The Florida Gators will welcome prospects on campus on Tuesday for the first time since March of 2020 as the NCAA officially ended the dead period that was put into effect due to the coronavirus.
Dan Mullen and his coaching staff are hosting a cookout to kick off a busy month of June that will include several camps as well as the staff hosting official visitors for three weekends in a row.
GatorCountry brings you a look at the expected visitors for the cookout/barbeque on Tuesday.
Commits coming to town
It’s rare for a prospect to commit to a school before they actually visit the campus and meet the coaching staff but due to the dead period most of Florida’s class has done exactly that but that will change on Tuesday.
Quarterback commit Nick Evers took a self-guided trip to Gainesville earlier this year but this week will be the first time for Evers to meet the coaching staff. Evers will stay in Gainesville through the weekend, as he will take his official visit with Florida starting on Friday.
Tight end commit CJ Hawkins has never been to campus or met the coaching staff but like Evers he will be in town on Tuesday. Hawkins has been solid with the Gators since committing earlier this year.
Defensive end commit Francois Nolton is the longest committed prospect to the Gators in the 2022 class and while he’s been on campus before, this is his first time to meet with the coaching staff. Nolton has said he will visit Florida State so Tuesday will be big for the coaching staff in keeping him solid with the Gators.
Top targets on offense to visit
Evers will have his work cut out for him on Tuesday as several of the top targets on the offensive side of the ball are expected to be in town.
Running back targets Damari Alston and Terrance Gibbs are both expected in town and both are near the top of the board at the position. Florida has been battling Georgia Tech and Ohio State among others for Alston but he says the Gators one of the teams recruiting him the hardest. The Gators head into Tuesday as the team to beat for Gibbs who has said he likes the way the Gators plan to use him in college.
Receivers Jayden Gibson, Isaiah Horton, Sam M’Bake, and CJ Smith are also expected in town as the Gators look to add to the position after Isaiah Bond committed to Florida last month. Gibson is a Florida legacy but Miami is recruiting the receiver hard as well but the Gators hope to use Tuesday’s visit to pull away from the Canes before Gibson visits officially later in June..
Horton has named Florida his leader in the past but Alabama is a team to watch for the Tennessee native.
M’Bake is a guy who likes Florida a lot but until recently he hadn’t shown a lot of interest in the Gators but he will have the chance to meet the staff on Tuesday.
Smith is one of the fastest prospects in the country and he has picked up a lot of big offers already but the Gators sit in a good spot heading into the visit and he plans to return later in June for an official visit after he visits Arkansas, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.
Offensive lineman Qae’shon Sapp will announce his decision in July but he will visit take a visit to Florida on Tuesday and return for an official visit but the Gators have some work to do with the lineman as Florida State appears to be the team to beat.
Defensive targets to visit
While the list is a little light for targets on the defensive side of the ball, the names expected in town are big ones.
Linebacker EJ Lightsey is one of the top linebackers on the board and he has said that Florida and Florida State are two teams standing out to him. Lightsey will take official visits to both schools in June.
Defensive backs Jaquise Alexander, Nick Cull, and Devin Moore are also expected to visit Gainesville on Tuesday. Moore has been a top target for Jules Montinar since he arrived in Gainesville as Moore attends Naples High where Montinar is from.
Cull has been high on Florida since he picked up an offer from the Gators earlier this spring and the Gators are battling the likes of Miami and Auburn for the defensive back.
Alexander just recently picked up an offer from Florida and he spoke highly of the Gators after the offer, Miami has also recently offered the Tampa Catholic defensive back.
Defensive back Tre Donaldson is also expected in town on Tuesday and will officially visit Florida this fall. Donaldson is being recruited by both Dan Mullen and Mike White.
2023 prospects to visit
The 2022 prospect list is impressive for Tuesday but the 2023 class is equally as impressive as some of the state and nation’s best are expected in town.
Here are the names expected in town out of the 2023 class.
Receiver Ashton Cozart
Offensive lineman Payton Kirkland
Offensive lineman Clay Wedin
Offensive lineman Tommy Kinsler
Linebacker Jaiden Ausberry
Linebacker Keon Keeley
Defensive end Victor Burley
Defensive back Shariff Denson
Defensive back Jonas Duclona
Defensive back Tony Mitchell
Defensive back Antonio Robinson
Defensive back Shawn Russ Jr
Defensive back Elliot Washington
Defensive back Treyaun Webb