Billy Napier addresses the lack of Florida recruits in his first class

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•02/03/22•

ZachAbolverdi

For the first time in 13 years, Florida signed single-digit recruits from the Sunshine State in its 2022 class. 

Of the Gators’ 17 high school signees, they inked just five Florida players. All of their incoming transfers are from out of state as well. 

That won’t become a trend, insists UF coach Billy Napier.

He signed a dozen out-of-state recruits in his first class, including three from Texas and two from Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma. Some of the signees had previously established relationships with Napier and his staff at Louisiana. 

“I think it’s a product of the circumstance. I think we basically just had to go evaluate the players that were available. And we looked all over the country,” said Napier, who also signed recruits from Louisiana, Maryland and Washington. “I think we’re pretty spread out in this class. So, I think that’s a product of the circumstances. 

“Those are the players that we felt like fit us from an evaluation standpoint. And then we had the resources to go get that accomplished. I think that’s the one thing to remind ourselves of, is that Florida brand is strong. And it’s spread out and it was able to do good work.” 

The last time a UF recruiting class had single-digit recruits from the Sunshine State was 2009, when six of the 14 signees were Florida players. Since that year, the Gators have had 10 or more signees from Florida in every cycle. 

Napier’s next class should have much more Florida flavor with a full cycle to recruit the state instead of two months. At his introductory news conference, Napier said his recruiting plan will start with “a major emphasis” in the Sunshine State.

The Gators hosted some of the top 2023 prospects from Florida on unofficial visits in January, including running back Cedrick Baxter Jr., defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc and wide receiver Bryson Rodgers. 

Napier also made stopped by the schools of five-star cornerback Cormani McClain and four-star running back Richard Young, among other in-state targets.

“Our approach is going to be inside/out, there’s no question. I think history would indicate that when Florida has a really good football team, it starts right here in our backyard and works out,” Napier said. “So, that’s the approach that we will take and certainly with the ’23 group, which we’ve already started on. That will be the mentality for sure.”

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