Gators commit Will Norman to officially visit another SEC school
When Mark Stoops and Kentucky host Vanderbilt this weekend, one of the Gators’ defensive commits will be inside Kroger Field.
Will Norman, a four-star defensive lineman from Camden (N.J.) Eastside, says he is officially visiting the Wildcats this weekend. The Gators received a multi-day visit over the summertime, so this weekend will mark his second official visit of the recruiting process. Syracuse is another program that welcomed Norman to campus in recent months.
Prior to returning home to New Jersey, Norman attended powerhouse Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. That allowed him to visit Florida several times this year and construct a tight-knit relationship with Billy Napier’s staff, resulting in a commitment in August.
In addition to the Gators and Wildcats, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Norman previously earned offers from Texas A&M, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Michigan and a boatload of others.
“It’s just how genuine the coaching staff is. Their energy never changes throughout the whole process. Good and bad, everything just stays the same,” Norman previously said of UF when speaking with Gators Online.
“Coach Napier, his whole message I feel like is just powerful. Even though he was at Alabama for five years, Clemson for seven years, he just came from Louisiana, not a very big school, so that’s definitely someone like me who made it from hard work. I definitely feel like that’s eye-opening.”
According to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Norman ranks as the No. 27 defensive lineman and No. 210 prospect regardless of position.
The four-star prospect is one of five defensive linemen in UF’s 2023 class, joining Kelby Collins, Kamran James, T.J. Searcy and Gavin Hill. It’s one of the top defensive line classes in the country.
Scouting Report on Will Norman
“Fluid defensive lineman who is relatively new to football. Measured at 6-foot-4, 296-pounds in February of 2022, but has since leaned up heading into his senior season,” On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power wrote. “Has average length with 32.5-inch arms. A converted basketball player who made the move to IMG from St. Thomas More High School in Connecticut prior to his junior season.”
“A fluid, coordinated mover. Lines up as a big defensive end and at defensive tackle. Has the functional athleticism and coordination to develop into an effective interior pass rusher. Still developing with his technique and is inexperienced relative to most other blue-chip defensive linemen at this stage. Older for the cycle, turning 18 years-old in January of 2022.”
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
