The summer is winding down for the Florida Gators coaching staff as fall camp starts next week which means Friday Night Lights is the last big recruiting opportunity of the summer.
Many of Florida’s commits for the 2019 class and top targets for not only the 2019 class but also the 2020 and 2021 classes are expected to be in the Swamp on Friday for the event.
GatorCountry brings you a look at the expect visitors for Friday Night Lights in this visitors preview.
Commits coming to town
Nine of Florida’s 11 commits are expected to visit Gainesville on Friday and that includes the leader of the class in quarterback Jalon Jones who will be on campus for the second time this summer.
Joining Jones’ on the offensive side of the ball is receiver commit Dionte Marks, offensive line commits Wardrick Wilson and Ethan White. The commits are all solid to Florida right now but the Gators hope to continue that momentum with those guys. Athlete commit Ja’Markis Weston is also expected to be on campus for the first time despite him being a commit to Florida. Weston projects to play on the offensive side of the ball.
On defense, defensive tackle Jaelin Humphries, linebacker commits Tyron Hopper and Jamaal Abrams and athlete commit Trent Whittemore are all expected on campus on Friday.
Top targets on offense visiting
While the targets on the offensive side of the ball are slim, there are still some big names expected to be in the Swamp on Friday night.
Leading the charge is running back Nay’Quan Wright who is from Carol City. Many believe Miami is in good shape for Wright but the Gators are starting to make a push for the running back. Wright is planning to work out.
Two of the Gators receiver targets are also expected in town when receivers TJ Jones and Trey Knox make the trip to Gainesville. Jones received an offer from the Gators this spring and will be on campus for the second time this offseason on Friday. Knox will be on campus in Gainesville for the first time since Dan Mullen took over. The Gators are playing catch up for Knox but with a good visit could get back squarely in the mix for the talented receiver.
Joining those two receivers is scheduled to be tight end Keon Zipperer who the Gators are battling Miami for. Zipperer is not only the Gators top tight end target but one of their top targets in 2019.
The lone offensive line target scheduled to be on campus at the time of this story is JUCO offensive lineman Brandon Jones who is hoping to earn an offer on Friday night.
Defensive targets visiting
One of the best players in the country is scheduled to be on campus on Friday when defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux arrives in Gainesville. This is the second trip to Gainesville this offseason for Thibodeaux who has the Gators in his top five.
Three other defensive line target are scheduled to be in town when defensive end Lloyd Summerall and defensive tackles Lloyd Murray and Kane Taylor visit on Friday. Summerall has been on campus a few times this spring and has the Gators high on his list while this will be the first time on campus for Murray who decomitted from Ole Miss this spring. Taylor who is at JUCO now visited Florida while in high school but this will be his first chance to meet Mullen and his staff at Florida.
Friday is a big chance for the Gators as they will host Ole Miss linebacker commit Diwun Black on campus. Black is very close to Dan Mullen and the Gators will be trying for a flip with the linebacker.
Joining Black on campus is another linebacker in Mohamoud Diabate who is from Auburn, Alabama. Diabate has been high on the Gators since he visited this spring but the Gators have a lot of competition including the instate teams.
DBU will have several top targets on campus this weekend starting with defensive back Chester Kimbrough who has the Gators in the lead despite a recent offer from LSU.
Defensive back Kaiir Elam is scheduled to be in Gainesville for two days and likes the Gators and has a connection to Florida with his uncle being former Gators safety Matt Elam.
Joining those guys in town will be defensive backs Jaydon Hill, John Dixon, Collin Duncan and Miami defensive back commit Jarvis Brownlee. Hill recently picked up an offer from Florida but the Gators are trailing South Carolina and Tennessee for his signature. Brownlee just received an offer from Florida this week but quickly set up a trip to Gainesville.
Another potential defensive back target that is scheduled to visit is former Gators commit Jashon Watkins who was committed for just a few days. Watkins will be in town for the first time since Mullen took over at Florida.
2020 targets visiting
The Gators will also have several 2020 targets on campus as Mullen and his staff look to get a head start on the underclassmen. Here are the guys scheduled to be in town.
QB Anthony Richardson
QB Robby Ashford
RB Don Chaney
WR E Jai Mason
WR Michael Wymann
WR Koy Moore
WR Gee Scott
WR Jordan Johnson
WR Curtis Jacobs
OT Zane Herring
DT Brian Bresee
LB Sav’ell Smalls
LB Justin Flowe
LB Ethan West
LB Derek Wingo
CB Fred Davis
CB Miles Brooks
ATH Jaquavion Fraziars
ATH Avantae Williams