Camp season is coming to a end but before the door is shut the Florida Gators will host its annual Friday Night Lights camp on Friday in Gainesville.
The last few years have been somewhat down as far as talent goes for the camp but The Swamp at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is expected to be filled with some serious talent this year.
The biggest question is which prospects will work out and which prospects will simply watch from the sidelines but nonetheless the Gators are happy to get these guys on campus this weekend.
Camp season is coming to an end but before the door is shut the Florida Gators will host its annual Friday Night Lights camp on Friday in Gainesville.
The last few years have been somewhat down as far as talent goes for the camp but the Swamp is expected to be filled with some serious talent this year.
The biggest question is which prospects will work out and which prospects will simply watch from the sidelines, but nonetheless, the Gators are happy to get these guys on campus this weekend.
Here’s who Gator Country.com has confirmed as planning to visit Florida this weekend.
Commits heading to recruit at FNL
Florida will have several of its commits from the class of 2016 and 2017 on campus this weekend to help the coaching staff recruit for the Florida Gators. The biggest one may be cornerback Chauncey Gardner, who is a social media favorite, for a lot of prospects. Gardner loves to talk and he’s a big recruiter for Florida.
2017 quarterback Jake Allen is bringing a carload of players with him on Friday and he has become one of the Gators biggest recruiters in just over two weeks since he committed to Florida. Allen plans to throw on Friday as well.
Receivers Rick Wells and Isaiah Johnson plan to work out on Friday night and so does athlete Tyrek Tisdale. Deerfield teammates Aaron Robinson and 2017 receiver Lavarus Tigner also plan to be in Gainesville on Friday.
A lot of speculation is going around on whether or not defensive end Jaquan Bailey and cornerback C.J. McWilliams will work out or not on Friday night. Many, including myself, want to see them compete.
Two committed/one uncommitted quarterback to throw
Louisville Cardinal quarterback commit Tylin Oden (6-5, 175, Columbia, TN Spring Hill) is not very solid in his commitment to Louisville and he plans to throw for the Gators on Friday night in hopes of earning an offer.
Clemson Tigers quarterback commit Zerrick Cooper (6-2, 203, Jonesboro, GA High) is also scheduled to throw for offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and co. on Friday night. Cooper should earn an offer from Florida during the camp.
Xavier Gaines (6-2, 208, Frostproof, FL Lake Wales) is also scheduled to be in town on Friday night and he will throw for the Gators in hopes of gaining an offer. Gaines is a good player but has had some off the field problems that have scared coaches away.
Gators going for the flip
Miami Hurricanes receiver commit Sam Bruce steals the show at every tournament he attends and he has Florida Gators fans excited about him visiting this weekend. Bruce is best friends with Florida running back Jordan Scarlett and that should help the Gators out.
Southern Cal receiver commit Velus Jones Jr. will be making his second visit to Florida this summer and he impressed the Gators coaching staff during his last visit when he ran a very good 40 time in the Swamp. Will the Gators gain ground on the Mobile, Alabama prospect this weekend?
Georgia Bulldogs offensive line commit Chris Barnes (6-3, 274, Leesburg, GA Lee County) plans to camp at Florida on Friday night in hopes of earning an offer from the Gators. If Florida offers Barnes then things could get interesting.
Big play receivers
The receivers planning to head to Gainesville on Friday are simply playmakers, and it should be the most talented group of the event.
Binjimen Victor is the best receiver in the state, in my opinion, and he will be back in Gainesville again as the Gators battle Ohio State and Tennessee in his recruitment.
Nate Craig-Myers and Cavin Ridley are also big time playmakers and they will both be back in Gainesville for the second time this summer. The Alabama Crimson Tide is trending up for Ridley now and the Gators will try to stop that momentum this weekend. Florida is behind in the race for Craig-Myers and the Gators will try to catch the Florida State Seminoles this weekend.
Freddie Swain dominated the Opening two weeks ago and Florida has turned the heat up on him, but how will Swain react to the new approach? That’s the biggest question to be answered on Friday for Swain.
Freddie Pinder will be in town on his visit to Florida this year and he plans to work out during the event.
Defensive backs
Cornerbacks McArthur Burnett and Jayvaughn Myers will both be making their second trips to Florida this summer and the Gators are in great shape for both prospects at this time. Burnett recently decommitted from Miami but has the Gators in the lead now.
Cornerback Quincy Lenton (6-0, 195, Meridian, MS High) will be making the long trip to Gainesville for the first time this weekend and the Gators hope to become a player for his services after this visit.
Athlete Demetris Robertson (6-0, 190, Savannah, GA Savannah Christian School) is also scheduled to visit Florida on Friday and this will be his first trip to Gainesville in over two years.
Joining Robertson on his trip to Florida will be cornerback Mecole
Hardman (5-10, 171, Bowman, GA Elbert County), who is starting to talk to the Florida Gators a lot more.
Safety Nigel Warrior (5-11, 188, Suwanee, GA Peachtree Ridge) is also saying he will be in town and the elite safety would be a huge visitor for Florida.
Other notable prospects
Linebacker Jeremiah Moon is from an elite program at Hoover High School and he has Florida, Mississippi State and South Carolina leading for him at this time. The Gators could wrap his recruitment up this weekend though.
Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive line commit EJ Price is another prospect that plans to come down with Warrior and Robertson on Friday. Price is scheduled to arrive early and leave before Friday Night Lights.
Center Brett Heggie has said that he will likely visit Florida on Friday but he has not made a definitive answer to Gator Country at this time. Heggie has Florida leading early on and a decision could be coming at any time.
Defensive end Jordan Woods is another prospect that has Florida leading his recruitment, but he continues to say that he doesn’t want to a make a decision this summer — that could change this weekend.
2017 prospects flocking to Gainesville
The 2017 class will be well represented on Friday night when several prospects work out for the Gators in the Swamp.
RB A.J. Davis (6-0, 179, Lakeland, FL High)
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (6-1, 188, Detroit, MI Cass Tech)
WR Trevon Grimes (6-4, 195, Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas)
WR Emmanuel Greene (5-9, 170 Bradenton, FL IMG Academy)
WR Princent Fant (6-2, 190, LaVergne, TN High)
WR Rodney Scott (6-2, 185, Miami, FL Southridge)
WR Jerry Jeudy (6-1, 158, Deerfield Beach, High)
WR Daquon Green (6-1, 186, Tamp, FL Tampa Bay Tech)
WR James Robinson (6-3, 185, Lakeland, FL High)
OL Kai-Leon Herbert (6-4, 262, Plantation, FL American Heritage)
Miami Hurricanes TE commit Tre McKitty (6-4, 225, Bradenton, FL IMG Academy)
Miami Hurricanes LB commit Tyler Dunning (6-0, 221, Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas)
DL Cory Durden (6-4, 287, Newberry, FL High)
Florida State Seminoles defensive line commit Ja’len Parks (6-3, 279, Newberry, FL High)
DB Jaytlin Askew (5-8, 160, Powder Springs, GA McEachern)
DB Gentry Bonds (6-2, 170, Murfreesboro, TN Riverdale)
DB Deangelo Gibbs (6-2, 207, Suwanee, GA Peachtree Ridge)
Athlete Maleik Gray (6-1, 196, LaVergne, TN High)
Athlete Devan Barrett (6-1, 195, Tampa, FL Catholic)
2018 prospects getting on campus early
It’s never too early to get 2018 prospects on campus and get them around the coaching staff and that’s exactly what a few prospects will do on Friday night.
Quarterback Jack West (6-3, 210, Saraland, AL High) has picked up offers from everyone this summer and likely adds a Gators offer on Friday night.
Cornerback Asanate Samuel Jr. (5-10, 163, Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas)
Cornerback Jaylon King (6-0, 170, Nashville, TN Ensworth) is looking for a Florida offer.
Wow! That is a stacked line-up!