4-star DL Jalen Wiggins signs with Florida
On Wednesday, 4-star defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins of Tallahassee (Fla.) Rickards signed with the Florida Gators during the Early Signing Period. Here is everything you need to know about him.
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Position: EDGE
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4.5/270 pounds
On3 Industry Rankings: No. 165 prospect | No. 16 defensive lineman | No. 23 prospect in Florida
Commitment date: 1/25/24
Chose Florida over: Notre Dame
Time of enrollment: January
2024 Stats: 86 tackles (51 solo), 18 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 7 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble.
Wiggins says: “In the end, it just came down to wanting to be a leader as well as falling in love with the place from more than just football. Florida has always been special and hearing insight from the players on a personal level was huge. It helped me realize that many of them weren’t focused on the staff but the school as a whole, and it’s how they made their decision. Being the first defensive player in the class was to find the family and build for the year to come.”
Notable: Florida is actually recruiting Wiggins for the EDGE position, but there is versatility there.
Social Media: X (WigginsJalen06); Instagram (d1_.jalen)
What the Gators are getting in Jalen Wiggins
Wiggins really brings the thud when making contact; it’s rarely a smooth ride to the ground for his opponent. Once finding a line to the ball carrier, Wiggins gains momentum quickly and does not let up once striking the intended target. There is plenty of force behind his tackles and hits on the quarterback, so his presence is always felt.
It does not take long to notice Wiggins’ hand usage. When tied up with an opponent, he does a good job of disengaging by ripping them out of his path. I also like his ability to maintain distance as a pass rusher. Wiggins does a good job of consistently making himself available, with much of that having to do with his strong hands breaking through contact.
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Wiggins’ motor should not be a concern whatsoever. He puts forth great effort and does a good job of playing until the whistle blown. That includes when the play is ran to the other side of the field, so you have to take notice of the backside pursuit too. Relentless and determined are two words to describe Wiggins’ style of play. He is always on the hunt for the ball.
Wiggins plays under control more often than not. That is especially the case when a quarterback is rolling out and a running threat. As noted above, Wiggins does a good job of maintaining distance and mirroring the ball carrier before shooting downhill to make a play. He is light on his feet and does a good job of changing direction and containing in the flat.
I’ve said this before, but Wiggins is a great kid any school would benefit from having in their locker room. He is very respectful every time we speak and one of the more high-character kids in the 2025 class. That high IQ clearly translates to the football field too. — GO’s Corey Bender
