Over the weekend, six official visitors were on campus for the Florida Gators including a few targets committed elsewhere.
Texas receiver commit Jaime Ffrench (6-1, 185, Jacksonville, FL. Mandarin) was on campus and he says Billy Napier returning next year was a big reason he decided to visit.
“Florida never stopped recruiting me even from the get go,” Ffrench said of why he decided to visit Florida. “So, hearing he [Billy Napier] has another year, I was like ok then I can really see it.”
Ffrench who hasn’t visited Florida since 2022 says he’s glad he made the trip to the Swamp this weekend.
“Oh yeah, no doubt,” he said on if he’s glad he visited Florida. “Every time I come down it’s for a reason and I get more and more about UF. I really liked it, the game itself spoke for itself.”
After the visit, Ffrench says the Gators have a shot at him and they do largely because of quarterback DJ Lagway.
“Yeah definitely,” Ffrench said on if Florida has a shot for him. “DJ Lagway. The coaching staff, him having another year. Everything just makes sense. I can see it.”
Lagway spent time with Ffrench over the weekend and made sure to tell him that he’s needed and wanted in Gainesville.
“Every time I see him, he says come be a part of things,” he said on the message from Lagway. “He needs some guys enrolling next year, he needs some targets. He has Vernell but he’s trying to get another weapon. Either way it goes, he’s going to be good regardless.”
Ffrench also watched Elijah Badger closely during the game and he knows that’s the role he would play if he was to come to Florida.
“Not surprised, that’s what guys do in big games like that,” he said on Elijah Badger’s night. “Especially with LSU coming to their house and when DJ Lagway stepping back in. It was a big deal. With them not having a guy like him for next year, having guys like Vernell and me. They want to reload those classes.”
One other big part helping the Gators is the fact that his high school teammate Tramell Jones just committed to Florida.
“It would be a blessing as well,” Ffrench said on playing with Tramell Jones. “With him having mishaps at his other place, even us connecting again since he’s been out hurt since week two. That would be a blessing. We’ve had conversations a lot, thinking about how we can make things right at UF.”
Ffrench admits the Gators made a move for him during the weekend but he says he’s still solid in his commitment to Texas.
“I’m locked in with Texas, I really like Texas but just need to check out things with the local school,” he said on where things stand in his recruitment. “It’s a need for sure, I definitely say they have a chance, we’re reevaluating things but I’m still loyal to my team Texas.”