Billy Napier assesses UF's class ahead of Cormani McClain decision
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The day that Florida football recruiting fans have been anticipating has finally arrived. The unanimous No. 1 cornerback in the country, Five-Star Plus+ Cormani McClain, will announce his decision Thursday at ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. in Lakeland, Fla.
Alabama, Florida and Miami are the finalists for the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit in the On3 Consensus. UF has been trending as the heavy favorite to land McClain, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
McClain would be a massive addition for the Gators, who are already having a huge month on the recruiting trail. They landed four-star defensive backs Dijon Johnson and Bryce Thorton two weeks ago before flipping top-100 offensive lineman Roderick Kearney from FSU on Monday.
In the first full recruiting cycle for head coach Billy Napier and his staff, Florida’s 2023 class currently has 22 verbal commits (17 four-stars) and ranks No. 8 nationally ahead of McClain’s announcement.
Prior to Kearney’s flip, Napier was asked Monday where he thinks his 2023 class stands big picture-wise.
“I like the group that we’ve got committed,” Napier said. “We need to finish. Obviously secure the ones we have and then close on a few others, right?”
Napier and his staff finished strong in the 2022 cycle, inking top-100 recruits Shemar James, Devin Moore and Kamari Wilson on early signing day. UF later landed On300 member Trevor Etienne at the All-American Bowl.
Florida’s top remaining targets in the 2023 class include five-star outside linebackers Keon Keeley and Qua Russaw, five-star defensive lineman James Smith, top-30 overall recruit Jordan Hall and five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks, who reclassified from 2024.
“We’ve worked extremely hard at it, not only the recruitment process, but the evaluation process. So far, so good,” Napier said of his 2023 class. “A lot of work left to do. Critical (time). Approaching about eight weeks (until early signing day). So, I think a lot of that work has been done and will continue to be done.
“But it’s part of our organization where we continue to get better. I think we got a lot of people that are getting more familiar with the product we have here. We’re getting more efficient with our time. We’ve got a lot of new people.
“And not just ’23s, but it’s ’24s, ’25s. You got extensive work around the clock every phase of the year, right? So, all those people are taking a lot of pride in their role and certainly have been effective so far.”
RELATED: Katie Turner details Florida’s evaluation process, recruiting strategy
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In other Florida football news
- Florida gets starting right guard O’Cyrus Torrence back in time to play the UGA Bulldogs.
- The Gators made no changes on their updated defensive depth chart for the Georgia game.
- Florida starting quarterback Anthony Richardson is ready for a Georgia re-do Saturday.
- Former Bulldogs CB Jalen Kimber is playing in his first Florida-Georgia game as a Gator.
- BREAKING: UF long snapper Marco Ortiz has entered his name into the transfer portal.
- Know Your Foe: The Florida defense gets another crack at Georgia QB Stetson Bennett.
UF recruiting roundup
- Four-star defensive lineman Kayden McDonald is ‘almost’ ready to announce his decision.
- An in-state offensive line target for the 2024 class is set to attend another Florida game.
Gators sports roundup
- The Gators volleyball team swept the Auburn Tigers Wednesday in a pivotal SEC Battle.
- League coaches picked UF women’s hoops to finish seventh in the SEC Preseason Poll.
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Gators Twitter updates
- Decision day for the nation’s No. 1 cornerback, Cormani McClain:
- WR Ricky Pearsall recognized as the Wuerffel Man of the Month:
