Friday Night Frenzy Recap Week 1: Florida Gators Recruiting

It’s that time of the year again where the Friday Night Lights are bright and prospects across the country are trying to shine on the field to impress college coaches and win a state championship ring before heading to college.

Like the past years, Gator Country is going to do a preview every Thursday for all of the Florida Gators recruiting commits and on Monday we will do a full recap including stats and notes from the past week’s games.

This year we are going to also to name a player of the week from the commits’ games.

 

Week 1 recap

Player of the week: Waltez Clark- Clark had seven carries for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Clark also added three catches for 70 yards and another touchdown.

 

2025 commits

Receiver Vernell Brown III (5-11, 170, Orlando, FL. Jones)

Result: Jones doesn’t start its season until Friday night.

Game Stats: N/A

Notes: N/A

 

Running back Waltez Clark (6-1, 194, Tampa, FL. Plant)

Result: Plant defeated Carrollwood Day 28-14 on Friday night.

Game Stats: Clark had seven carries for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Clark also added three catches for 70 yards and another touchdown.

Notes: Plant is 1-0 on the year.

 

Punter Hayden Craig (6-2, 180, Bridgton, ME. Academy)

Result: Bridgton Academy hasn’t start its season yet.

Game Stats: N/A

Notes: N/A

 

Running back Chad Gasper (5-10, 200, Fulshear, TX. Katy)

Result: Katy starts its season on Friday night.

Game Stats: N/A

Notes: N/A

 

Tight end Tae’shaun Gelsey (6-4, 215, Jacksonville, FL. Riverside)

Result: Riverside lost to Oakleaf 35-7 on Friday night.

Game Stats: Gelsey had a touchdown catch in the loss.

Notes: Riverside is 0-1 on the year.

 

Defensive back Ben Hanks Jr. (6-1, 170, Miami, FL. Booker T Washington)

Result: Booker T. Washington defeated South Dade 28-6 on Thursday night.

Game Stats: Hanks had two interceptions in the game.

Notes: Booker T. Washington is 1-0 on the year.

 

Lineacker Myles Johnson (6-1, 220, Brewton, AL. T.R. Miller)

Result: T.R. Miller defeated Reeltown 28-7 on Thursday night.

Game Stats: Johnson had 15 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Notes: T.R. Miller is 1-0 on the year.

 

Tight end Micah Jones (6-5, 245, Madison, MS. Central)

Result: Madison Central doesn’t start its season for two weeks.

Game Stats: N/A

Notes: N/A

 

Defensive lineman Jeramiah McCloud (6-3, 280, Leesburg, GA. Lee County)

Result: Lee County defeated Hapeville Charter 66-6 on Friday night.

Game Stats: McCloud had three tackles and a tackle for a loss in the win. McCloud also had an interception that he returned for a touchdown.

Notes: Lee County is 2-0 on the year.

 

Defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou (6-4, 275, Loganville, GA. Grayson)

Result: Grayson defeated Thompson 15-14 on Thursday night.

Game Stats: Mbatchou had a tackle in the win.

Notes: Grayson is 1-1 on the year.

 

Receiver Naeshaun Montgomery (6-1, 185, Miami, FL. Central)

Result: Central lost to Lakeland 16-8 on Friday night.

Game Stats: Montgomery had a 56-yard touchdown catch in the loss.

Notes: Central is 0-1 on the year.

 

Receiver Joshua Moore (6-4, 205, Pembroke Pines, FL. West Broward)

Result: West Broward defeated South Broward 57-14 on Friday night.

Game Stats: N/A

Notes: West Broward is 1-0 on the year.

 

Defensive back Demetres Samuel Jr. (6-0, 185, Palm Bay, FL. Heritage)

Result: Heritage defeated Palm Bay 44-0 Friday night.

Game Stats: N/A

Notes: Heritage is 1-0 on the year.

 

Defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins (6-4, 255, Tallahassee, FL. Rickards)

Result: Rickards defeated Godby 22-21 on Friday night.

Game Stats:

Notes: Rickards is 2-0 on the year.

 

2026 commits

Quarterback Will Griffin (6-3, 225, Tampa, FL. Jesuit)

Result: Jesuit lost to Bishop Verot 48-34 on Friday night.

Game Stats: Griffin had a touchdown pass in the loss.

Notes: Jesuit is 0-1 on the year.

 

Defensive back Devin Jackson (6-1, 195, Orlando, FL. First Academy)

Result: First Academy defeated Lipscomb Academy 28-23 Friday night.

Game Stats: N/A

 

Notes: First Academy is 1-0 on the year.

Defensive back Jaelen Waters (Seffner, FL. Armwood)

Result: Armwood defeated Gaither 41-19 on Friday night.

Game Stats: N/A

Notes: Armwood is 1-0 on the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.