On300 defensive lineman Gavin Hill says yes to the hometown Gators
Gavin Hill is following his heart and will play college football at his lifelong dream school.
On Saturday evening, the four-star defensive lineman from Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz announced his commitment to the University of Florida. The SEC program resides less than 20 minutes from his home, so it’s no surprise I submitted an On3 RPM pick shortly after UF extended the offer.
Hill was initially planning to pull himself off the market sometime in July or before the season; however, after revisiting those talks in recent days, he found no reason to wait any longer, resulting in a verbal commitment to the hometown program.
The 2023 prospect is also teammates with 2023 Gators wide receiver commit, Creed Whittemore.
“Growing up, I rooted for the Gators my whole life. My whole family loves the Gators. They loved the Gators, and I do too,” Hill told Gators Online last week after UF offered.
“It felt amazing. My mom was in there and it’s something we’ve been waiting on for my whole life. It felt real good.”
Defensive line coach Sean Spencer and inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman are the Gators staff members involved in Hill’s recruitment.
“They’ve got real cool personalities and they’re cool dudes,” Hill said. “They’re a lot of fun to be around and bring the energy. There is never a dull moment with them.”
According to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Hill ranks as the No. 37 defensive lineman and No. 258 player regardless of position.
Auburn, Miami, Kentucky, Mississippi State, N.C. State, Maryland, Louisville and Nebraska are some additional offers on the table for the Sunshine State native.
Hill will be one of a handful of defensive line signees for UF
Although the Gators have a talent-rich board along the defensive line, Hill was a take as soon as the offer was placed on the table.
The Gators plan to sign 4-6 defensive linemen this cycle, and with the likes of Derrick LeBlanc, John Walker, Will Norman and Jordan Hall still on the board, UF’s defensive line class could be very special.
Napier’s staff covets Hill’s athleticism for a kid of that size, while the defensive lineman’s versatility is a big plus as well. The Alachua County native really showcased his worth at UF’s one-day camp and made it an easy decision for the orange and blue.
With the addition of Hill, the Gators now hold commitments from eight prospects in the 2023 class.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
