No. 1 RB Jerrick Gibson, a former Florida commit, includes Gators in top five
The University of Florida is a finalist for one of the elite running backs in the 2024 class.
Jerrick Gibson, a former Gators commit from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, says Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Miami are leading the way in his recruitment. He shared this latest development when speaking with On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
As for the Gators, Gibson is a native of Gainesville who committed to Dan Mullen’s staff during the evening of Friday Night Lights; however, shortly after the university parted ways with Mullen, the four-star prospect reopened his recruitment and additional programs emerged.
Texas is the school trending heavily in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Those odds are sitting north of 90 percent, but Gibson is not ready to close the door on the hometown Gators just yet.
“Growing up in Florida, the Gators have always been my favorite team. Playing for them has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Gibson told Fawcett this evening.
Florida has been rising behind the scenes
Since the beginning of the year, Gibson has taken three trips to UF’s campus. He made an appearance while home for Easter weekend and then visited the following week for the Orange and Blue Game as well. Those relationships with Billy Napier’s staff have been strengthening in recent months.
The All-American ball carrier is sold regarding UF’s utilization of the running back position as well.
“It’s home; it’s always been home. That’s one of the things they got up on everybody,” Gibson told Gators Online after his visit in January.
“I was talking to coach Juluke and he was saying he used three running backs. That is a good thing for me that he used all the running backs. They all rushed for over 500 yards; well, the third running back was Anthony Richardson. They all rushed for over 500 yards, so that was good.”
We will see when Gibson returns to the Swamp. I would be surprised if the Gators did not receive an official visit, but one thing is for certain: There is catching up to do here with five predictions submitted in favor of the Longhorns. June is expected to be a jam-packed month for Gibson.
According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Gibson is the No. 1 running back and No. 37 player overall.
On3 Biography of Jerrick Gibson
Jerrick Gibson was a star long before he arrived at IMG Academy. He was known as one of the top youth football stars in the country before he emerged on the national recruiting scene as a freshman at Gainesville (Florida) High School, where he participated in the FBU Freshman All-America Bowl.
Gibson then transferred to Jonesboro (Georgia) Mundy’s Mill as a sophomore, where he earned all-region honors after rushing for 626 yards and four scores in seven tackles. He then transferred to IMG Academy ahead of his junior season.
At football powerhouse IMG, Gibson rushed for 608 yards and eight scores in 2022. Gibson also tests well in a combine setting, recording an electronically timed 4.57-second 40-yard dash, a 40.3-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot broad jump after his sophomore year in high school.
Away from football, Gibson has a 3.4 GPA, and he enjoys playing games. His parents are Heather Johnson and Victor Jenkins.
