4-star DL Joseph Mbatchou signs with Florida
On Wednesday, 4-star defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou of Loganville (Ga.) Grayson signed with the Florida Gators during the first day of the Early Signing Period. Here is everything you need to know about him.
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Position: Defensive Lineman
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4.5/280 pounds
On3 Industry Rankings: No. 259 prospect | No. 21 defensive lineman | No. 35 prospect in Georgia
Commitment Date: 12/1/24
Chose Florida over: Texas
Time of Enrollment: Summer
2024 Stats: 25 tackles (11 solo) and 3 sacks
Mbatchou says: “It went really good,” Mbatchou said after his official visit in November. “The defense, they were killing LSU. I got to talk to the coaches and got to see what I saw the first time when I committed. I kind of saw the same thing, so it was a really good visit. One of the factors I was looking at when I de-committed was stability and Napier is going to be there. Now, stability is not a question because he’s going to be there next year.”
Notable: Mbatchou committed to Florida in July before additional Power Four offers poured in. He eventually de-committed though, took visits, made a commitment to Texas, and then circled back to Florida to make a second commitment. It’s been a whirlwind for him.”
Social Media: X (JoeMbatchou); Instagram (joembatchou)
What the Gators are getting in Joseph Mbatchou
Everything starts with the piece of clay. Mbatchou is listed at 6-foot-4.5 and 280 pounds and that checks out. In fact, if anything he appears to possibly be even bigger than that. NFL frame. Long arms. Narrow hips. Very little pad weight. He truly looks great in pads.
Mbatchou doesn’t start. It’s not a worry. His team is a state power and is loaded. And this is his first year of varsity football. He didn’t put on pads for the first time until the spring. While he’s not in the starting lineup, he does play a lot. And he doesn’t look like a newcomer. He’s hustled, played hard every snap and had an impact. He lines up in different spots, from end to nose, and draws a lot of attention from the offensive line.
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A few things stand out. For one, he’s really quick and explosive off the ball. He can fire out of his stance in a flash and get past high school offensive linemen sometimes off that alone. Next, he’s super athletic and naturally powerful. His body quickness is noticeable, especially for someone his size. And he sometimes simply overpowers people. Additionally, Mbatchou has active — and strong — hands. Lastly, I also liked his change of direction, which is one of the most important traits for a linemen.
In sum, it’s easy to see why Mbatchou has colleges excited about his potential. He’s just raw. Still learning how to play. But the body and the skillset are there. Said one college recruiting person to me: “He’ll be All-SEC in a couple years” with his ceiling. The other unique thing about Mbatchou is that if defensive line didn’t work out, he probably could play on the offensive line. His movements are so fluid and powerful. He probably isn’t someone who plays in Year 1, but in Year 2 and beyond, you can see the potential for him to contribute in a big way. — GO’s Keith Niebuhr
