Over the weekend, the Florida Gators played host to one of their top targets in the 2023 class who’s committed to another school as they try and flip him.
Michigan linebacker commit Raylen Wilson (6-2, 213, Tallahassee, FL. Lincoln) was on campus and liked the feeling around the staff.
“It felt genuine here so that didn’t change,” Wilson said on if the official visit was different than his unofficial visit. “I felt like the staff from top to bottom starting with Coach Napier, I felt all of them were genuine. Everything around here is family-oriented.”
Another linebacker hosted Wilson this weekend and kept the message short and sweet with the Michigan commit.
“Scooby {Jeremiah Williams],” he said on his player host. “He said come be a Gator that was his main message.”
Wilson has only visited Florida once under Billy Napier’s staff but this weekend he was able to get a lot of time around the staff including two coaches.
“I spent the most time with Coach [Jay] Bateman and Coach [Jamar] Chaney,” Wilson said. “I spent a lot of time with all of the coaches though. Our [Wilson and Bateman] relationship got closer spending time with him this weekend.”
Linebackers coach Jay Bateman broke down film with Wilson and explained how he would fit into Florida’s defense.
“Will,” he said on where Florida wants him at. “They’re going to put me in space, and I do really well in space. They’re going to take my pros and use them to their advantage.”
After a successful weekend in Gainesville, Wilson says he has already planned two return trips to town to see the staff.
“I’m definitely going to come up here two more times before the season,” Wilson said on visits to Florida. “In July for the cookout and one for practice.”
Despite taking those trips, Wilson says he still remains committed to the Wolverines and he expressed his desire to take visits with their staff.
“I don’t know,” he said on what he thinks Michigan’s reaction will be to him visiting Florida. “I tell them that I’m going to enjoy the process still and I’m going to weigh out my options. I’m open but I’m committed still.”
Heading into his last official visit, Wilson says three schools are still in the mix for him as he would like to make a final decision before the fall.
“Florida, Michigan, and Georgia are still in it,” Wilson said on schools still in the mix for him. “I’m going to Michigan next week and I already went to Georgia. I’m done after that.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Wilson says a final decision will be before the season and then he will sit down with his mom and weigh the pros and cons.