FLORIDA FOOTBALL & RECRUITING COVERAGE |
Florida football’s second Junior Day of the 2020 recruiting cycle is taking place on Saturday. Unlike hte first event, which was 2020 centric, this time around the Gators staff is looking to play host to quite a few underclassmen as well as some top 2020 targets.
While many of the 2020 visitors have already been on campus several times and have had ample opportunity to get to know the Florida staff, Saturday is a chance to get a head start on kids in the next two cycles as well.
One of those kids is Tallahassee (Fla.) Leon 2021 wide receiver Semaj James, who currently holds offers from eleven schools including South Carolina and Missouri.
James told Inside the Gators what an offer from the Orange and Blue would mean to him.
“That would be crazy. I mean, it would be amazing for me,” stated James. “I really like Florida. If I do get the offer, that will be one of my top choices.”
The 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore said that he cannot wait to set foot in the Swamp for the first time this weekend after he received his official invitation from none other than Dan Mullen.
“I was talking to Coach Mullen about coming there and then he invited me,” James revealed. “He wants to see me before the offer. He wants to build that relationship with me and he wants me to come to camp.”
Although Mullen was the one who invited James to Junior Day, player personnel has been hot on James’ trail. James said that Chuck Cantor, the Director of Player Personnel, and Jamar Chaney, the Assistant Director maintain regular contact.
“I talk to Coach Chaney a lot. He tells me he can’t wait for me to get in that blue and orange.”
James does not currently have a player ranking, but keep an eye out for the wide out during his junior season.
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- Running list of Jr. Day visitors
- We Chomp Chat: Live updates from Jr. Day
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It is pretty rare for a freshman in high school to be garnering recognition from D1 football programs, but not all high school freshmen are Terian Williams. The Georgia native currently holds three offers, including a pair from SEC East programs Kentucky and Tennessee.
After being invited to The Swamp for Florida’s second Junior Day, Williams is hoping to add a third SEC East offer to his list.
“An offer from Florida would really mean a lot to me,” Williams told Inside the Gators. “It’s a good spot to be. I have family down there and it’s so beautiful. Also, working with a guru like Dan Mullen…”
Williams, who is listed as a dual-threat quarterback, said that his relationship with Coach Brian Johnson is great. However, Williams also revealed that Coach Torrian Gray is talking to him about being a defensive back.
“Really, I guess they’re recruiting me as an athlete. We can make that decision for what I’ll be in the future, but right now, they’re talking to me as an Ath. Coach Chuck Cantor is also talking to me a lot because I can’t talk to Coach Mullen right now,” Williams pondered.
Right now though, Williams is focusing on making a good impression on Junior Day.
“It’s going to be very fun. I’m a rising sophomore and it’s an honor to be allowed to attend Junior Day.”
After all, he has more knowledge than most Georgia residents regarding Florida football. Williams is cousins with Gators wide out Tyrie Cleveland and used to be neighbors with fellow Peach State import Trey Dean III.
“They tell me it’s the spot to be right now,” Williams said of his Gator connections. “They and the coaches tell me that Coach Mullen is bringing back that swag from the Championship days and I think they’re bringing it right back.”
Although he knows the juniors at the event might take some precedence, Williams has a small list of things he is hoping to see from the Gators.
“I’d like to meet everyone and talk to them more for our first [in-person] contact. I also want to see that energy and how they practice.”