Florida coach Billy Napier’s recruiting prowess was one of his primary selling points.
To sign top recruits requires resilience, a quality on full display during a roller-coaster 48 hours ending with the Gators’ 2024 class rising to No. 3 in the rankings, according to 247Sports.
A weekend that began with 4-star quarterback commit Austin Simmons’ surprising flip to Ole Miss ended Monday night with the Gators stacked on the defensive front and one of the more intriguing offensive playmakers from Georgia in the fold.
“If people give coach Napier time here, he’s showing right now that he’s building a heck of a foundation of a football team,” Steve Wiltfong, director of recruiting 247Sports, told the Orlando Sentinel. “We’ll see how it comes together. But I like the way they’re recruiting.”
With 16 commits, the Gators’ 2024 class has room to grow and rise in the rankings.
The biggest move came at the expense of Ole Miss Monday night, when 5-star edge rusher Jamonta Waller bailed on his commitment to the Rebels for the Gators. The Picayune, Miss., native visited Gainesville this past weekend.
Expected to announce his decision Aug. 26, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound pound native Waller — who had 106 tackles, including 24 for loss in 2022 — made a surprise move to continue Florida’s success building the front seven.
The commitment Waller and linebacker Aaron Chiles, the nation’s No. 80 overall player, gives the Gators a superior linebacking class to the ballyhooed 2013 group featuring Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone. Chiles, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound Maryland native, joins top-50 linebacker prospects Myles Graham of Atlanta and Adarius Hayes of Largo.
“No one’s gonna recruit a better linebacker class on the country this cycle as it stands right now,” Wiltfong said.
Inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman, the lead recruiter on Chiles, Graham and Hayes, holds the No. 2 spot in 247Sports recruiting rankings.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Sean Spencer continues to beef up the line.
On Monday, massive nose tackle Michai Boireau (6-5, 390) of Hampton, Ga., committed to the Gators two days after two 4-star tackles — 6-foot-4½, 300-pound Nasir Johnson of Dublin, Ga., and 6-foot-3, 270-pound Amaris Williams of Clinton, N.C. — did the same.
Williams is the most polished and proven of the three. During 12 games in 2022, he recorded 44 tackles for loss, 18 of them sacks. He chose the Gators over Penn State and Tennessee as they continue to win recruiting battles against top programs and rivals.
Defensive tackle Kelby Collins, the No. 42 player in the 2023 class, shunned Alabama for UF while Orlando tackle Kamran James chose the Gators over Georgia.
“When was the last time Florida went out and won legit recruiting battles against title contenders?” Wiltfong asked. “It’s been a while — and they’ve been doing it.”
Napier and Co. are adding and building at the most critical spot in the SEC.
Former coach Dan Mullen’s 2019 and 2020 classes each ranked No. 9 but were stocked with skill players or edge defenders. UF signed one tackle, Jaelin Humphries, and no inside linebackers in 2019. The 2020 class featured one impact interior lineman, 2023 second-round draft pick Gervon Dexter.
“A class ranking can be a little misleading if it’s full of skill guys and not enough difference-makers at the point of attack,” Wiltfong said. “Particularly in the SEC, you gotta have bodies.You got to be talented; you got to have depth to rotate. If you want to win big, you got to have NFL guys.
“Florida has not had as many as the other championship-contending programs.”
Before he chose Ole Miss, Simmons aimed to address UF’s lack of quarterback depth.
The record-setting passer from Pahokee appeared set to reclassify from 2025 to 2023 and enroll in classes this week. Instead, the 17-year-old will join Lane Kiffin in Oxford, causing a considerable stir Saturday until Napier and Co. received good news at a feverish pace.
In addition to defensive help, the Gators picked up a commitment from 4-star athlete Amir Jackson. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Jackson averaged 19.5 yards and scored 4 times on 24 receptions in 2022. He also averages 13.9 points and 11.1 rebounds in basketball.
Jackson addresses a pressing need at tight end.
The Gators still could use offensive linemen in a class featuring three but none among the top 650 prospects. This past weekend UF hosted 6-foot-8 1/2, 335-pound offensive tackle Fletcher Westphal of Virginia and Oviedo tackle Tye Hylton.
“That’s kinda like the question mark for me on the trail … just excited to see who else may continue to land there,” Wiltfong said.
As Saturday proved, Florida recruiting creates waves of excitement and plenty of hang-wringing. Through the ups and downs, Napier remains on track.
“These players last year and this year, they’re not impact guys till next year and the year after most likely as a holistic group,” Wiltfong said. “If you give it time and let it bake, it’s got a chance to be something real tasty at the end.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
