With the first contact period of 2025 coming to an end, Gator Country spoke with 2026 four-star DL Vodney Cleveland about his final junior day visit before the dead period. The 6-3, 305-pound defensive lineman currently attends Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama and is listed as the No. 44 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports.
“Really just getting back down here to Gainesville and spending time with Coach Napier, Coach Chatman and Coach Patterson. It’s just a great feeling out here, it’s really family oriented,” Cleveland said on what he enjoyed from his visit. “What really makes this place special is the people around here and everything is real around here.”
Cleveland is no stranger to Gainesville as the four-star was in town two weeks ago for Florida’s first junior day of 2025. Just a few short days after he left Gainesville, Gators’ defensive line coach Gerald Chatman traveled to Alabama and got Cleveland right back on campus.
“Last junior day visit after I came, Coach Chatman came down to Alabama two days later to see me and let me know that this is real,” Cleveland said on his talk with Coach Chatman. “Me and Coach Napier have conversations about how he thinks I’m a great fit for this team.”
Florida’s staff and Gerald Chatman continue to focus on building relationships, which has been the main reason the Gators have gained significant interest from the defensive lineman as of late.
“It most definitely has been the relationships,” Cleveland said on why the Gators are climbing in his recruitment. “Just talking with Coach Napier and Coach Chatman and building relationships.”
During his sophomore and junior seasons at Parker High School, Cleveland recorded 69 total tackles (45 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 22 games played. The 6-3, 305-pound defensive lineman is also ranked inside the top 125 in Alabama for sacks recorded, top 25 in Division 6A in another stat and top 4 in 6A Region 5 for a third stat.
As the No. 44 prospect in the country, Cleveland is also listed as the No. 3 DL in the country and the State of Alabama with 29 total offers. The four-star recruit currently has no visits set and will figure out dates in the near future.