Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- UF Media Day Live Updates
- The Inside Scoop: Going in-depth on the weekend visitors
- Top 24 of 2024: Dike/Mertz Reunion
- Early Entry Review: Lagway embarks on promising future
- Redshirt Report: High football IQ will serve Kearney well
- Anonymous Player Q&A I: Thoughts on the state of Florida football
- O&B Board: Uninformed Thoughts on Florida’s NIL
- Under Napier, Florida has a clear recruiting footprint
FLORIDA IS IN CURRENT TOP THREE
Coming in at No. 193 overall on the On3 Industry Comparision, Littleton (Co.) Heritage four-star tight end Camden Jensen is just barely ranked as a Top 200 prospect in the Class of 2026. However, the 6-foot-7, 220-pounder has over 30 offers to date, including from programs such as Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and Washington.
A three-day trip to Gainesville afforded him his first opportunity to check out Florida and go one on one with the staff when he was in town for the Gators’ Grill in the Ville.
“I spoke with Coach [Russ] Calloway, Coach [Billy] Napier, and Coach Rob Sale and they all really just wanted to get to know me and tell me their background and how they became a part of the Gator staff,” said Jensen. “The highlight of my visit was hanging out with Coach Napier for so long. We were with him for over an hour just talking about life and Gator football.”
He said he also got to spend some time with walk-on transfer tight end Caleb Rillos and quarterback DJ Lagway – and what stood out was the weight room and indoor practice facility.
It’s still early, and Jensen has yet to release a leaderboard, but he did say that UF is well-positioned early on.
“I feel very highly about Florida after this trip this has made me think a lot about my decision in the future they have moved up very high on my board,” said Jensen. “I don’t quite have a leaderboard or anything yet, but I would say that Florida is in my top three picks today.”
FLORIDA MAKES LINEMAN FEEL AT HOME
Orlando (Fla.) First Academy three-star offensive lineman Chancellor Barclay has been all over the country in the last year. The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder has visited the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State and others.
There is one program he has been to more than all the others.
On Saturday he took his fifth visit to Florida for the Gators’ Grill in the Ville.
When asked what stood out the most to him, he had a quick reply.
“The highlight of my day was definitely the rap battle and getting the trophy and winning the Grill in the Ville Championship,” said Barclay. “We started out rough, but than bonded more as a team and worked together and dominated. It’s not always about how you start, it’s how you finish.”
That sounds straight out of the Billy Napier playbook.
According to Barclay, the head man is one of several coaches he spoke with on Saturday.
“Coach [Rob] Sale, Coach John D [Jonathan Decoaster], and Coach [Billy] Napier talked a lot with me. They check up on me and see how my mother is and how we are dealing with the recruiting process. It’s great talking to them. They are very genuine coaches and people.”
Having been on campus multiple times in the past, Barclay said he didn’t learn anything new over the weekend, but he was impressed nonetheless.
“What definitely stood out and what always stands out to my mom and I is the organization and how Florida runs things. They are very consistent and very few problems happen when I’m there. They always have someone greeting you, talking to you, or helping you. Florida is always a great place to be. When I’m there the people make me feel welcomed and a part of the family.”
With so many incredible options early on, as you might expect, Barclay is wide open at this time.
“There’s not any leaders as of right now, but there’s definitely a group of schools that are ahead of the others.”
LINEMAN HAS A CHANCE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH CHATMAN
Outside of Trey Burton and if you want to go back far enough, Jevon Kearse, regardless of who has been the head coach, Florida hasn’t had much success recruiting the southwest part of the Sunshine State.
Perhaps that is changing. In the last cycle, the Gators stole Fort Myers (Fla.) Dunbar four-star TJ Abrams from Florida State. Then on Saturday, Cape Coral (Fla.) North Fort Myers defensive lineman James Johnson visited UF for the Grill in the Ville.
“The highlight of the visit was just spending time with the recruits and the games they had set up,” said Johnson.
He has already visited Florida several times, and this was another opportunity to get to know Florida’s new defensive line coach.
“I spoke to Coach [Gerald] Chatman the most,” said Johnson. “He spoke to me about how he was happy for me to be back up there.”
The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder has offers from the likes of Auburn, Florida, Miami, Southern Cal, Texas and others.
He hasn’t put out a leaderboard yet, but UF has made a good impression on him.
“I haven’t really broken it down yet, but when I do they will be in the top eight.”
As of today he is sure of two fall visits. He will be in Gainesville for the UF-UM game and he also has plans to attend the UCF-Colorado game.
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