Who the Florida Gators beat for each of their commitments
The current Florida Gators commitment list has both quantity and quality. And with 21 verbals as of Thursday, Billy Napier’s program owns the No. 3 class ranking.
But in recruiting, it’s not just about who you landed — but who you beat to get them.
Today, we take a look at Florida’s commitments and who the Gators won battles against for each of them.
–5-star safety Xavier Filsaime, McKinney (Texas)
Who Florida beat: Georgia, LSU
Quote: “What really stood out is the vibe and chemistry I had with the coaches when I first met them in person,” Filsaime said. “Also the fact that I’m from Florida and I’ll be back home.”
UF beat 2 schools with great QB traditions to land DJ Lagway
–5-star quarterback DJ Lagway, Willis (Texas)
Who Florida beat: Southern Cal, Clemson
Quote: “What stood out for Florida was the system they run,” Lagway said. “I definitely can see myself excelling in that offense and achieving all of my goals and aspirations there.”
–4-star linebacker Myles Graham, Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz
Who Florida beat: Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn and Texas A&M.
Quote: ““For me it was a no brainer,” Graham said. “Florida has always been my dream ever since I knew what football was. My dad went there and my sister goes there now. The coaching staff there is great and I believe they will bring back the swamp. All the pieces just fell into place and it feels right right now to make the move. “
–4-star linebacker Adarius Hayes, Largo (Fla.)
Who Florida beat: Notre Dame
Quote: “When I go up to Gainesville, it just feels like home,” Hayes said. “The atmosphere is ridiculous up there.”
The Gators have landed 2 talented recruits in Mississippi
–4-star linebacker Jamonta Waller, Picayune Memorial (Miss.)
Who Florida beat: Penn State, Auburn
Quote: “It just felt like home both times I went to Gainesville,” Waller said. “They made me feel like a priority.”
–4-star linebacker Aaron Chiles, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel
Who Florida beat: Michigan, Maryland
Quote: “I went up there for my first visit and it felt like home,” Chiles said. “Just the atmosphere and culture that coach Napier had brought to the table the first time I went up there it just felt special. Then on my official just the family environment that Florida gives off.”
–4-star tight end Amir Jackson, Portal (Ga.)
Who Florida beat: Auburn, Miami, Tennessee
Quote: “Florida, Coach Napier, Coach (Russ) Calloway — they contact me everyday making sure we’re good,” Jackson said. “You feel like home when you go there on visits. It’s a place you would want to be. (Napier) understands players, he doesn’t just recruit players like me. He wants to know about you.”
UF has won a few battles with Penn State this cycle
–4-star edge Amaris Williams, Clinton (N.C.)
Who Florida beat: Penn State
Quote: “What really stood out about Florida was the coaches and the time they put into me,” Williams said. “They had a game plan set for me and treated me as a priority. Being a top player on their board added to it. Another thing that stood out was the people and the environment. I loved everybody as a person and as a community.”
–4-star receiver Jerrae Hawkins, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Who Florida beat: Penn State, Miami
Quote: “What stood out about UF was how they developed guys like me,” Hawkins said. “Also, how many receivers coaches they have will help a lot at my position. I want to play in the SEC with the best!”
–4-star defensive lineman Nasir Johnson, Dublin (Ga.)
Who Florida beat: Florida State
Quote: “They treated me like family,” Johnson said. “It’s family oriented. So I feel like it’s some place I could be.”
–4-star offensive lineman Fletcher Westphal, Leesburg (Va.) Tuscarora
Who Florida beat: Arkansas, Clemson
Quote: “This was a very hard decision. What steered me toward Florida was its high academics. It’s not just football for me. A degree from a top university (No. 5 public with a 30% acceptance rate) helps my future in a big way. Education for the players is a priority to Coach Napier. The Gators had the highest team GPA of the top schools on my list.”
The Gators flipped a talented receiver from the Seminoles
–4-star receiver Tawaski Abrams, Fort Myers (Fla.) Dunbar
Who Florida beat: Florida State
Quote: “Just the feeling I got from being there,” Abrams said. “It felt like the right place for me from the field to the classroom. Touring the facilities, getting to see that this place is really at the top when it comes to producing and creating great players let me know this is where I wanna be.”
–4-star running back Kahnen Daniels, West Point (Miss.)
Who Florida beat: Mississippi State
Quote: “Florida was different,” Daniels said. “I can’t really say who I picked them over. When I visited Florida the first time, I felt something different. Everything changed on that visit. Now I am committed.”
–4-star receiver Izaiah Williams, Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day
Who Florida beat: LSU, Tennessee and Florida State.
Quote: “I choose UF for several reasons,” Williams said. “First, UF is one of the top 5 public universities in the nation. Academics plays a huge role in my decision and I feel UF provides me with a premier learning experience within the state of Florida. Second, I really love the football program and can see the vision with Coach Napier and Coach Gonzalez and am excited to be a part of this program.”
Florida Gators kept the top local recruit home
–4-star defensive lineman/edge Kendall Jackson, Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz
Who Florida beat: Kentucky, Miami
Quote: “The coaching staff is probably one of the main reasons; the relationships I have with them and the way they respect me and my family,” Jackson said. “That’s a big part of why I chose to be a Gator.”
–3-star safety Josiah Davis, Nashville (Ga.) Berrien
Who Florida beat: Tennessee, Kentucky
Quote: “Florida is just a great school overall, football and academic wise,” Davis said. “The bond I have with the coaches, especially coach CJ, coach (Jay) Bateman, and Coach (Austin) Armstrong. They treat me very special every time I visit up there.”
Napier and Co. beat out an SEC West rival
–3-star offensive lineman Marcus Mascoll, Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett
Who Florida beat: LSU
Quote: “Florida is a great university and Gainesville is a great city,” Mascoll said. “Coach Napier, Coach (Rob) Sale and Coach (Darnell) Stapleton are all great dudes and they make me feel like a priority.”
-3-star cornerback Teddy Foster, Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney
Who Florida beat: North Carolina, Miami
Quote: “I believe they can do a lot with me because with my size and athleticism I can get play man coverage on the outside and do well at cornerback and have the versatility to play some safety, too,” Foster said.
The Florida Gators won a big battle in the Peach State against Georgia
-3-star defensive lineman Michai Boireau, Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside
Who Florida beat: Georgia
Quote: “Basically just the relationship I built with the staff stood out,” Boireau said. “Also the fact that they had everything I needed. It succeeds not just athletic wise, but also academically. I just feel like Florida is the best fit for me.”
-3-star offensive lineman Noel Portnjagin, Schwäbisch Hall (Germany)
Who Florida beat: South Carolina, Liberty
Quote: “The coaches I talked to and worked with were always positive to me,” Portnjagin said. “The head coach always smiled, so he just gave me a positive vibe. Even when I made a mistake, the coaches told me in a positive way how to fix that problem. They were great.”
-3-star offensive lineman Mike Williams, Baltimore (Md.) Charles Herbert Flowers
Who Florida beat: Was previously committed to South Carolina
Quote: “What stood out about Florida was how the coaches and players interacted with each other,” Williams said. “It’s all about family in Gainesville especially with the offensive line.”
