IMG Academy DL Will Norman makes the call for the Florida Gators
Although he initially planning to decide several months from now, four-star defensive lineman Will Norman has opted to pull himself off the market.
The IMG Academy standout is headed to the University of Florida. He announced his commitment moments ago following today’s pledge from fellow defensive lineman Kelby Collins.
Since the beginning of this year, the 6-foot-4, 276-pound Norman has logged four visits to campus. His official visit took place during the weekend of June 10 and he also attended the Orange and Blue Game.
Billy Napier’s staff has been prioritizing him from the start, with the full-court press having taken place during Saturday’s Grill at the Ville cookout. It’s that high level of communication that ultimately pushed the Gators through the finish line, as Billy Napier, Sean Spencer and others make contact a number of times each week.
Prior to announcing, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine favored the Gators with odds of nearly 63 percent. My prediction for UF was submitted in April, so this was in the works for quite some time.
Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Texas A&M and Jackson State were additional schools under consideration.
“It’s just how genuine the coaching staff is. Their energy never changes throughout the whole process. Good and bad, everything just stays the same,” Norman previously told Gators Online.
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“Coach Napier, his whole message I feel like is just powerful. Even though he was at Alabama for five years, Clemson for seven years, he just came from Louisiana, not a very big school, so that’s definitely someone like me who made it from hard work. I definitely feel like that’s eye-opening.”
Norman eyes early impact with the orange and blue
According to the On3 Consensus Rankings, Norman ranks as the No. 18 defensive lineman and No. 156 prospect regardless of position. He is also the 36th-ranked rising senior in the Sunshine State, although Camden, New Jersey is his hometown.
Receiving significant playing time as a freshman is difficult at any school; however, the four-star prospect can envision himself making an early splash in Gainesville.
That observation was made after being inside the Swamp for the spring game.
“Just watching the team, I feel like I could definitely see myself as being an early impact (player). I can definitely see myself getting in and just being somebody early in the system,” Norman said.
“That just means a lot to me, especially at at the highest level being in the SEC. I can definitely see myself making an early impact.”
With the addition of Norman, Florida now holds commitments from 19 prospects in the 2023 class. Fellow four-star prospects, Kelby Collins, T.J. Searcy and Gavin Hill are defensive linemen in the class as well.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
![Florida s Ron Roberts will serve as executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Roberts was coaching drills Saturday. The Florida Gators held their second Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, March 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/07/30115745/Untitled-design-20-2.png)
