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Florida Gators welcome new freshmen to Gainesville

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•01/10/23•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla — Packing up your car, leaving home, and moving into your college dorm is a day you’ll never forget. Sunday, the Florida Gators welcomed several new members of their football family as members of the 2023 signing class enrolled early.

The Gators had 16 members of the 2023 signing class arrive on campus Sunday to enroll at the University of Florida.

As of Tuesday, January 10, quarterback Jaden Rashada has not enrolled at Florida. The University of Florida began classes on Monday, January 9, and drop/add ends on the 13th of January.

List of mid-year enrollees at Florida

DB Bryce Thornton

“If you want to just go watch a highlight tape, go watch his highlight tape. This guy, he’s 5’10”, close to 200 pounds, 190 pounds, big features. His mother was an athlete, basketball family. You go in this guy’s school, everybody loves Bryce. He’s got an unbelievable smile, just brings great energy. Played through some injuries, tough. And another player that comes from a great culture, where they’ve won, they overachieve. The coaching staff there, to get what they got out of their team this year, they lost a ton of players.” — Billy Napier

DB Sharif Denson

“When you go around the area and you visit different high schools, every coach talks about Sharif Denson and the competitor he is. He’s a matchup player. He can play corner and he can play star. He is a competitor. We had a chance to observe him in the seven-on-seven competition. Obviously both of his parents being University of Florida folks, just cares about the place, and I think a very smart player that comes from a great culture there at Bartram Trail, he’s going to bring a lot to our team. Mature and ready to go.” — Billy Napier

OL Knijeah Harris

“Knijeah’s a guy who’s been at IMG for three years. He’s one of the more physically ready. Did a great job this off-season. I thought he really changed his body in this past off-season, played great as a senior. Just great presence about him, always got a smile on his face. You go around the IMG campus, just the way people talk about him, the respect that they have for him. Great family. Certainly he’ll be here early. And a guy, you know those IMG guys, it’s almost like they’ve been at college already to some degree.” — Billy Napier

RB Treyaun Webb

“What stands out about Treyaun is the instincts, the vision. At running back oftentimes I think it’s about production, and he’s been running the ball for a long time. He’s kind of a legend there in Duvall. Coming up, he’s always been a guy to put that ball under his arm. He produces. I was pleased with how physical he played. He’s a tough guy. He’s played through some injuries in the past and he’s been a part of a winning program. I think you can never overlook that. And a guy that I think has got a little bit of an edge to him. He catches the ball well. Couldn’t be more excited about Treyaun.” — Billy Napier

WR Aidan Mizell

“Aidan Mizell is 6’1-1/2”. He’s probably up to 170-plus pounds and just verified speed. We’re talking about elite speed. Both parents were track athletes here at the University of Florida. This guy plays the game the right way.

“He was injured this year, obviously missed the majority of the year, but he’s a tough guy, plays the game that way. Very explosive player in the vertical throw game and run after catch. But this is a very unique athlete. He’s going to run track here as well. He’s one of the best 400-meter guys in the entire country, and certainly ran 10.6 100 meters this past spring as a junior. So we’re talking about elite speed. Got character. Very bright. Just an unbelievable family. He’s got a little brother and a little sister, and they’re just phenomenal people. It means something to him to be at the University of Florida, and you certainly can appreciate that. So he’s going to bring a lot to the table.” — Billy Napier

DL Kelby Collins

“Just turn the tape on, one of the more polished, ready to play players in the country. Just fundamentally advanced, 6’4″, 260 pounds, and really a violent player, plays with effort. He comes from an unbelievable family, just his mom and dad, their character, they’re competitors. He’s been raised — that might have been the cleanest house I’ve ever been in. I think that’s an indicator of things.” — Billy Napier

OL Roderick Kearny

“I would argue Roderick Kearney’s film is some of the most impressive tape of any offensive lineman in the country. This guy’s a really unique player. He’s driven, he’s focused, and he’s got discipline. He’s always doing the extra, very bright.” — Billy Napier

DB Ja’Keem Jackson

“Ja’Keem Jackson, I think, is probably one of the more talented players in the class, just relative to he’s got a high ceiling. Receiver moved to corner. I originally evaluated him as a receiver. We had him on the receiver board. He makes the move. He runs 10.9 as a junior at 6’1/2″, 189 pounds. Two-way player in some games as a high school player. Put on a show as a senior. One of the best players in the state, in my opinion. And really a guy this time last year, not a lot of people talking about the guy. So height, length, verified speed, and mom and dad are awesome.” — Billy Napier

DL Kamran James

“I do think Kamran James is one of the more impressive athletes in the class, 6’5-1/2″, 260 pounds, and a former basketball player turned football. I think he has a high ceiling and really can’t compliment that family enough. Their approach to recruiting, just about all the right things. Just really enjoyed getting to know him and his family. Excited about Kamran being midyear. I just think his upside is tremendous.”

S Jordan Castell

“Jordan Castell is a 6’2″, 200 pound player that plays corner, but I think is going to start in the safety room. I thought he really improved as a tackler as a senior. We had him in camp, the height, the length. He can cover. You go in that school, he is the guy. The principal, the teachers, the counselors, his mom is an unbelievable person, obviously a great story. Just a tough dynamic with his dad and all that happened, but just really a guy that I think is unique, just love to be around him. I thought he had a great senior year, and to be 6’2″, 205 and move around like he does, I think is a big deal.” — Billy Napier

EDGE T.J. Searcy

“Probably one of the freakier dudes in the group. 6’5-1/4″, 250 pounds-plus, probably 260 now. This guy played tight end, outside linebacker as a junior, played more of a 4-3 end as a senior. Unique movements for this size now and a very disruptive player.” — Billy Napier

DB Aaron Gates

“Aaron Gates was the one member of this class that was committed when we arrived, I think, right? Man, I can’t tell you how much respect I have for A.G. and just who he is as a competitor. My brother’s team plays against his team. I remember my brother called him in the summer and said Gates is a problem. Plays both ways returner, DB, receiver. Got injured as a senior, but his parents probably have more — I mean, the wisdom, right? I’m a guy who’s raising a 10, 8, 6-year-old, but when I’m with them, man, I’m asking them questions because just so much respect for who they are and their son and what their family’s about. Aaron Gates is a worker. He’s relentless. He’s in the process of rehabbing right now. Aaron Gates is going to make the Gators better on the field, but just his presence, his character, the work ethic, the drive, he’s a very unique person.” — Billy Napier

WR Andy Jean

“This guy can run the route tree. This guy has a unique acceleration. He can really eat up the coverage. He can get behind you. I respect Andy, just his attitude and approach to life. He’s a blue collar guy. He’s a worker. Really a lot of respect for his family. They work extremely hard, Haitian background, just really respect what they’re about, who they are as a family.” — Billy Napier

LB Jaden Robinson

“Jaden Robinson, I think he scored a defensive touchdown seven weeks in a row in high school football. Think about that for a second. Seven weeks in a row, this guy scores a defensive touchdown. Very difficult to do. Very instinctive player. He’s got a knack. He’s tough. Excited about him being here early. Certainly got a critical need at inside backer, and he’s going to help that.” — Billy Napier

OL Bryce Lovett

“Bryce is very young for his age. Probably should be a junior. Still very much growing. I thought his senior film is really impressive. Certainly, he’s a guy who gets in the program and grows a bit, I think he’s got a bright future in front of him.” — Billy Napier

DL Will Norman

Norman didn’t arrive in Gainesville on Sunday but was officially enrolled at Florida as of Monday night.

“Will Norman is one heck of an athlete for 6’3-1/2″, 300 pounds. Former basketball player, turned football. Was at IMG, went back home for his senior year. This guy could play on the edge for his size, really unique traits. I think his best football is in front of him.”

Pictures of new Gators moving in

New receiver Aiden Mizell moves in with his mother and father. Mizell is a legacy. HIs parents, Ebony and Will, met in the 1990’s when the two competed on the Florida track and field team. Mizell also ran track in high school.

Florida offensive lineman Knijeah Harris moves in.

Defensive Back Bryce Thorton

Defensive back Sharrif Denson

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