Final four signees from Florida Gators' 2023 class report to campus

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•05/29/23•

ZachAbolverdi

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The final four signees from the Florida Gators’ 2023 recruiting class reported to campus Monday for move-in day. Tuesday marks the start of team’s Summer Regimen phase.

The players relocating to Gainesville were five-star wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, four-star cornerback Dijon Johnson, four-star defensive lineman Gavin Hill and four-star offensive lineman Caden Jones.

With their arrival, all 20 high school signees from Florida’s 2023 class have enrolled in school. They join the 16 early enrollees, 13 transfers and grayshirt signee Tony Livington. In total, UF added 34 players to its roster.

Wilson, aka Tre, was the lone five-star recruit in the Gators’ class and is expected make an immediate impact at the receiver position.

 “Tre Wilson is one of the more dynamic slot, run-after-catch returners. Just a very explosive, instinctive player,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “He does some really unique things on tape, relative to adjusting to the ball, run after catch. He’s dynamic. You can throw an intermediate short pass to this guy, and he’s a one touchdown player. He also played both ways. He played corner, and he was fantastic there too. He’s tough. Really excited about what he can — I think he’s one of these players, very polished. He’ll bring a lot to our team right away.” 

Johnson is one of six defensive backs that UF signed and will compete at cornerback with fellow freshmen Ja’Keem Jackson and Aaron Gates.

“Dijon Johnson, I think, is a very unique player for his size. Plays corner, very physical, can make a play on the ball. 6-foot-1, close to 190 pounds, and a guy that you put him up there and he can put his hands on you,” Napier said. “He’s great in press coverage. I think he’s instinctive, he’s a great tackler, and he makes plays on the ball. Had a phenomenal (senior) year.”

Hill is a hometown product from Buchholz High School, becoming the first UF signee from Gainesville since Anthony Richardson in 2020.

“Gavin Hill is a local player,” Napier said. “6-foot-3, he’s up to 275 pounds. Unique in that he played some tight end in the past. I thought his senior tape was special. He played with a shoulder, tough as nails. … He’s a Gator through and through. There’s just a different level of passion that he’s going to bring.” 

Jones played in the 2023 All-American Bowl and committed to the Gators during the game. He was their only HS signee on February Signing Day.

“We offered Caden when he was in the 10th grade,” Napier said. “He was a defensive lineman back then, but I think if you take a good look, Caden is one of those guys who made huge improvement junior to senior year if you really look at the senior film. He got a late invite to the All-American Bowl, had a great week. The guy’s 6-foot-7.5 and really can move and bend and he’s a young person.

“Still some maturity physically and I think we’re going to look up in a couple of years and be really glad we took him. Comes from a great family. First player I went to see in the contact period. Just really good people there. He’s Montrell Johnson’s teammate and I think Montrell is probably the reason we got that done. Good player and certainly one I’m excited about the future there.” 

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