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Florida Gators weekend OV position breakdown: Defensive line

IMG_6615by: Blake Alderman05/28/25Blake_Alderman
Vodney Cleveland
(4-star DL Vodney Cleveland visiting the Florida Gators)

The Florida Gators will welcome approximately 18 recruiting targets to campus on Friday for official visits. Of the large cluster of visitors, there will be a trio of top defensive line targets in the group. It’s a big opportunity for defensive line coach Gerald Chatman and the rest of UF’s staff to capitalize, or at the very least, make a lasting impression as the summer continues.

Here is an overview of those three names at the position expected to be in Florida this weekend on official visits.

FULL WEEKEND VISITORS LIST

DEFENSIVE LINE OFFICIAL VISITORS (May 30-June 1)

Vodney Cleveland Florida Gators
Vodney Cleveland (Keith Niebuhr/ On3)

4-star Vodney Cleveland, Birmingham (AL) Parker
Has long been one of the Florida Gators’ top targets along the defensive line in the 2026 cycle. Cleveland was an early Alabama commit, but backed off that pledge this past December. He visited Florida twice in January, and that’s when the Florida Gators started to trend up. Cleveland came back for UF’s Orange and Blue spring game last month, and left that trip saying the Gators were his No. 1 school. However, his recruitment is far from over. Texas has emerged as a threat, and there’s confidence in Austin in the Longhorns’ standing. Cleveland has taken an offical visit to Auburn this offseason, and will see Georgia, Texas, and Miami in that order in the following weeks. A commitment is likely to happen around late June.

RELATED: Keith and Blake preview the Florida Gators recruiting weekend

JaReylan McCoy Florida Gators
JaReylan McCoy (Keith Niebuhr/On3)

4-star JaReylan McCoy, Tupelo (MS)
Another Florida vs Texas battle? We think so. When speaking with Gators Online recently, 4-star JaReyland McCoy admitted the Gators and Longhorns stand out from the crowd. The Florida Gators will get the first offical visit from McCoy. He also plans to see Texas, Ole Miss, and LSU in that order after his time in The Swamp. McCoy has a commitment date set for July 1, but we hear the Florida Gators will press hard to seal the deal this weekend.

Tyson Bacon Florida Gators
Tyson Bacon (from X)

3-star Tyson Bacon, Hoover (AL)
Another defensive lineman from the state of Alabama with plans to visit the Florida Gators this weekend. Tyson Bacon is a former Tennessee Volunteers pledge, but he backed off that commitment last month. Bacon mentioned Florida being in daily contact with him, which was the case before he opened his recruitment up. He’s got a long list of official visits planned this offseason. Bacon has already visited the Georgia Bulldogs, and he spoke highly of that trip. Following this weekend’s visit to Florida, Bacon plans to see Miami and Alabama in that order. Michigan and Ohio State are two other programs linked to Bacon’s recruitment.

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