Billy Napier shares what Aaron Chiles brings to 2024 recruiting class

The Florida Gators and head coach Billy Napier finished the 2024 National Signing Day with the No. 16 recruiting class. It is the third straight year Napier has secured a top 20 recruiting class for the Gators. This year, Florida added a pair of top-10 linebackers at their position: Myles Graham from Gainesville, FL, and Aaron Chiles from Olney, MD.

Needless to say, the addition of two linebackers is welcomed as Napier attempts to revamp Florida’s struggling defense. Following the 2024 National Signing Day, the Gators headman took a moment to talk about what one of the linebackers, Chiles, brings to the program while highlighting the quality of recruits Florida has been able to acquire out of Maryland in recent history.

“The DMV, if you dig into history, it’s been good to the Gators, in particular, some of the national championship teams back in the mid-2000’s,” said Napier.

“Aaron Chiles is one of the unique big athletes at linebacker this class. He’s 6’2-plus, he’s 235 pounds and he is loose hip, can play in space, he’s a three-down player. He’s really bright and he comes from a winning program. They won the state championship this year. He’s a leader on that team. When you go in that school, he’s one of the special kids that has been through that program. Phenomenal family and I think he’s a good example, one of these young men that was up for the challenge and has come in here to do the work and help Gator football get back to where we all know it can be.”

There is a lot for Florida fans to get excited about in terms of the potential Chiles has. In high school, at Good Counsel High, he was an absolute menace for opposing offenses to slow down. And if his raw talent and intellect for the game transitions well to the collegiate level, Florida fans could see him contributing in a big way sooner rather than later.

Chiles turned down offers to play for Napier and the Gators from Michigan, Clemson, and Penn State, who are all known for their defenses in recent years. In the 2024 recruiting class, the 6-foot-3, 225lbs linebacker was a top-end 4-star recruit, ranking 122 in this class. Chiles was also the No. 9 linebacker recruit in the nation and the top player to come out of the state of Florida, according to On3’s Industry Ranking.