Napier Has The Gators Sprinting To The Finish Line

Think of what has been happening on Florida’s football recruiting front as a sprint to the finish, which was the last thing anyone expected when Napier stood at the podium and answered questions for the media when he was introduced to the Gator Nation back on December 5. Back then, Florida recruiting was in shambles, in part because Dan Mullen and his entire staff had been dismissed, but long before Mullen was fired, recruiting was in the tank.

Transition recruiting classes are notoriously mediocre but what Napier is doing has a chance to buck that trend. He’s done surprisingly well with the high school kids and by supplementing that group with five transfers who could all start next season, it’s possible the Gators will wind up with a top ten class and that is before the spring transfer season kicks in. Currently, the Gators rank 16th in the 247Sports overall composite that includes transfers. When Napier took over the Gators were in the 70s.

To break into the top ten, the Gators will need a very strong National Signing Day, which takes place next Wednesday. Florida’s current class has 15 high school kids and five transfers. The Gators are still heavily involved with 14 high school kids including 5-star linebacker Harold Perkins, 4-star safety Jacoby Matthews, 4-star defensive lineman Caden Story and 4-star running back TreVonte Citizen. There will be very little activity with the transfer portal until after spring practice.

Figuring how many scholarships Napier has at his disposal is a bit complicated, but it breaks down like this. Due to the NCAA transfer waiver, Napier can replace up to seven who transfer out after December 15, 2021 with seven incoming transfers without it counting against the 85 scholarship limit. Essentially, that means Napier can have 92 on scholarship if he has seven who entered the portal on or after December 15.

The Gators signed 22 high school and jucos of their max 25 in 2021 so three of the 10 high school signees from December count back to last year. With seven already signed to go with five already enrolled transfers, the magic maximum number of remaining signees – high school, junior college and transfers – is 20. Only Napier knows what will be the final combination, but if he maxes out, it will probably be 20-22 high school and jucos, with a minimum of 10, a maximum of 12 transfers.

If Florida hits all its targets on Wednesday, it’s likely the Gators will move up at least 10 places in the recruiting class rankings for high school and juco kids. Adding in the five transfers already enrolled and transfers expected later in the spring and Florida could wind up with a combined top ten signing class. Combine the fact that UF recruiting was ranked in the 70s in early December with transition classes are notoriously weak and this will rank among the better recruiting jobs by a brand new coach in recent history.

Here is a position-by-position look at the players already signed or committed and the kids we know the Gators are continuing to recruit:

QUARTERBACK

Signed/Committed (2)

Jack Miller III (6-4, 210, Scottsdale, AZ/Ohio State transfer): He has a big arm with exceptional accuracy. Miller is a pure pocket passer who got caught up in the numbers game at Ohio State. He’s a former 4-star recruit out of high school. Urban Meyer offered him at Ohio State after his sophomore season in high school.

Max Brown (6-3, 200, Tulsa, OK Lincoln Christian School): Brown is a dual threat who throws exceptionally well on the move. He threw for 2,750 yards and 41 touchdowns as a high school senior while rushing for 1,343 yards and 20 more TDs.

RUNNING BACK

Signed/Committed (2)

Montrell Johnson (5-11, 210, New Orleans, LA/Louisiana transfer): Johnson earned Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2021 when he ran for 838 yards (5.17 per carry) and 12 touchdowns in Billy Napier’s offense at Louisiana. He is a move the pile type who has good top speed once he gets to the second level.

Trevor Etienne (5-9, 217, Jennings, LA): The younger brother of former Clemson All-American and Jacksonville Jaguars first round pick Travis Etienne, Trevor chose the Gators over LSU, Alabama and Clemson. He is a built low to the ground power back who is a one-cut type, who accelerates through tackles. He ran for 4,629 yards and 59 touchdowns in his high school career.

Still recruiting (2)

TreVonte Citizen (6-0, 217, Lake Charles, LA Lake Charles College Prep): Florida has been all over him ever since Napier took the job. He is a slasher of a runner who can find another gear once he gets to the second level. Some think he’s a longshot and that he will decide between LSU and Auburn but he is doing a midweek unofficial visit to Florida so the Gators are definitely in it. Jordan James (5-10, 205 Murfreesboro, TN Oakland): He is a between the tackles guy who breaks off a lot of long runs because he has great vision and cutback ability. He is a Georgia verbal but he’s not exactly a mortal lock because Florida and Oregon are definitely in it. Jabbar Juluke has gotten Florida in the door.

WIDE RECEIVER Signed/Committed: None

Still recruiting

DJ Allen (6-0, 190, Gladewater, TX): He runs a 10.8 100 meters so this could be the deep threat the Gators are lacking. Allen plays four varsity sports – football, basketball, baseball and track. He decommitted TCU but new Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes has made him a priority. Florida is in great shape because of the relationship Allen has had with wide receivers coach Keary Colbert, who was recruiting him at Southern Cal. As a senior he threw for 741 yards, ran for 1,008 and caught 12 passes for 288 yards. Playing wide receiver only as a junior, he caught 59 passes for 1,316 yards and 17 TDs.

Caleb Douglas (6-3, 185, Missouri City, TX): He’s a tall, rangy receiver who made the transition from quarterback as a junior. He caught 51 passes for 984 yards and eight TDs as a senior. It’s going to be either UF or LSU. He will visit LSU this weekend. Arlis Boardingham (6-4, 225, Van Nuys, CA): Some list him as an athlete and others as a tight end. He’s sort of a hybrid like Kyle Pitts in that he can flex out wide, play the slot or be the motion man. He caught 43 passes for 836 yards and 15 TDs. He’s down to two choices, Florida or Oregon.

TIGHT END

Signed/Committed (2)

Tony Livingston (6-6, 265, Tampa, FL King): Signed back in December. Does he remain at tight end or does he grow into an offensive tackle? He’s very athletic and has good foot speed.

Hayden Hanson (6-6, 255, Weatherford, TX): He was committed to Napier at Louisiana but followed the coach to UF. He has good hands and is a beast after the catch (he caught 38 passes for 369 yards and three TDs) but he has the kind of frame that could allow him to grow into an offensive tackle as well.

Still recruiting (1) Danny Lewis, TE (6-4, 235, New Iberia, LA Westgate): He’s a hybrid receiver who has good enough speed to line up on the outside but he’s more likely a slot or motion guy in college. His recruiting has blown up recently. When he decides it will be between LSU, Alabama and Florida.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Signed/Committed (5)

O’Cyrus Torrence (6-5, 338, Greensburg, LA/Louisiana transfer): Torrence was first team All-Sun Belt the last two years playing for Napier at Louisiana. He is a plug and play guy, who will start at one of the guards or possibly at right tackle. He is perhaps the most highly coveted O-line transfer in the country.

Kamryn Waites (6-8, 358, Dallas, TX/Louisiana transfer): You can’t teach this kind of size. He is Florida’s largest offensive lineman since Trenton Brown, now a left tackle mainstay in the NFL. He’s powerful and has quick feet in pass protection.

Christian Williams (6-5, 320, Missouri City, TX Fort Bend Marshall): He was committed to Napier and Louisiana. When Napier moved to Florida, he wanted to be a Gator. He is a 3-star recruit who will play guard at the next level.

David Conner (6-6, 290, Deerfield Beach, FL): Conner is an offensive tackle who committed to the previous staff. He’s got long arms and good feet but will need a couple of years to get ready to play at the SEC level.

Jalen Farmer (6-5, 325, Covington, GA): He’s a road grader of a guard who was committed to the previous staff. He did his official visit two weekends ago. He is committed but hasn’t signed. Kentucky is recruiting him hard.

Still recruiting

Matthew McCoy (6-6, 290, Saint Augustine, FL Creekside): Officially he’s still considering Florida and Miami. Unofficially, it will be a major upset if he’s anything but a Gator on signing day. He added 25 pounds of muscle from his junior to senior year and has the frame to add another 20 or so pounds. He’s a 3-star recruit who will probably project as a right tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINE Signed/Committed (3)

Chris McClellan (6-4, 299, Owasso, OK): This was a real coup for the Gators to land McClellan over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, reach out and touch distance from his home town. He’s a 4-star recruit who can play either tackle or end. Power guy who shucks O-linemen with his strong hands.

Jamari Lyons (6-4, 300, Viera, FL): He chose the Gators over South Carolina after Napier and strength coach Mark Hocke visited. What sealed the deal was UF hiring former New York Giants D-line coach Sean Spencer as the co-defensive coordinator.

Andrew Savaiinaea (6-4, 265, Graham, WA Graham-Kapowsin): He is a recent commitment who selected the Gators over Oregon, Washington and Nebraska. He’s a 3-star recruit, a bull rusher who plays the run very well.

Still recruiting

Caden Story, DL (6-3, 285, Lannett, AL): He is a 4-star D-lineman with a wingspan of nearly seven feet. He’s capable of playing every position on the D-line. He needs to add upper body strength but he has a powerful lower body. This will come down to Florida or Clemson with Auburn trying to make a late run. Jayson Jenkins (6-6, 257, Lawrenceville, NJ Notre Dame): He is a 3-star recruit who has picked up plenty of interest in recent weeks. He visited UF last weekend and will be doing an official visit to Tennessee this weekend. Whoever made the biggest impression these last two visits will get him. He will add another 20 pounds and play weakside defensive end in college.

LINEBACKER

Signed/Committed (1)

Shemar James (6-3, 215, Mobile, AL Faith Academy): In the days leading up to the early signing day in December, he was expected to choose between Alabama and Georgia. Florida quietly moved in and landed him, quite a surprise for Nick Saban and Kirby Smart, who aren’t accustomed to losing 4-star recruiting battles to the Gators. He’s a sideline-to-sideline type who has run an 11.6 100 meters. He’s a Will Allen type who spends his life in the backfield.

Still recruiting (4) Harold Perkins (6-3, 210, Cypress, TX Cy Park): He is a 5-star who was a longtime Texas A&M commitment who didn’t sign in December. When he made an official visit to UF, the Gators made up lost ground and got a huge assist from Kamari Wilson. Perkins de-committed the Aggies earlier in the week. LSU has tried to move in but so has Deion Sanders with Jackson State. The Aggies could prove to be quite persuasive in the next few days and reel Perkins back in but right now the Gators probably lead with the Aggies and Jackson State trying to change his mind. Kevonte Henry, LB (6-4, 225, Lawndale, CA): He decommitted Michigan and that decision probably sticks with Michigan DC Mike McDonald expected to leave for the NFL. He lines up all over the field but projects as an edge rusher at the next level. The 3-star recruit is expected to choose between Oklahoma and UF. Emmar’rion Winston (6-3, 240, Portland, OR Portland Catholic): He is a 3-star recruit and a prototypical inside linebacker. He became far more productive as a senior after losing about 15-20 pounds. Expectations are that he will choose between Florida and Washington, although Oregon gets him in for the final visit weekend and Tosh Lupoi will be recruiting him. Chase Fambro (6-2, 235, Griffin, GA Spalding): He is committed to Army, but he’s gotten a lot of recent interest from some power schools. Wake Forest is going after him hot and heavy. He was on campus this week at Florida.

SECONDARY Signed/Committed (4)

Kamari Wilson (6-0, 200, Fort Pierce, FL/Bradenton, FL IMG Academy): Wilson was thought to be a Georgia lock, but the Gators made a late move on the 5-star safety, getting a huge assist on Wilson from support staffer Jamar Chaney, who is from Fort Pierce. That got Napier in the door at IMG. When Napier and Toney crossed the state to visit Wilson’s mom, it sealed it that he would be a Gator.

Devin Moore (6-2, 180, Naples, FL): He was an early signing day surprise. He was thought to be a lock for Notre Dame but when Brian Kelly left for LSU, Moore opened up his recruiting. What sealed the deal for Florida was hiring Corey Raymond as the corners coach. Moore is a big cover corner with great ball instincts.

Jalen Kimber (6-0, 175, Mansfield, TX/Georgia transfer): This was a big pickup. Kimber was expected to be a starter in the Georgia secondary in 2021 but injuries limited him to one game. He was a 4-star recruit out of high school. He has four seasons of eligibility remaining.

Miguel Mitchell (6-1, 205, Oxford, AL): He is a rangy 3-star safety who picked up a lot of interest from November onward. He picked Florida over offers from Tennessee, Oregon, LSU and Southern Cal largely because UF co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney was early to offer and stuck with him throughout the process.

Still recruiting (1) Jacoby Mathews, S (6-2, 195, Ponchatoula, LA): Can the Gators steal one from right out under LSU’s nose? He’s a 4-star safety with a who’s who offer list that includes Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M and Michigan. He’s tight with Wilson and Perkins plus Florida hired Corey Raymond from the LSU staff. Ponchatoula is an hour from Baton Rouge and that’s where he will be this weekend. LSU is probably the slight favorite, but Florida has a legitimate shot.

SPECIAL TEAMS Signed/Committed (1)

Trey Smack (6-2, 200, Severna Park, MD): He might be the closest thing the Gators have seen to Evan McPherson. A real thunder foot who puts kickoffs out of the end zone and with range to 60 yards on field goals. He’s a 3-star recruit but he will have a 5-star impact on the 2022 Gators.