Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- Recruit Reaction: Over 20 visitors share their Jr. Day thoughts
- Buy, Sell, Hold: 12 Jr. Day Visitors
- Five-star lineman left with a positive impression of Florida
- Take Five: Breaking down Florida’s Portal Activity
- Florida Football Class Breakdown
- Getting to Know: Davian Groce
FOUR-STAR LINEMAN TALKS FLORIDA VISIT
Sarasota (Fla.) Booker four-star defensive lineman Maleek Lee left a multi-day visit to Florida with an offer from the Gators.
The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder already held offers from the likes of Miami, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pitt, and UCLA.
“I had a great visit overall,” said Lee of his time in Gainesville. “What stood out the most was the coach’s energy and how intentional everything is, from player development to academics. I really liked getting around the facilities and seeing how the defensive line is coached.”
Speaking of coaching the defensive line, Lee then talked about UF defensive line coach Gerald Chatman.
“Coach Chatman is a great coach. He’s very detailed, high energy, and I like how he develops guys on and off the field.”
Lee said that he doesn’t currently have a return date in mind, but he definitely plans on getting back to Florida.
While it is still early for the Class of 2027, Lee is starting to see some programs separate from the pack.
“Right now, I’m still evaluating schools and keeping my options open, and UF is definitely one I’m very interested in. My top schools right now are probably Ohio State, Missouri, and Florida.”
Lee is currently the No. 359 ranked prospect in the nation according to the Rivals Industry Composite.
LINEMAN WILL VISIT FLORIDA
Littleton (Co.) Valor Christian three-star offensive lineman Reis Russell has never set foot on the campus of the University of Florida, but that didn’t stop the Gators from making his recently released Top Six.
“I’ve never visited, but plan to come down on the 28th of March,” stated Russell. “I can’t wait to get down there.”
The reason UF made the list sight unseen is because of one coach in particular.
“Florida made the top six because of the relationship I’ve built with this staff and coach Traught [Phil Trautwein] since I was a freshman. He offered me at Penn State, and I love the guy.”
Russell, who said that he already has official visits set with Georgia and Washington, is currently the No. 621 ranked prospect in the nation according to the Rivals Industry Composite.
FOUR-STAR LINEMAN WANTS TO SEE FLORIDA
Former Florida offensive linemen Phil Trautwein and Ian Silberman didn’t cross paths in Gainesville, with Trautwein graduating in 2008 and Silberman arriving in 2010, but they do have a player in common.
Silberman currently coaches Loganville (Ga.) Grayson four-star offensive lineman Jordan Agbanoma, and Trautwein hopes to one day.
With that being the case, Florida’s coaching staff visited the 6-foot-4, 290-pounder at his high school this past week.
He had this to say about Trautwein, “I really mess with Coach Traut, and the unit he’s building there.”
According to Agbanoma, there are several programs that stick out early on, naming “Texas A&M, Nebraska, UGA, Miami, and LSU.”
Though he didn’t have UF on the list off the top of his head, he did say that the Gators are in his top six and he hopes to visit soon.
“I haven’t set up any for the spring, but I plan on making it down to Gainesville. They’ve been recruiting me hard and have shown me I am a priority.”
Lee is currently the No. 89 ranked prospect in the nation according to the Rivals Industry Composite.
