The Florida Gators are preparing for their biggest recruiting weekend of the season on Saturday when the LSU Tigers come to town.
Billy Napier and his staff have elected not to host official visitors this fall up until now as they will have more time to spend with the visitors since next week is a bye week.
GatorCountry brings you a preview of this week’s visitors list for the LSU game as the Gators are expecting many of their top targets in the Class of 2023 and 2024.
Official visitors
The Florida Gators will host four official visitors this weekend including two current commits that will be in town for their official visit.
Defensive lineman Qua Russaw is one of the top defensive linemen in the country and will make the trip over from Montgomery, Alabama to visit the Gators for the second time this weekend. Alabama and Georgia are the favorites for Russaw but the Gators made a big impression on Russaw during his visit to Gainesville for Friday Night Lights.
Defensive tackle James Smith is teammates with Russaw in Montgomery and will be on campus with Russaw this weekend. Smith like Russaw likes Alabama and Georgia but he sees the opportunity for early playing time in Gainesville at his position.
Newly committed defensive back Bryce Thornton will be on campus just one day after committing to the Gators. Thornton chose Florida over Alabama, and this will be his second gameday visit to Florida this fall. Thornton has been a top target for the Gators ever since Patrick Toney and the rest of the defensive staff got on campus.
Quarterback commit Marcus Stokes will also take his official visit this weekend as he will help the staff recruit the other uncommitted prospects this weekend. Stokes has been solid with Florida since flipping to the Gators from Penn State in July.
Top defensive targets to visit
The staff picked up two huge defensive back commits on Thursday and the biggest remaining target in the class will be on campus this weekend when defensive back Cormani McClain is expected to be in Gainesville. McClain would put a bow on the Gators defensive backs class and the Gators are battling Alabama and Miami for his signature.
South Carolina defensive tackle commit Xzavier McLeod says he will be in town for the first time this fall on Saturday. McLeod is solid with his commitment to Carolina, but Florida and Georgia have been keeping tabs on McLeod this fall. This weekend is a chance for the Gators to make a move and show McLeod he’s needed.
Defensive lineman Jordan Hall will make the short drive over from Jacksonville this weekend and this is expected to be his second gameday visit of the fall. Georgia is the team battling the Gators right now for the defensive tackle who doesn’t have a commitment date in mind right now.
UCF defensive tackle commit John Walker is expected back on campus for the fourth time this fall on Saturday. There was some talk that Walker would use his official visit this weekend, but the Gators wanted to save that for December.
Georgia Tech linebacker transfer Demetrius Knight announced his intentions to transfer from the Jackets and now plans to visit Gainesville this weekend. Florida hasn’t offered Knight yet but the Gators are keeping tabs on the ACC transfer.
Offensive targets to visit
While McClain is the biggest name expected to visit, Alabama running back commit Richard Young is certainly not far behind him. Young is expected in Gainesville for the third time this fall as he attends the games to support a former teammate who plays for the Gators. Florida is still working on the flip but Alabama seems in good shape right now.
Receiver Jaren Hamilton doesn’t have an offer from Florida yet but he’s someone that the Gators are watching closely, and he would likely be the next receiver to pick up an offer from Florida if the coaching staff decides to offer another receiver.
Offensive lineman Barrett Maddox is another guy that Florida hasn’t offered yet but is someone that the coaching staff has been in touch with. The Gators will get the chance to size up Maddox this weekend and meet the lineman in person.
Top underclassmen to visit
There’s a lot of top 2023 targets on campus but the coaching staff has also put together a good underclassmen list of visitors for this weekend.
2024 quarterback DJ Lagway leads the group as he will make the trip from Texas for the second time this fall as the Gators continue to put the full-court press on Lagway. Lagway hasn’t decided on when he will announce a decision, but the Gators are certainly in good shape for the quarterback.
2024 defensive back Desmond Ricks is considered a top-five prospect for next year and he will also be in town for the second time this fall on Saturday. Ricks really likes cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond and that has the Gators riding high in his recruitment.
2024 defensive end Elijah Rushing is a legacy for the Gators, and he will be on campus for the first time this fall on Saturday. Rushing had planned to visit Gainesville for the Eastern Washington, but the weather pushed it back to this weekend.
2024 receivers Jeremiah Smith and Joshisa Trader are both considered top receivers for next year and they will also be in town for the first time this fall on Saturday.
Joining those guys will be the following underclassmen.
2024 QB Davi Belfort
2024 RB Stacy Gage
2025 WR Caleb Cunningham
2025 WR Jamie Ffrench
2025 WR Koby Howard
2024 OL Daniel Calhoun
2024 OL Eddy Pierre-Louis
2024 DL Kendall Jackson
2024 DL Ernest Willor
2024 LB Kristopher Jones
2024 DB Jaylen Heyward
2024 FSU DB commit Jordan Pride
2024 DB Brayshon Williams
Commits coming to town
The Gators coaching staff will have the benefit of having several of their commits on campus this weekend to help them recruit the above targets.
Running back Treyaun Webb, receivers Aidan Mizell, Tyree Patterson, and Creed Whittemore have been to almost every game this fall and that will continue Saturday.
Offensive lineman Knijeah Harris will also be on campus for the second time this fall as will defensive lineman Kelby Collins
Defensive line commits Gavin Hill, Kamran James, and TJ Search have visited this fall a few times and are expected on campus with linebacker commit Jaden Robinson and defensive back commits Jordan Castell, Shariff Denson, and Dijon Johnson