Florida Recruiting: Gainesville Native Kendall Jackson Commits

Billy Napier made it very clear when he was hired that he and his staff would make an effort to land commits from not only in-state high schools, but local high schools.

They did just that, as Napier and company landed a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Kendall Jackson. The Gators have long been considered the favorite to land the F.W. Buchholz product, but made it official when Jackson announced his decision on social media Wednesday.

Jackson is ranked as the No. 31 defensive lineman according to On3's composite rankings and brings the Florida 2024 class to a total of 19 commits.

After a very successful sophomore campaign, Jackson emerged as a key asset to Buchholz's 10-3 season, picking up 65 tackles (22 TFL), 12.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.

The 6-foot-3, 245 pound lineman has a lot of upside and has played in virtually every technique along the line. Jackson figures to settle into an interior lineman role at the collegiate level, but the versatility will benefit him nonetheless.

Jackson has earned a lot of praise for his strong motor, keeping his legs churning even when engaged to break up plays. He does need to work on his pass-rushing skills and using his hands to attack.

Florida is in Jackson's blood, as his uncle, Aubrey Hill, was a wide receiver at UF from 1991-1994. Hill caught 87 passes for 1,454 yards and touchdowns during his time with the Orange & Blue before pursuing a coaching career, spending time with Florida, Duke, Pitt and Miami.

Jackson made a total of 13 visits to Gainesville, including an official visit at the beginning of June. He also took official visits to Arkansas, Miami and Kentucky. The Gainesville native chose the Gators over the Razorbacks, Hurricanes, Wildcats and others.

The Gators now have three defensive lineman committed to their 2024 class, with Jackson joining fellow four-stars Amaris Williams and Nasir Johnson. The three are important pieces to an already scary looking defensive unit that Napier has built, much to the pleasure of new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong.

While the months of June and July have been quite kind for Florida recruiting, recruits and current players alike continue to allude to the fact that the Gators might not be finished quite yet.