Four-star WR Caleb Douglas joins forces with the Florida Gators
Billy Napier and the Gators just added to their 2022 class, reeling in a commitment from wide receiver Caleb Douglas.
Douglas, a former USC commit, officially visited UF on Jan. 14 and received multiple in-home visits as well. He visited LSU this past weekend, but the Gators have been on top for several weeks and ultimately sealed the deal earlier this week, resulting in today’s signing.
A product of Missouri City (Texas) Hightower, Douglas possesses additional offers from Notre Dame, Texas, Virginia Tech and Baylor among others. He is the 74th-ranked wide receiver in the On3 Consensus.
“My relationship with coach KC has just been super different compared to all the other coaches that recruited me,” Douglas told Gators Online. “I really trust coach KC because I committed to him once upon a time at USC. It’s kind of hard to switch on him.
“Coach Nap, that’s my dog. He keeps it real all the time and doesn’t have analysts or helpers answering his phone calls. He answers them, responds and laughs with us and sends us funny videos. It’s a coach you would want to play for.”
During the 2021 season, Douglas reeled in 51 receptions for 984 yards and seven touchdowns for the 11-3 Hurricanes. According to the On3 Consensus Rankings, he is a four-star prospect and the No. 48 wide receiver.
“I used to play for the Gators when I was in little league,” Douglas said. “I always said I wanted to be a Gator when I get older, and now I get a chance to do it and I get to do it with a good head coach.
“On top of that, it’s the Swamp. I was loving the vibe when I got there. Then it’s all sunshine; I can’t go wrong with sunshine and the beach, so I’m loving it.”
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Picking just one school was quite difficult for Douglas
“It was super close,” Douglas said of the battle between UF and LSU. “I love both of the wide receiver coaches. Coach Hank (Cortez Hankton), man, we got close these past couple of days, but it’s the same thing with coach Nap. It’s been real close.”
The Gators made Douglas a top priority from the get go
Shortly after Billy Napier was announced as head coach, the Gators conducted a visit at Douglas’ school. He was also the first prospect to receive an offer from the new staff.
Ryan O’Hara, an offensive analyst with the Gators, was the staff member who made a strong first impression; however, a handful of additional coaches have since inserted themselves into the conversations as well.
Included in that group is wide receivers coach, Keary Colbert, who was one of Douglas’ go-to contacts at USC as well.
“I talk to them a whole bunch,” Douglas said. “I talk to coach KC a lot; well, we’ve been talking since he was at USC, so it just slipped over to a new school. I also talk to coach Napier, coach Joe Hamilton, coach Ryan O’Hara and the running backs coach (Jabbar Juluke).
“Coach KC and coach Hamilton, it’s like every day (I speak with them). With coach Napier, he always sends me something like, ‘It’s a great day to be a Gator’ or a little article to keep my day going.”
Douglas is the first wide receiver commit in UF’s 2022 class.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
