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Florida still in the mix for No. 1 DL James Johnson ahead of new commitment date

79417-removebg-preview (1)by:Corey Bender•7 hours ago•

Corey_Bender

james-johnson-plans-to-visit-kentucky
(Chad Simmons/On3)

According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, one of the nation’s top defenders is approaching the finish line and Florida remains firmly in the mix as the clock winds down.

James Johnson, the No. 1 defensive lineman with On3, is set to announce his commitment on June 28. The Miami Northwestern star, who transferred in from North Fort Myers earlier this year, is down to four finalists: Florida, Georgia, Texas and Miami.

While Florida has hosted Johnson more than any other school, Georgia has been the most consistent presence in his recruitment since the start of the year. The Bulldogs were named the leader months ago and are buzzing heavily ahead of Saturday.

According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, Georgia holds 88.9 percent odds to land the elite defensive lineman. Those odds were boosted following multiple RPM picks.

Florida, however, hasn’t backed down. Johnson was back in Gainesville earlier this month for his official visit, giving the Gators a chance to reassert themselves.

“Florida is definitely high on my list,” Johnson told On3’s Chad Simmons after the visit. “Each time I go, they keep showing why they’re a serious contender. This visit definitely helped them. It gave me more clarity and just reinforced the feeling that Florida is a place where I could see myself growing as a player and as a young man.”

Johnson, who’s been a top priority for Florida throughout his recruitment, then went on to say he was inching closer to making his highly-anticipated commitment.

“I’m getting closer to a decision, for sure,” Johnson said. “Florida made a strong impression this weekend, but I’m still weighing everything. Right now, a few schools are still in the mix, but Florida definitely helped their case with this visit.”

While the buzz around Florida may not be as strong as it once was, the Gators remain a contender. With a long-standing relationship in place and another strong visit behind them, the Gators hopes to close the gap before Johnson goes public with his decision on Friday. As of now though, Kirby Smart and the Dawgs are trending heavily.

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