Good Morning Gators: Gators emerge as finalist for top-100 QB Jaden Rashada
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At the beginning of April, four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada had yet to be offered by the new coaching staff at Florida.
This time next month, the top-100 overall recruit could be committing to the Gators. They’ve quickly emerged as a serious player for Rashada, who announced his seven finalists on Tuesday.
UF made the cut after putting the full-court press on Rashada over the past month. He was re-offered by new coach Billy Napier and analyst Ryan O’Hara on April 8.
The Gators are now in the mix to land his pledge, along with Oregon, Cal, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. The 6-foot-3.5, 185-pound signal caller will announce his decision on June 18.
“I’ll be committing on my dad’s birthday,” Rashada told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “I’m going to be doing the most research possible and picking wherever is best for me and my future.”
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Rashada plans to officially visit Florida, LSU and Texas A&M before making his commitment. He spoke with Fawcett about his interest in the Gators.
“I believe in Coach Napier and Coach O’Hara and their QB development and getting guys ready for the next level,” Rashada said.
UF also remains in the mix for the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit Arch Manning, who plans to visit Gainesville this summer.
In other Florida football news
- Florida coach Billy Napier previews the Utah game and shares his thoughts on scheduling “formidable opponents” for season openers.
- The kickoff time set has been set for the Friday in-state rivalry game between the Gators and Florida State in Tallahassee.
UF recruiting roundup
- Co-defensive coordinator Sean Spencer is set to visit five-star recruit David Hicks, the No. 1-ranked DL in the 2024 class.
- The Gators remain heavily in the mix for five-back defensive back Tony Mitchell as Tennessee surges in his recruitment.
- In addition to seeing five-star cornerback Cormani McClain on Friday, Corey Raymond will visit another DB target as well.
- UF inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman will spend his Thursday evening in Georgia visiting a top target.
- Florida associate head coach Jabbar Juluke visited multiple running back targets in Texas on Tuesday.
- The Gators checked in on a Texas-based offensive lineman this week for the first time in the eval period.
- A top-25 athlete in the 2023 class, who is being recruited as a linebacker, will officially visit the UF in June.
- Florida is set to watch WR commit Creed Whittemore, who has also scheduled his official visit for next month.
Gators sports roundup
- Florida baseball beat FSU in walk-off fashion with Sterlin Thompson’s two-run blast Tuesday.
- WATCH: Several different angles of Thompson’s walk-off homer over the Seminoles.
- Washington State transfer Efe Abogidi has included the Gators among his top four teams.
- As expected, Florida transfer guard Kyle Lofton has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft.
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Gators Twitter updates
- Billy Napier on what Florida football has to offer:
