Trio of 5-star recruits set Florida visit in July

On July 30, three five-star recruits will be among at least 16 prospects visiting Florida for the Gators’ recruiting cookout.

Five-star defensive lineman James Smith of Montgomery (Ala.) Carver and his high school teammate –five-star EDGE Qua Russaw — headline the attendees from the 2023 class. Five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks of IMG Academy, the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2024 On3 Consensus, is headed to Gainesville as well.

Visit may increase Florida’s chances of landing Smith and Russaw

The Gators do not appear on the RPM for both Russaw and Smith, ranked No. 6 and No. 23 overall in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

However, getting two of Alabama’s top four players on campus represents a step in the right direction for Florida’s recruiting efforts under first-year head coach Billy Napier.

According to On3’s Joseph Hastings, Russaw and Smith are expected to release a list of top five schools this summer. While Hastings wrote that the high school teammates have Florida outside their top five currently, the Gators may be included in a top six.

The Gators’ class is currently ranked No. 15 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 6 in the SEC.

Ricks is heading back to Florida for second time since January

According to On3’s Chad Simmons, Ricks chose the Gators’ recruiting event over invites from multiple programs. While the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine currently gives Florida a 1.8 percent chance of landing Ricks’ commitment, he is returning to Florida for his second visit since January.

“I enjoyed the facilities. I also enjoyed coach Napier, (cornerbacks) coach (Corey) Raymond and (defensive analyst) coach (Jamar) Chaney, who I was with most of the time,” Ricks previously told GatorsOnline.

“We were in and out, but I’ll be back and see what (campus is) like.”

Ricks, from Chesapeake, Va., also expressed praise for the Gators’ coaching staff, including cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond.

“Really, I like coach Raymond because I know I’d be developed by him,” Ricks told GatorsOnline regarding his interest in UF. “I also like the rest of the new coaching staff. They all have knowledge of the game.”

Florida recruiting event includes other highly-ranked prospects

According to Corey Bender, there are multiple blue-chip recruits heading to Gainesville at the end of July in addition to the three five-stars.

They include four-star defensive lineman Kelby Collins of Gardendale (Ala.), four-star offensive tackle Payton Kirkland of Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips and four-star safety Jordan Casteel of Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange.

Florida commitments such as four-star cornerback Sharif Denson of Jacksonville (Fla.) Bartram Trail and three-star offensive tackle Bryce Lovett of Rockledge (Fla.) will also be in attendance.