How the rating services ranked Florida’s 2022 recruiting class

Early in the day this is how ESPN was projecting it.

By KYLE CURTIS

GatorBait Intern

247 Sports

National Rank: 19

SEC Rank: 9

247 Sports gave the Gators a final rating of .8860 after National Signing Day. That puts Florida with the 9th best class in the SEC and 19th in the nation. 247 also has Kamari Wilson as UF’s highest recruit, a four-star, although he is acknowledged as a five-star on other recruiting platforms.

Rivals

National Rank: 24

SEC Rank: T10

Rivals has both Florida and South Carolina with a score of 1712 after National Signing Day. The score is an accumulation of all the recruits each team has signed and their ratings. Rivals recognized incoming linebacker Shemar James as our only five-star.

On3

National Rank: 25

SEC Rank: 11

On3 has Florida with an average class rating of 88.12 out of 100. That sets the Gators up for 25th nationally and 11th in the SEC.

Sports Illustrated

National Rank: 21

SEC Rank: 10

“The Gators added just one prospect Wednesday, wide receiver Caleb Douglas, despite being in the mix for several—including a few where confidence was tangible late in the game. The overall close under Billy Napier was strong enough to get the program in the top 25 rankings, though.”- Sports Illustrated

The consensus was that Florida had a sub-par National Signing Day and missed out on a few players that could have had immediate impacts.

ESPN

National Ranking: 32

SEC Ranking: 12

This was the lowest ranking the Gators received across all platforms, and puts us behind

Wrap-Up:

After what some may consider a disappointing signing day, you must look at things in the big picture. When this new staff came in, Florida had a recruiting class outside of the top 50. Within 60 days, with a limited pool of players, Napier and his staff were able to put together a respectable Top 25 class with notable pickups. No telling what this crew can do with a full cycle.

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Florida signee class 2022

Kamari Wilson, S Hometown: Bradenton, Fla. High school: IMG Academy Ranking: Four-star, No. 43 overall, No. 3 safety Date of commitment: Dec. 15, 2021 (signed Dec. 15); enrolled Notable: A 6-foot, 200-pound downhill safety through to be leaning toward Georgia, Wilson’s direction turned after a visit to Gainesville. He emerged as the early signing day stunner for the Gators, giving them their third five-star defensive signee in the past three years. His other finalists included Florida State, LSU, Miami and Texas A&M.

Shemar James, LB Hometown: Mobile, Ala. High school: Faith Academy Ranking: Four-star, No. 66 overall, No. 5 LB Date of commitment: June 20, 2021 Date of decommitment: Oct.20, 2021 Date of commitment: Dec. 15, 2021 (signed Dec. 15) Notable: He scored 12 offensive touchdowns at Faith Academy as a junior — catching 34 passes and compiling 700-plus yards from scrimmage — but his disruptive knack on defense is what excites recruiters. He made six sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 66 stops overall as a junior, even contributing on special teams. His senior season was hindered by an ankle injury. Listed at 6-3 by recruiting services, he measured just under 6-2 on his visit to Florida. That’s in no way a red flag considering it’s still on par with the average height of NFL middle linebackers.

Chris McClellan, DL Hometown: Owasso, Okla High school: Owasso Ranking: Four-star, No. 112 overall, No. 15 DL Date of commitment: Nov. 23, 2021 (signed Dec. 15); enrolled Notable: At 6-3 and 295, he’s an impressive interior defender who had offers from Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio State and USC. Though he could use a developmental year in college, Florida’s lack of depth on the defensive front could force him into freshman playing time.

Trevor Etienne, RB Hometown: Jennings, La. High school: Jennings Ranking: Four-star, No. 186 overall, No. 14 running back Date of commitment: Jan. 8, 2022 (signed Feb. 2) Notable: Sources say the younger brother of Clemson All- American Travis Etienne silently committed to Dan Mullen’s staff last November. He chose the Gators over LSU and Clemson, with Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, Penn State and Florida State among his additional offers. At 5-9 and 218 pounds, he’s a low-gravity runner with exceptional balance who ran for more than 4,900 yards and 73 touchdowns the past three seasons.

Devin Moore, DB Hometown: Naples, Fla. High school: Naples Ranking: Four-star, No. 251 overall, No. 21 safety Date of commitment: Dec. 15, 2021 (signed Dec. 15); enrolled Notable: At 6-3 and 190, different schools are split on whether Moore’s future is at cornerback or safety, but Napier lauded his coverage skills Wednesday. He was committed to Notre Dame for five months, though the previous Florida staff worked to flip him and Napier’s crew sealed the deal. Tony Livingston, OT/TE Hometown: Tampa, Fla. High school: King Ranking: Four-star, No. 307 overall, No. 24 OT Date of commitment: March 11, 2021 (signed Dec. 15) Notable: A basketball standout in a football body at a shade under 6-5, he dropped from 260 pounds to 225 in the past year. Schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, FSU, Miami, Notre Dame and LSU also have offered Livingston — who one Power 5 recruiter labeled “an absolute freak of an athlete.” Napier described Livingston as having “unique dimensions” that include 11-inch hands. He’ll be a developmental player who could wind up at offensive tackle, tight end or defensive end. Jamari Lyons, DL Hometown: Melbourne, Fla. High school: Viera Ranking: Four-star, No. 373 overall, No. 46 DT Date of commitment: Oct. 6, 2021 (signed Dec. 15) Notable: A solid pickup for the Gators who measured him at 280 pounds and just under 6- foot-4 on a summer visit. The long-armed Lyons projects as an interior tackle who can be deployed at strong-side defensive end in some packages. He holds 23 FBS offers including Georgia, South Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Florida State, Penn State, Arizona State. Jack Pyburn, Edge Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla. High school: The Bolles School Ranking: Three-star, No. 441 overall, No. 36 edge Date of commitment: Feb. 1, 2022 (signed Feb. 2) Notable: A late-rising prospect who found an opening in Florida’s class when more highly rated prospects went elsewhere, Pyburn also had offers from Auburn, Miami, FSU and Minnesota. At 6-3 and 265 he also played inside linebacker for a high school team that advanced to the Florida Class 4A state semifinals each of the past three seasons. In 2021, he had 14 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. Caleb Douglas, WR Hometown: Missouri City, Texas High school: Hightower Ranking: Three-star, No. 470 overall, No. 67 WR Date of commitment: Feb. 2, 2022 (signed Feb. 2) Notable: A former high school quarterback who transitioned to wideout full time as a senior. The USC decommit has size (6-3, 192) and “another gear” according to Napier. His previous relationship with Keary Colbert at Southern Cal was crucial to the Gators beating out LSU and Baylor down the stretch. Douglas previously held offers from Notre Dame, Texas, Maryland and Virginia Tech. Andrew Savaiinaea, DL Hometown: Graham, Wash. High school: Graham-Kapowsin Ranking: Three-star, No. 470 overall, No. 67 WR Date of commitment: Feb. 2, 2022 (signed Feb. 2) Notable: Savaiinaea was a stand-up defensive end in high school but has the frame (6-3, 258) to grow into a defensive end with interior flexibility on passing downs. He held offers from Kentucky, Cal, USC, Nebraska, Washington and Virginia. Jalen Farmer, IOL Hometown: Covington, Ga. High school: Eastside Ranking: Three-star, No. 687 overall, No. 31 IOL Date of commitment: Sept. 10, 2021(signed Feb. 2) Notable: Farmer took official visits to Alabama and Auburn recently yet stuck with his four- month-old commitment to Florida. He also held offers from Kentucky, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech. At 6-5 and 325 pounds, he wasn’t among Florida’s top offensive line targets when the 2022 cycle began 18 months ago, but based on legit interest from other SEC programs he’s a solid pickup at a position where the Gators sorely need depth. Miguel Mitchell, ATH Hometown: Oxford, Ala. High school: Oxford Ranking: Three-star, No. 921 overall, No. 65 ATH Date of commitment: Feb. 1, 2022 (signed Feb. 2) Notable: At a shade under 6-1, Mitchell projects as a college safety with decent coverage skills. He played cornerback for one of Alabama’s top Class 6A programs, made eight breakups and contributed on five takeaways as a senior before earning MVP of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Mitchell held offers from USC, Oregon, Tennessee, West Virginia, Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Memphis. David Conner, OT Hometown: Atlanta High school: Deerfield Beach, Fla. Ranking: Three-star, No. 1,202 overall, No. 113 OT Date of commitment: Aug. 17, 2021 (signed Dec. 15) Notable: Raw prospect whose frame is intriguing enough that he has late-bloomed into a Power Five prospect. Arizona, Maryland and Syracuse were his notable offers before the Gators’ staff evaluated him on two summer visits — measuring him at 6-5 1/4 and 284 pounds. Christian Williams, OL Hometown: Missouri City, Texas High school: Fort Bend Marshall Ranking: Three-star, No. 1,214 overall, No. 67 OL Date of commitment: Dec. 10, 2021 (signed Dec. 15) Notable: The former Louisiana commitment flipped to Florida last week when Napier offered. An interior lineman at 6-4 and 320, Williams is a lightly recruited prospect who might need two developmental seasons before cracking the rotation.

Max Brown, QB Hometown: Tulsa, Okla. High school: Lincoln Christian Ranking: Three-star, No. 1,552 overall, . 94 QB Date of commitment: Jan. 24, 2022 (signed Feb. 2) Notable: After four-star recruit Nick Evers flipped to Oklahoma in December, the Gators brought in Ohio State transfer Jack Miller, and there was uncertainty whether the staff would sign a high school quarterback in the 2022 cycle. Brown was available because he opted not to sign with Central Michigan in December, and Florida edged Washington for his signature. His profile soared last fall — his first full season as a starter — when Brown threw for 2,750 yards, ran for 1,343 more and accounted for 61 touchdowns for a school that was state runner-up in Oklahoma Class 3A. Trey Smack, K Hometown: Severna Park, Md. High school: Severna Park Ranking: Three-star, No. 1,842 overall, No. 10 K Date of commitment: June 23, 2021 (signed Dec. 15) Notable: The former lacrosse and soccer standout made the switch to football two years ago and rapidly became one of the nation’s top-rated kickers in the 2022 class. (He’s currently unranked by the 247 Sports Composite but stands No. 3 in the country on the Kohl’s kicker ratings.) A powerful 6-2 frame and a booming leg make Smack the favorite to handle field goals and kickoffs throughout his career at Florida. Several schools also have pursued him as a punter. Hayden Hansen, TE Hometown: Weatherford, Texas High school: Weatherford Ranking: Three-star, No. 1,850 overall, No. 109 TE Date of commitment: Jan. 23, 2022 (signed Feb. 2) Notable: Coming off the momentum of Kyle Pitts winning the Mackey Award, Florida opened the 2022 cycle hoping to land top-100 tight end Jaleel Skinner along with three- star CJ Hawkins. But after Skinner landed at Miami and Hawkins flipped to Stanford, Florida brought in the 6-foot-6 Hansen, who caught 38 passes for 369 yards and three scores a high school senior. Hansen chose the Gators over offers from Colorado, Washington State, UTSA and Louisiana.