Big names are on the Florida Gators recruiting list for Saturday

One quick look at the Florida Gators recruiting visitors list for this weekend will tell you how big of a weekend this is for head coach Jim McElwain and his staff.

It will be a who’s who of Florida Gators recruiting targets on campus this weekend to watch the Florida Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) take on the Tennessee Volunteers (2-1, 0-0 SEC) in the Swamp at 3:30 on Saturday.

The Gators will host their first two official visitors for the season this weekend when two out of state defensive lineman visit Gainesville.

Here’s who we have confirmed are visiting Gainesville this weekend on the Florida Gators recruiting visitor’s list.

Official visitors

The Florida Gators plan to save most official visits for after the season, but two out of state defensive line are coming in on official visits this weekend.

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (6-4, 340, Wake Forest, NC High) has been high on the Gators for some time now, but has never visited Florida. Alabama is trending up for Lawrence early on but the Gators were his childhood favorite school, so Florida is hoping to make up ground this weekend.

Defensive end Terrell Hall (6-5, 251, Washington, DC St. John’s College High) is also high on the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Florida Gators recruiting efforts have been turned up on Hall as late. This is Hall’s first ever visit to Gainesville.

Big time receivers coming to town

There is no secret that the Florida Gators need big time receivers in the class of 2016 and there will be several targets of Florida’s on campus this weekend.

Highlighting the list is Miami Hurricanes commit Sam Bruce and Nate Craig-Myers, both of whom are making their second trip to Florida this year and the Gators are trending up with both prospects.

Freddie Swain has been on campus three times this year and the Florida Gators recruiting efforts have gotten the Gators in good shape for Swain. Swain is also very high on Tennessee so the Gators will get to show off against the Vols.

Another big receiver coming to town this weekend is former Florida State commit Keith Gavin (6-3, 223, Crawfordville, FL Wakulla), who will be making his first trip to Gainesville since Jim McElwain arrived at Florida.

Tennessee has long been the school favored to land Marquez Callaway (6-2, 170, Warner Robins, GA High) but this weekend he will be a Florida Gators recruiting visitor as he gets a chance to see what Florida has to offer.

 

Commits coming to town

If you’re a Florida Gators commit then you will most likely be in the Swamp on Saturday afternoon to help the Florida Gators coaching staff recruit other big time uncommitted targets to Florida.

Running back Lamical Perinereceiver Rick Wells, cornerback Jayvaughn Myers, receiver Isaiah Johnson, 2017 quarterback Jake Allen and 2017 receiver Daquon Green will all be making their second unofficial visit to Gainesville this season for a game.

Cornerback Chauncey Gardner, offensive lineman Brett Heggie and offensive lineman Stone Forsythe will all be making their third-straight home game of the year for the Gators.

Finally, linebacker Jeremiah Moon, defensive end Jaquan Bailey, safety Jeawon Taylor and cornerback C.J. McWilliams will all be making their first trip to Florida for a game as a commit to the Florida Gators.

 

Linebackers coming in

Linebacker Lyndell “Mack” Wilson (6-1, 235, Montgomery, AL Carver) visited the Gators over the summer and he will be back again on Saturday. Wilson has Alabama leading but the Florida Gators recruiting team hasn’t waved the white flag yet.

North Carolina State linebacker commit Brock Miller (6-3, 208, Fort Pierce, FL John Carroll) will be making his trip to Florida as he looks for a Gators offer.

 

Two big tight ends

Tight ends Isaac Nauta and Jacob Mathis have both watched the Florida Gators tight ends have good years so far this season and they will be making their first trip to Gainesville to see McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier’s offensive in action.

Nauta is leaning toward the Georgia Bulldogs right now but he has made several unofficial visits to Florida this summer.

Mathis, on the other hand, had a lot of interest in the Gators last year but hasn’t visited Gainesville since McElwain was hired.

 

Defensive linemen filling the Swamp

The south endzone will be full of top targets on Saturday and a lot of those guys are much needed talent on the defensive line.

Defensive line coach Chris Rumph has done a great job of recruiting and this week he will host top defensive tackle Shavar Manuel for his first game of the year in the Swamp.

Florida State defensive end commit Janarius Robinson visited the Alabama Crimson Tide last week but this week he will be in Gainesville.

Defensive end Antonneous Clayton will be back to Gainesville for the first time since Friday Night Lights and the Gators are in a battle with the Auburn Tigers for his signature.

Defensive tackle Ben Frazier (6-2, 320, Buford, GA High) will be making his first ever trip to Florida this weekend, as he wants to meet the Florida Gators coaching staff.

Defensive end Jachai Polite (6-4, 230, Daytona Beach, FL Mainland) is scheduled to make his trip to Florida since he picked up an offer at Friday Night Lights in July.

Defensive end Mykelle McDaniel (6-4, 255, Loganville, GA Grayson) has Florida as his leader as he makes his first trip to Florida this weekend.

Offensive linemen

Offensive lineman Marcus Tatum likes both Florida and Tennessee a lot and they are considered to be his top two schools and he’s scheduled to be in the Swamp on Saturday afternoon. Most feel like Tatum is a Florida Gators recruiting lean but Tatum says that he isn’t close to announcing a decision.

Also scheduled to be on campus this weekend is offensive lineman Brandon Walton (6-5, 285, Seminole, FL High), who doesn’t yet have a Florida Gators offer.

2017 prospects

The following 2017 prospects have said they will be in attendance at Saturday’s game in the Swamp.

Athlete Devan Barrett (6-1, 195, Tampa, FL Tampa Catholic)

Quarterback Z’khari Blocker (6-1, 185, Pensacola, FL Catholic)

Defensive end Robert Burns (5-11, 214, Miami, FL Gulliver Prep)

Defensive end Zach Carter (6-4, 237, Tampa, FL Hillsborough)

Receiver C.J. Cotman (5-10, 175, Clearwater, FL Central Catholic)

Georgia Bulldogs athlete commit Deejay Dallas (6-0, 182, Brunswick, GA Glynn Academy)

Receiver James Robinson (6-3, 185, Lakeland, FL High)

Running back A.J. Davis (6-0, 179, Lakeland, FL High)

Defensive tackle Cory Durden (6-4, 287, Newberry, FL High)

Defensive end Xach Gill (6-5, 270, Wake Forest, NC High)

Defensive back Cyrus Fagan (6-2, 180, Daytona Beach, FL Mainland)

Linebacker Justin Foster (6-3, 205, Shelby, NC Crest)

Defensive end Malik Herring (6-3, 259, Forsyth, GA Mary Persons)

Linebacker Jaden Hunter (6-3, 205, Atlanta, GA Westlake)

Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line commit Alex Leatherwood (6-5, 298, Pensacola, FL Washington)

Miami Hurricanes tight end commit Tre McKitty (Bradenton, FL IMG Academy)

Quarterback N’Kosi Pery (6-3, 170, Ocala, FL Vanguard)

Offensive lineman Blake Vinson (6-5, 285, Citra, FL North Marion)

 

2018 prospects

Offensive lineman Marcus Jenkins (6-4, 305, Montgomery, AL Park Crossing)

Athlete Jacob Copeland (6-1, 188, Pensacola, FL Pine Forest)

Cornerback Tyreke Johnson (6-1, 177, Jacksonville, FL Trinity Christian)

As always stay tuned to Gator Country.com for all of the latest information on these prospects visiting Florida this weekend.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.

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