Florida Gators' linebacker class leads the nation for the 2024 cycle

To say Gators inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman has been stellar during the 2024 cycle might be an understatement.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, the Gators hold commitments from four of the top-10 linebackers.

Myles Graham checks in at the No. 4 spot, and then it’s Adarius Hayes, Jamonta Waller and Aaron Chiles at Nos. 6-8, respectively. Each prospect is equipped with four stars, and other than Chiles, all of them are ranked inside the top 100. And regarding Chiles, he is right there at No. 110 overall.

Only Georgia and Auburn have multiple linebacker commits inside the top 10 like Florida; however, each of them have just two compared to the Gators’ four.

The Dawgs hold a commitment from the No. 1-ranked prospect at the position, five-star prospect Justin Williams, and former Gators target Kris Jones, the 10th-ranked linebacker.

As for the Tigers, they hold commitments from Demarcus Riddick, a five-star prospect, and Joseph Phillips, the No. 3 and No. 9-ranked linebackers, respectively.

All three programs can make a strong case for having the best linebacker class, but the Gators boast a whole lot of firepower. It’s rare when a program can say they hold commitments from four Under Armour All-Americans at one position. Bateman and the Gators can.

Let’s take a closer look at the those future Gators.

Myles Graham

Location/School: Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 4 linebacker | No. 48 prospect overall | No. 8 prospect in Florida

On3 Scouting Report: “Right off the bat, Graham flies around the football field, showing off elite lateral speed and quickness when diagnosing between run and pass plays. He fills the running lanes with ease, plugging up gaps before the ball carrier can even pass the line of scrimmage. Graham is an elite run stopper with a nose for the football. He is aggressive in his attack, pulling down running backs between and outside the tackles. When tackling ball carriers, Graham shows perfect form by wrapping up and putting his helmet on the ball, causing fumbles. Graham shows excellent strength in his lower half.”

Adarius Hayes

Location/School: Largo (Fla.) High

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 6 linebacker | No. 54 prospect overall | No. 9 prospect in Florida

On3 Scouting Report: “Inside linebacker prospect who is an excellent processor and has a quick trigger. Possesses stopping power when meeting ball carriers in the hole. Quality free blitzer from the inside backer position or off the edge. Has some tightness in his hips and can get stuck in quicksand a bit when changing direction. One of the older prospects in the 2024 recruiting cycle.”

Jamonta Waller

Location/School: Picayune (Miss.) Picayune Memorial

Height/Weight: 6-foot-0.5, 240 pounds

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 7 linebacker | No. 65 prospect overall | No. 2 prospect in Mississippi

On3 Scouting Report: “Explosive off the line, sudden, and has an unbelievable change of direction skill. He can stop and reset his path to the football with zero hesitation or loss in momentum. As an edge rusher, Waller has exceptional pad level and plays with great length and leverage against tackles. He uses his hands well and shows both inside and outside moves to counter his speed rush. More impressively, he can play through contact well and gets skinny through gaps without getting knocked off course. He’s strong through contact and plays bigger than his size. From a pass-rushing and run-defense standpoint, he’s got a lot of tools to work with and knows how to use them. Finally, his ability to chase the ball from the backside of plays stands out. Once again, he’s explosive and violent once he gets to the ball carrier.”

Aaron Chiles

Location/School: Olney (Md.) Good Counsel

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 8 linebacker | No. 110 prospect overall | No. 1 prospect in Maryland

On3 Scouting Report: “With Chiles, this is a versatile linebacker prospect who could ultimately settle down at the Gators’ JACK position. He currently weighs in at around 230 and has a frame that could really expand on the next level. He primarily lines up on the edge in high school as well, so that is a strong level of familiarity with that role. Chiles does a great job of wreaking havoc as a pass rusher and shows good closing speed once gaining the upperhand on the offensive tackle. He typically plays standing up and provides that thud at the point of attack. Once the ball is snapped, that relentless style of play is on full display. While Chiles is most effective when rushing the passer or assisting in the run, he also shows decent change of direction when reacting the ball, especially for his size.”