Fwd: [gatornews] [SUN]: 12:40pm - Florida football recruiting class 2023: Meet UF’s early signees
Oliver Barry
Begin forwarded message:
From: Shane Ford <goufga...@gmail.com>
Date: December 20, 2023 at 12:05:37 PM CST
To: GatorNews <gato...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: 12:40pm - Florida football recruiting class 2023: Meet UF’s early signees
Reply-To: gatornew...@googlegroups.com
Florida football will look to finish off a potential top 10 national 2024 recruiting class on National Signing Day on Wednesday.
The Florida Gators, coming off a 5-7 season, need help in a number of position groups. UF wasn't shy in playing freshmen in 2023, as 12 of its 20 true freshmen appeared in at least 10 games last season. Four of those – wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, safety Jordan Castell, defensive lineman Kelby Collins and defensive lineman T.J. Searcy – earned All-SEC freshman honors.
Third-year Florida coach Billy Napier is selling playing time, along with the chance to help rebuild a UF program that hasn't won an SEC title since 2008. The Gators, 11-14 in two seasons under Napier, failed to make a bowl game in 2023 and ended the season on a five-game losing streak.
Florida has secured commitments from 19 high school and JUCO players for the early signing period. Per 247Sports composite, UF entered the week with the No. 5 signing class in the country but fell five spots after losing five-star safety Xavier Filsaime to Texas. UF currently sits with the 10th-best class nationally and could move up and down depending on any potential surprises on Wednesday.
Here's a look at the players who signed:
LB Myles Graham
Hometown / School:. Gainesville; Buchholz HS
Vitals: 6-3, 270 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: No. 81; position ranking: No. 7
The skinny: The son of former Gator great Earnest Graham, Myles Graham racked up 242 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception in his first four varsity seasons and helped lead Buchholz to the Class 4S state semifinals this past season with 82 tackles and 9.3 yards per carry at running back.
DL Brien Taylor Jr.
Hometown /School:. Brenham, Texas; Blinn College
Vitals: 6-6, 270 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars (JUCO); national ranking: 20; position ranking: No. 8
The skinny: One of the top JUCO defensive linemen in the country who posted 39 tackles, two sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 13 appearances with Blinn College.
TE Amir Jackson
Hometown /School:. Portal, Ga.; Portal HS
Vitals: 6-4, 223 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: No. 139; position ranking: No. 9
The skinny: Athletic pass-catching tight end who finished with 44 catches for 727 yards and 12 TDs this past season. Also starred in basketball at Portal, averaging 13.6 points and 10.9 rebounds in 88 games.
OL Noel Portnjagin
Hometown /School:. Schwäbisch Hall, Germany; Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns
Vitals: 6-5, 334 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: n/a; position ranking: No. 79
The skinny: Played tackle for the Swabisch Hall Unicorns in the German football league but projects as a guard at the college level.
WR Jerrae Hawkins
Hometown /School:. Bradenton; IMG Academy Bradenton
Vitals: 5-9, 165 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: No. 229; position ranking: No. 36
The skinny: Blazing receiver who averaged 18.6 yards per catch at IMG Academy in 2023. Once clocked at 4.25 in 40 and ran a 10.37 in the 100 meters.
S Josiah Davis
Hometown /School:. Nashville, Ga.; Berrien HS
Vitals: 6-0, 172 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: n/a; position ranking: No. 40
The skinny: A solid defensive back, Davis has posted 159 tackles, one sack, five tackles for loss, two interceptions and seven pass breakups over three varsity seasons at Berrien.
LB Aaron Chiles
Hometown /School:. Olney, Md.; Our Lady Good Counsel HS
Vitals: 6-3, 220 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: No. 138; position ranking: No. 13
The skinny: Playmaking linebacker who had 74 tackles, 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during standout junior season in 2022. Chose Florida over offers from Michigan, Boston College, Alabama and Clemson.
OT Fletcher Westphal
Hometown / School:. Leesburg, Va.; Tuscarora HS
Vitals: 6-8, 335 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: No. 124; position ranking: No. 10
The skinny: Athletic tackle with high upside who chose Florida over offers from Clemson, Georgia, Auburn and Arkansas.
CB Teddy Foster
Hometown /School:. Sarasota; Cardinal Mooney HS
Vitals: 6-2, 170 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: n/a; position ranking: No. 60
The skinny: Solid cover corner who finished with three interceptions and 17 pass breakups over two seasons in Cardinal Mooney’s secondary.
WR Tawaski Abrams
Hometown /School:. Fort Myers; Dunbar HS
Vitals: 5-11, 175 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: n/a; position ranking: No. 39
The skinny: Shifty slot receiver who averaged 11.6 yards per touch as a junior at Dunbar High with 677 total yards of offense. Clocked as high as a wind-aided 10.62 seconds in the 100 meters.
RB Kahnen Daniels
Hometown /School:. West Point, Miss.; West Point HS
Vitals: 5-11, 190 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: No. 187; position ranking: No. 13
The skinny: Versatile offensive player who also saw snaps at quarterback and wide receiver in high school. Rushed for 2,484 yards on 260 carries with 26 TDs in his senior year at West Point.
OT Marcus Mascoll
Hometown /School: Snellville, Ga.; South Gwinnett HS
Vitals: 6-4, 292 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: n/a; position ranking: No. 79
OT Mike Williams
Hometown /School:. Upper Marlboro, Md.; Charles Herbert Flowers HS
Vitals: 6-7, 310 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: n/a; position ranking: No. 3
Sent from Shane’s iPhone--Go Gators!
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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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