’s profile began to rise. Florida was one among the several offers he received after his camp performance. Although he was committed to Mississippi State at the moment, he was still willing to tour other universities.
He was consistently recruited by Florida, and when he renounced his early promise to the Bulldogs, things escalated. As soon as he reopened the process and shortly after he pulled the trigger and committed, the Gators were seen as the main threat. Although he has stated that he is still committed to the Gators, he has recently continued to communicate with other institutions and hasn’t ruled out the prospect of making trips in the future.
P Hayden Craig, a three-star
Date of Commitment: June 12, 2024
Ranking: The No. 5 punter, a three-star prospect according to 247Sports, and the top player in the state of Maine
Weight/Height: 190 pounds, 6 feet 2 inches
Notes: The Gators hoped to secure the position’s future before Jeremy Crawshaw begins his final season at the collegiate level. Adding a punter to the class had been the aim for this cycle. The Gators offered after he had camped out in front of the Florida staff in early June, and he committed the next day.
Joseph Mbatchou, NR DL
Date of Commitment: July 31, 2024
247Sports currently does not rank this player.
6 feet 4 1/2 inches tall and 275 pounds
Notes: Originally from Cameroon, he relocated to the state as a baby. He has only ever played football during the spring season, thus he is new to the sport. Mbatchou has been the target of Florida recently, and this past weekend, they brought him to campus so that people could see him and spend time with him. The coaching staff extended an offer to him on that visit, and he promptly transferred UF to his top school. When he and his mother returned on Tuesday of this week, he informed the staff that he was in.
He declared his commitment the following day. Although he is still developing in many aspects as a first-year football player, the Florida coaches believes he has a ton of potential for success at the next level. He ticked off two boxes with his physique and athleticism, and with the right coaching, they believe his greatest years are still ahead of him.