The Florida Gators signed 20 prospects during the early signing period in December and it’s a class full of prospects who should see the field early.
During the Under Armour All-America game that featured eight signees, GatorCountry spoke with the signees to get their thoughts on the Gators class.
“I feel like Coach Napier did a great job, an astounding job for year one,” Sharif Denson said. “Even last year he closed a couple of guys that people didn’t think we were going to get then this year he really put his foot down and said I’m going to get who I’m going to get.”
Defensive line signee Will Norman was one of the first commits in the class and he was surprised to see just how good the class turned out to be.
“Definitely shocking, I was one of the earlier commits, me and my friend Knijeah [Harris],” Norman said on his thoughts on the recruiting class. “It was a shocking class, we gained over 20 commits and I’m one of the 20 guys moving in on the 7th or 8th. I feel like we have a good connection and a good bond.”
Quarterback Jaden Rashada was a late addition to the class, but he believes this class shares a common goal of wanting to win.
“Top to bottom, I would say we have a pretty good balance,” Jaden Rashada said. “Especially from the defensive side of the ball we have good balance. My favorite thing about this class is it seems like everyone has the same mission and a good group of dudes and that’s why I can’t wait to get after it.”
Offensive lineman Knijeah Harris also believes this class is different from others because of that common goal.
“I feel like not only are we great players but we’re like-minded,” Harris said of the recruiting class. “We all want to be great, there are some guys in the recruiting process that don’t have the same goals.”
Harris also believes this class will come in with an advantage as they’ve only known Napier and his coaching staff’s coaching style, not the previous staff’s style.
“Obviously we’re going to come in with the new coaching staff’s habits, this is coach’s first legit class,” Knijeah Harris said. “We just talk about coming together and that we’re nothing without the upperclassmen, so we have to make sure everyone is on the same page and learn from those guys.”
While the Gators’ eight Under Armour All-America signees impressed this past week, Rashada is impressed with his future receiver who was supposed to play in the game.
“Me and Eugene [Wilson] we talk here and there,” Rashada said. “I think the best way to describe him is as a playmaker on both sides of the ball. He’s always making plays and I think everyone can see what he did coming off an injury, he made it happen.”
Not only is Rashada excited about throwing to Wilson but also to his other two receivers in the class Andy Jean and Aidan Mizell.
“I’m excited to play with those dudes,” Rashada said. “Mainly because the people they are. Hard workers, good dudes and you can just tell they’re on a mission. We have a pretty good relationship and I know we’re going to get in there and get that connection down and start throwing in the indoor.”
Defensive back Sharif Denson has been a leader of the defensive backs and he believes in the class that defensive coordinator Patrick Toney signed at his position.
“Coach Toney got a great group of guys who can do a bunch of different things,” Denson said on the defensive back class. “We’re a super versatile group so it isn’t like he recruited a bunch of outside corners that he would have to move us to other positions, but he recruited nickels, safeties, and outside corners, he recruited the whole backend, so I feel like we’re all going to work together and be good.”
The Gators class is pretty much done as far as high school recruiting goes but they have one more main target who will announce his commitment on Saturday between Florida and Texas A&M.
“He’s [Caden Jones] the main one we’re trying to get on right now,” Jaden Rashada said. “He’s shown high interest and he hasn’t signed yet so I would say we’re going to try and get Caden and stay on him. I know we tried to get a couple of dudes before signing day but right now we’re happy to come in with a great group of dudes.”
Harris believes that the Gators are in a good spot for Jones as the two spent a lot of time together in December.
“Yeah, I was actually with him on his official visit and ate dinner with him and his family,” he said on recruiting Caden Jones. “We’ve built a good bond and I think we have a really good shot with him.”