The Florida Gators will play their annual Orange and Blue game on Thursday as Billy Napier and his staff will showcase the team under the lights in the Swamp for the first time.
While the coaching staff is busy with the game, the support staff will be hosting multiple top prospects on campus for unofficial visits.
Hosting prospects on campus was a big reason that Napier decided to move the game from Saturday to Thursday in hopes of getting more prospects on campus while being the only game taking place on Thursday.
GatorCountry brings you a look at the visitors’ list for Thursday’s spring game.
Transfer to visit town
Napier has been very vocal about the Gators’ plans to hit the transfer portal hard this spring in hopes of filling so much-needed holes on the roster and the first big piece will visit town on Thursday.
Maryland defensive tackle transfer Darrell Jackson plans to visit Florida on Thursday as the South Florida native is looking hard at both Florida and Florida State. The Gators need bodies in the middle of the line, so this visit is huge for the staff.
Trenches to be well represented
The coaching staff has put a tremendous amount of focus on improving both lines of scrimmages and on Thursday they will host several top targets in the trenches.
Offensive lineman Knijeah Harris announced on Monday that he will make his commitment in May and the Gators are battling Texas A&M and others for his signature. Harris is an interior lineman that is needed in Gainesville. Harris has visited Florida several times already, but Thursday will give him another opportunity to see the staff in action.
Offensive lineman Roderick Kearney visited Gainesville for the first time earlier this spring and admitted that the visit was better than he expected. Heading into that visit Florida State looked to be the team to beat for Kearney but the Gators made up a lot of ground and hope to continue that momentum on Thursday.
Offensive lineman Tommy Kinsler has called Florida his leader in the past and he has already visited campus twice under Napier. Thursday is just another chance for the two sides to get to know each other better.
Offensive lineman Bryce Lovett picked up an offer from the staff earlier this spring and he will make his fourth trip to town this week. Lovett is someone to watch closely as the Gators look to be the team to beat with him.
Offensive lineman Lucas Simmons made his first trip to Gainesville earlier this spring and he now plans to return on Thursday. Florida State is the team to watch for Simmons but a second visit to town shows the interest Simmons has with Florida.
Defensive lineman Jordan Hall was just in Gainesville on Saturday and he’s making the quick trip back to town for the spring game. Florida, Florida State, and South Carolina are the three schools linked to Hall the most.
Defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc plans to announce a decision in July but the Gators have already got the lineman on campus multiple times this spring. Florida has all the momentum in LeBlanc’s recruitment this spring but will need to continue that for the next few months.
Offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa will make his second trip to Gainesville on Thursday as he travels up with his teammates. Many expect the California native to head back to USC for college but the Gators are making it tough on the Trojans.
Defensive lineman Will Norman was in Gainesville at the beginning of spring and plans to return on Thursday. The IMG prospect is originally from Connecticut, and many expect him to back north as Penn State is the team talked about the most for him. Norman however has a lot of interest in the Gators and likes defensive line coach Sean Spencer.
Defensive lineman Tomarrion Parker didn’t have the Gators in top group of schools earlier this spring but that has changed as Parker has started talking to the staff more recently. This will be Parker’s first time meeting the new staff so Thursday’s visit will go a long way in deciding how much of a factor UF is for Parker.
Skill players to visit Florida
While the trenches are a big focus for the staff, adding playmakers at receiver is also another big need for Napier and he will host several guys at receiver and running back on Thursday.
Receiver Johntay Cook plans to make his first visit to Gainesville on Thursday. The Texas native is very open in his recruitment so Thursday’s visit is a big one as he will meet the staff.
Receiver Andy Jean is a former Miami commit who picked up an offer from Florida earlier this spring after he visited campus. Jean is a guy that the staff likes a lot in the slot.
Receiver Aidan Mizell was on campus a few weeks ago and raved about his visit and experience with the staff. Mizell’s parents both ran track for the Gators and that helps Florida out but also the need for receivers is something the receiver noticed as well. Thursday will be another chance to show Mizell he’s needed.
Receiver Tyree Patterson picked up an offer last Thursday and he quickly scheduled a visit to town for the spring game. Patterson visited earlier this spring and had a big Under Armour camp that impressed the staff enough to offer him.
Athlete Kylen Webb doesn’t have an offer from the Gators yet, but he continues to be in contact with the staff in hopes of earning one. Webb plays all over the field in high school but most schools like him at receiver in college.
Running back Treyaun Webb has been on campus twice already this spring including the last one where he had his whole family with him. Webb likes the Gators a lot and Florida is likely the team to beat here but Webb wants to take official visits before deciding.
Receiver Creed Whittemore picked up an offer from Napier in March and he built a good relationship with Keary Colbert and the rest of the staff so far. Whittemore is in no hurry to make a decision, but the Gators sit in a good spot for him.
Receiver Hykeem Williams is one of the top players in the country and the South Florida native plans to make his second visit to town on Thursday. Miami is the team talked about the most in his recruitment, but the Gators have his attention.
Receiver Tyler Williams was on campus two weeks ago and was impressed by the coaching staff and liked the message from the staff about keeping instate players’ home. The Lakeland native likes Clemson a lot but the Gators are making this tough on the Tigers.
Defensive talent to visit
Corey Raymond and Patrick Toney have hosted dozens and dozens of defensive backs on campus this spring and they will have five more top targets this weekend.
Safety Joenel Aguero will make the trip down from Massachusetts this week and it will be the second time doing that. This looks to be heading towards a Florida/Georgia battle for the talented safety.
Cornerback Shariff Denson is a guy that has been on Florida for over a year now, but Texas A&M is making a big push in his recruitment. The Gators need a big visit this week to regain some of that momentum.
Linebacker Grayson Howard will be in Gainesville for the second time this week as he was in town on Saturday. Florida and South Carolina seem to be the teams starting to move out in front for Howard.
Safety Kenton Kirkland will make his first visit to Gainesville since Napier arrived in town. Kirkland has ties to Florida and that’s something that will help the Gators in his recruitment.
Defensive back Cormani McClain tweeted on Wednesday that he will “home” in Gainesville for Thursday’s spring game. The Gators continue to put the full-court press on McClain in hopes of keeping him in state.
Athlete Samuel M’Pemba will be in town with a lot of his IMG teammates on Thursday as the Gators are recruiting M’Pemba to play linebacker. The Gators have gotten M’Pemba on campus twice now in hopes of gaining an official visit this summer.
Cornerback Malik Muhamaad will make the trip over from Dallas on Thursday. Muhamaad is one of the top corners in the country and this will be his first trip to town. Corey Raymond has been recruiting Muhamaad since his time at LSU.
2024 prospects to visit
Several 2024 prospects will also make the trip to Gainesville on Thursday to check out the spring game.
Quarterback Judd Anderson
Quarterback Jake Merklinger
Offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis
Cornerback Fred Gaskin III
Safety Brayshon Williams
Looks like a lot of recruits from several classes in town on top of the list above.