Florida Gators 2023 Recruiting Class

[Escambia94]

The following recruits will be announcing their school choices this week:

• 4-star Aidan Mizell WR 6-2 180 94.7153 + 24.11 Finalists: Florida, Alabama, Tennessee
• 4-star Malik Bryant LB/EDGE 6-2 235 97.7820 + 26.28
  Finalists: Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Miami —> Miami

Mizell of Orlando (Fla.) Boone is predicted to choose Florida, since both his parents were Gator athletes (his mom was an All-American in track).

Bryant of Orlando (Fla.) Jones is also predicted to choose Florida, but has shown indecision by rescheduling his commitment date multiple times.

 

[DRU2012]

Stricklin will give Napier at least 5 years to build on his 7-year contract. Remember that Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, and Michigan have been recruiting these 2023 kids for at least 3 years (sophomore year is the earliest NCAA allows a kid to be recruited).

Oh, I certainly agree. In fact, that business about how deeply our elite SEC teams and a handful of others had been plowing these same fields (that happen to be OUR BACKYARD!) for some years (while Mullen didn't bother), is a salient point we all would do well to remember:
It will take at least a couple of seasons to reestablishing ties, rebuild our image and profile in this whole new CFB reality, and really gather the kind of momentum we once had but have long since squandered.
It won't always be pretty, let alone EASY, to watch--but we'll just have to find our excitement and pleasures ahead in the likely rollercoaster to come, ride its thrills, accept its disappointments, and ultimately find satisfaction in consistent excellence and our eventual return to the top.

 

[Escambia94]

The Gators are hosting their annual Friday Night Lights camp and barbecue this weekend and have a host of top prospects expected to be in attendance, including

5-star CB Cormani McClain
5-star EDGE Jaquavious Russaw
5-star DL James Smith
5-star EDGE Samuel M'Pemba

The following athletes could make announcements soon after:

4-star WR Aidan Mizell
4-star S Jordan Castell
4-star CB Ja'Keem Jackson —> Florida July 28, 2022
4-star ATH Daquayvious Sorey
4-star WR Andy Jean
4-star DL Will Norman
4-star DL Kamran James

Rumor has it that 4-star CB Dijon Johnson may flip from Ohio State to Florida.

 

[Escambia94]

I am consolidating the earlier recruit lists. As of July 29, the Gators have earned commitments from 13 of the 26 athletes targeted. 4 of the recruits from the target list committed to Miami and 2 committed to FSU. 1 recruit from the board committed to Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, UCF, or Notre Dame. There are 31 athletes still on the board in the last week before the dead period that runs August 1-31. Florida might get a couple commitments at Friday Night Lights.

7/7/2022 - #26
7/8/2022 - #19
7/30/2022 - #12
8/10/2022 - #13 (16 commitments, 0/14/2, 238.42)
8/14/2022 - #10 (19 commitments, 0/17/2, 258.00)

Name	School	Notes
Aaron Gates Trinity Christian (Sharpsburg, GA) ATH 6-0 180 90.1401 + 18.25​	Florida​	FNL
Aidan Mizell Boone (Orlando, FL) WR 6-2 180 96.5821 + 25.15​	Florida​
Andy Jean Northwestern (Miami, FL) WR 6-1 / 180 0.9037​	Florida​	FNL
Bryce Lovett Rockledge (Rockledge, FL) OT 6-5 330 87.5833 + 12.99​	Florida​	FNL
Bryce Thornton Milton (Alpharetta, GA) S 5-10 185 88.2593 + 3.76​	​	FNL
Caden Jones OT 6-7 305 89.0000 + 3.91		FNL
Cedric Baxter Jr. Edgewater (Orlando, FL) RB 6-1 / 215 0.9791​	​
Cormani McClain Lakeland (Lakeland, FL) CB 6-1.5 / 165 0.9992​	​	FNL
Creed Whittemore Buchholz (Gainesville, FL) ATH 5-11.5 175 88.3598 + 14.70​	Florida​	FNL
Damon Wilson Venice (Venice, FL) EDGE 6-4 / 230 0.9783​	​
Daquavious Sorey WR 6-2 185 92.6885 + 21.46​	​	FNL
Derrick LeBlanc Osceola (Kissimmee, FL) DL 6-4 / 270 0.9634​	Oklahoma​
Dijon Johnson CB 6-1 190 95.6037 + 25.45​	​
Duce Robinson Pinnacle (Phoenix, AZ) TE 6-6 / 225 0.9902​	​
Eugene Wilson III Gaither (Tampa, FL) ATH 5-11 / 165 0.9365​	Florida​
Francis Mauigoa IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) OT 6-5 / 330 0.9954​	Miami​
Gavin Hill F. W. Buchholz (Gainesville, FL) DL 6-3 / 255 0.9108​	Florida​	FNL
Grayson Howard Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville, FL) LB 6-3 / 223 0.9119​	​
Isaiah Nixon Edge 6-4 215 92.2422 + 22.11​	Florida​	FNL
Ja'Keem Jackson Osceola (Kissimmee, FL) CB 6-1 / 180 0.9117​	Florida​
Jaden Rashada QB 6-4 185 97.7422 + 27.74​	Miami​
Jaden Robinson LB 6-1 222 89.333 +6.81	Florida	Flipped from USCe
James Smith DL 6-4 310 99.1450 + 29.15​	​	FNL
Jaquavious Russaw Edge 6-2 230 98.5878 + 28.41​	​	FNL
Joenel Aguero St. John's Prep (Danvers, MA) S 6-0 / 195 0.9840​	Georgia​
John Walker Osceola (Kissimmee, FL) DL 6-3 / 310 0.9537​	UCF​
Johntay Cook II DeSoto (DeSoto, TX) WR 6-0 / 170 0.9839​	​
Jordan Castell West Orange (Winter Garden, FL) S 6-2 / 195 0.9187​	Florida​	FNL
Jordan Hall Westside (Jacksonville, FL) DL 6-4.5 / 300 0.9337​	​
Justin Jefferson Pearl River C.C. (Poplarville, MS) LB 6-1 / 215​	​
Kamran James Olympia (Orlando, FL) DL 6-6.5 / 265 0.9115​	Florida​	FNL
Karmelo Overton LB 6-0 200 89.5482 + 6.89
Kayden McDonald North Gwinnett (Suwanee, GA) DL 6-3 / 310 0.9045​	​
Kelby Collins Gardendale (Gardendale, AL) DL 6-5 / 280 0.9685​	Florida​	FNL
Keldric Faulk Highland Home (Highland Home, AL) DL 6-5 / 240 0.9604​	FSU​
Keon Keeley Berkeley Prep (Tampa, FL) EDGE 6-6 / 242 0.9955​	Notre Dame​
Knijeah Harris IOL 6-3 335 89.1568 + 16.42​	Florida​	FNL
Lucas Simmons Clearwater Academy International (Clearwater, FL) OT 6-7 / 300 0.9504​	FSU​
Malik Bryant Jones (Orlando, FL) LB 6-2 / 235 0.9778​	Miami​
Marcus Stokes QB 6-2 185 89.0586 +15.26​	Florida​
Michael Mitchell RB 6-0 195 89.2016 + 4.79	Utah	FNL
Monroe Freeling Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mount Pleasant, SC) OT 6-7 / 283 0.9699​	​
Payton Kirkland Dr. Phillips (Orlando, FL) OT 6-6 / 345 0.9100​	Texas​
Peter Woods DL 6-4 265 98.7468 + 28.75​	Clemson​
Raul Aguirre Whitewater (Fayetteville, GA) LB 6-2 / 220 0.9454​	Miami​
Raylen Wilson Lincoln (Tallahassee, FL) LB 6-2 / 213 0.9645 -- Michigan​	​
Richard Young Lehigh Senior (Lehigh Acres, FL) RB 5-11 / 200 0.9874​	​
Roderick Kearney Orange Park (Orange Park, FL) IOL 6-4 / 300 0.9425​	​
Samson Okunlola Thayer Academy (Braintree, MA) OT 6-5 / 305 0.9887​	​
Samuel M'Pemba IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) EDGE 6-3.5 / 240 0.9864​	​	FNL
Samuel Omosigho LB 6-1 208 88.8611 +11.44​	Oklahoma​
Sharif Denson Bartram Trail (Jacksonville, FL) CB 5-11.5 / 170 0.9204​	Florida​	FNL
T.J. Searcy Upson-Lee (Thomaston, GA) DL 6-5 / 250 0.9344​	Florida​	FNL
Tony Mitchell Thompson (Alabaster, AL) CB 6-2 / 180 0.9903​	​
Treyaun Webb Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL) RB 6-1 / 205 0.9324​	Florida​	FNL
Troy Bowles Jesuit (Tampa, FL) LB 6-1 / 205 0.9797​	​
Tyler Williams Lakeland (Lakeland, FL) WR 6-3 / 180 0.9354​	​
Tyree Adams OT 6-5 285 92.3312 + 15.04	LSU	FNL
Tyree Patterson WR 6-2 175 86.5278 + 11.13​	Florida​	FNL
Will Norman IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) DL 6-5 / 290 0.9468​	Florida​	FNL
Xzavier McLeod Camden (Camden, SC) DL 6-4 / 324 0.9323​	​
Zavion Hardy Tattnall Square Academy (Macon, GA) DL 6-5 / 262 0.9480​	​

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1553104665998508034

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1553396212740591616

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1553442890705211393

 

[Escambia94]

Going into the recruiting "dead period" the Gators have the number 13 class with 16 commitments.

1​	Notre Dame 23 Commits 93.04 1 19 3 292.03​
2​	Alabama 18 Commits 94.79 4 11 2 289.32​
3​	Ohio State 19 Commits 93.25 1 16 2 281.41​
4​	Georgia 18 Commits 93.05 2 12 4 279.07​
5​	Texas 21 Commits 91.91 2 13 6 278.30​
6​	Oklahoma 19 Commits 91.72 1 10 8 267.31​
7​	Clemson 19 Commits 91.78 2 14 3 265.77​
8​	LSU 18 Commits 92.10 1 12 5 265.60​
9​	Miami 17 Commits 92.09 1 8 8 264.50​
10​	Penn State 17 Commits 91.63 1 12 4 252.77​
11​	Tennessee 19 Commits 90.26 1 7 11 252.22​
12​	USC 15 Commits 91.96 2 7 6 246.38​
13​	Florida 16 Commits 91.14 0 14 2 238.42​
14​	Arkansas 23 Commits 88.65 0 8 15 235.97​
15​	Oregon 13 Commits 91.60 1 8 4 223.98​
16​	Baylor 24 Commits 88.09 0 3 19 219.64​
17​	Texas Tech 24 Commits 87.47 0 3 21 217.69​
18​	Louisville 13 Commits 91.01 1 6 6 217.21​
19​	South Carolina 17 Commits 88.71 0 8 9 216.79​
20​	Cincinnati 21 Commits 87.61 0 3 18 212.41​

The next batch of commitments from the Florida offer list will be from RB Cedric Baxter, DL Kelby Collins, and DL Kamran Jones. Hypothetically a commitment from all three would add 25.11 points and bump the class close to the top 10 (assuming Penn State, Tennessee, or USCw do not add similarly ranked 4-star athletes as well). Texas is in the lead for Baxter. Collins and James have been crystal-balled to the Gators, which would add 15.59 points and maybe move the Gators up 2 spots (same assumption as above).

The key observation is that the Gators have been adding plenty of blue chip athletes with ratings around 93, which adds at least 20 points to the overall rating as calculated using the 247 recruiting class calculator. Florida is the highest ranked team so far without a 5-star athlete. For comparison, if Florida were to add just one 5-star right now it would bump the class ranking to #10 above Penn State. Adding one 5-star and the two 4-star commitments CB'd to Florida would bump the class to about #6 or #7. Miami's recruiting is slightly better than Florida's due to the 5-star, but their 4-star recruits are slightly lower in rating. Florida also has the fewest number of commitments in the top 15 other than Oregon.

There are some rumors of a surprise commitment over the next few days from one of the following:
- Tomarrion Parker DL 6-4 250 95.2209 + 25.07
- Will Norman DL 6-5 290 93.8811 + 23.30
- Kayden McDonald DL 6-3 310 90.4428 + 9.69
- Jaden Robinson LB 6-0.5 215 89.3333 + 9.16

Parker just decommitted from Penn State and has been rumored to be a Georgia lean. Normal has been CB'd to Florida, but he has interest from Jackson State (and former Gator coach/ recruiter Tim Brewster). McDonald has been CB'd to Clemson, but he has interest from Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. Robinson is a South Carolina commitment, but for some reason there are rumors of him flipping. If I had to guess, Will Norman is not the surprise commitment, and he is a silent commitment that I would add on "the list" along with Parker, McDonald, or Robinson. In my opinion, getting Parker or McDonald would be a good surprise. Normal flipping to Jackson State would be a negative surprise. My prediction is that Florida gets commitments this week from Collins, Jones, and either Parker or McDonald; and a September commitment from Norman. If the Gators have a good week, then the class may eke into the top 10 temporarily with 19 commitments and a rating of 265.78. The worst case would be if the Gators whiffed on a couple of these commitments and remained around #13.

 

[DRU2012]

( @Escambia94, )
So, based on your latest "consolidation", E--, how are we currently doing, in your view?
I mean, from a comparative P.O.V., it seems we are at the very least "on the come" now--especially measured against how things were trending a coupla months back!
But I suppose I'm looking for a more objective, placed-against-a-more-historically-empirical analysis of "what it takes to build a WINNER"!
(For eg, a coupla 5-star "big uglies" on EITHER line, O- or D-, would go a long way towards improving MY view--never MIND how it'd affect where we stand among the "media rankings"!)

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1557518924069195778

 

[Escambia94]

( @Escambia94, )
So, based on your latest "consolidation", E--, how are we currently doing, in your view?
I mean, from a comparative P.O.V., it seems we are at the very least "on the come" now--especially measured against how things were trending a coupla months back!
But I suppose I'm looking for a more objective, placed-against-a-more-historically-empirical analysis of "what it takes to build a WINNER"!
(For eg, a coupla 5-star "big uglies" on EITHER line, O- or D-, would go a long way towards improving MY view--never MIND how it'd affect where we stand among the "media rankings"!)

I think the Gators are doing well. Slow and steady.

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1558534682907639809

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1558855460534587396

 

[Escambia94]

7/7/2022 - #26
7/8/2022 - #19
7/30/2022 - #12
8/10/2022 - #13
8/14/2022 - #10

Name	Rating	School
Cormani McClain Lakeland (Lakeland, FL) CB 6-1.5 / 165 0.9992​	99.92	TBD​
Keon Keeley Berkeley Prep (Tampa, FL) EDGE 6-6 / 242 0.9955​	99.55	Notre Dame​
Francis Mauigoa IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) OT 6-5 / 330 0.9954​	99.54	Miami​
James Smith DL 6-4 310 99.1450 + 29.15​	99.15	TBD​
Tony Mitchell Thompson (Alabaster, AL) CB 6-2 / 180 0.9903​	99.03	Alabama​
Duce Robinson Pinnacle (Phoenix, AZ) TE 6-6 / 225 0.9902​	99.02	CB (USCw)​
Samson Okunlola Thayer Academy (Braintree, MA) OT 6-5 / 305 0.9887​	98.87	CB (Miami)​
Peter Woods DL 6-4 265 98.7468 + 28.75​	98.75	Clemson​
Richard Young Lehigh Senior (Lehigh Acres, FL) RB 5-11 / 200 0.9874​	98.74	Alabama​
Samuel M'Pemba IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) EDGE 6-3.5 / 240 0.9864​	98.64	CB (Miami or Georgia)​
Jaquavious Russaw Carver (Montgomery, AL) Edge 6-2 230 98.5878 + 28.41​	98.59	TBD​
Joenel Aguero St. John's Prep (Danvers, MA) S 6-0 / 195 0.9840​	98.40​	Georgia​
Johntay Cook II DeSoto (DeSoto, TX) WR 6-0 / 170 0.9839​	98.39​	Texas​
Troy Bowles Jesuit (Tampa, FL) LB 6-1 / 205 0.9797​	97.97​	Georgia​
Cedric Baxter Jr. Edgewater (Orlando, FL) RB 6-1 / 215 0.9791​	97.91​	Texas​
Damon Wilson Venice (Venice, FL) EDGE 6-4 / 230 0.9783​	97.83​	TBD​
Malik Bryant Jones (Orlando, FL) LB 6-2 / 235 0.9778​	97.78​	Miami​
Jaden Rashada QB 6-4 185 97.7422 + 27.74​	97.74​	Miami​
Monroe Freeling Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mount Pleasant, SC) OT 6-7 / 283 0.9699​	96.99​	TBD​
Kelby Collins Gardendale (Gardendale, AL) DL 6-5 / 280 0.9685​	96.85​	Florida​
Aidan Mizell Boone (Orlando, FL) WR 6-2 180 96.5821 + 25.15​	96.58​	Florida​
Raylen Wilson Lincoln (Tallahassee, FL) LB 6-2 / 213 0.9645 -- Michigan​	96.45​	Georgia​
Derrick LeBlanc Osceola (Kissimmee, FL) DL 6-4 / 270 0.9634​	96.34​	Oklahoma​
Keldric Faulk Highland Home (Highland Home, AL) DL 6-5 / 240 0.9604​	96.04​	FSU​
Dijon Johnson Wharton (Tampa, FL) CB 6-1 190 95.6037 + 25.45​	95.60​	CB (UF or tOSU)​
John Walker Osceola (Kissimmee, FL) DL 6-3 / 310 0.9537​	95.37​	UCF​
Lucas Simmons Clearwater Academy International (Clearwater, FL) OT 6-7 / 300 0.9504​	95.04​	FSU​
Zavion Hardy Tattnall Square Academy (Macon, GA) DL 6-5 / 262 0.9480​	94.80​	CB (South Carolina)​
Will Norman IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) DL 6-5 / 290 0.9468​	94.68​	Florida​
Raul Aguirre Whitewater (Fayetteville, GA) LB 6-2 / 220 0.9454​	94.54​	Miami​
Roderick Kearney Orange Park (Orange Park, FL) IOL 6-4 / 300 0.9425​	94.25​	FSU​
Eugene Wilson III Gaither (Tampa, FL) ATH 5-11 / 165 0.9365​	93.65​	Florida​
Tyler Williams Lakeland (Lakeland, FL) WR 6-3 / 180 0.9354​	93.54​	CB (Georgia 9/27/2022)​
T.J. Searcy Upson-Lee (Thomaston, GA) DL 6-5 / 250 0.9344​	93.44​	Florida​
Jordan Hall Westside (Jacksonville, FL) DL 6-4.5 / 300 0.9337​	93.37​	CB (FSU)​
Treyaun Webb Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL) RB 6-1 / 205 0.9324​	93.24​	Florida​
Xzavier McLeod Camden (Camden, SC) DL 6-4 / 324 0.9323​	93.23​	CB (South Carolina 8/18/2022)​
Daquavious Sorey Chipley (Chipley, FL) WR 6-2 185 92.6885 + 21.46​	92.69​	CB (UF)​
Tyree Adams St. Augustine (New Orleans, LA) OT 6-5 285 92.3312 + 15.04​	92.33​	LSU​
Isaiah Nixon Lakewood (Saint Petersburg, FL) Edge 6-4 215 92.2422 + 22.11​	92.24​	Florida​
Sharif Denson Bartram Trail (Jacksonville, FL) CB 5-11.5 / 170 0.9204​	92.04​	Florida​
Jordan Castell West Orange (Winter Garden, FL) S 6-2 / 195 0.9187​	91.87​	Florida​
Grayson Howard Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville, FL) LB 6-3 / 223 0.9119​	91.19​	South Carolina​
Ja'Keem Jackson Osceola (Kissimmee, FL) CB 6-1 / 180 0.9117​	91.17​	Florida​
Kamran James Olympia (Orlando, FL) DL 6-6.5 / 265 0.9115​	91.15​	Florida​
Gavin Hill F. W. Buchholz (Gainesville, FL) DL 6-3 / 255 0.9108​	91.08​	Florida​
Payton Kirkland Dr. Phillips (Orlando, FL) OT 6-6 / 345 0.9100​	91.00​	Texas​
Justin Jefferson Pearl River C.C. (Poplarville, MS) LB 6-1 / 215 90.666 +8.5​	90.67​	Alabama​
Kayden McDonald North Gwinnett (Suwanee, GA) DL 6-3 / 310 0.9045​	90.45​	CB (Clemson)​
Andy Jean Northwestern (Miami, FL) WR 6-1 / 180 0.9037​	90.37​	Florida​
Aaron Gates Trinity Christian (Sharpsburg, GA) ATH 6-0 180 90.1401 + 18.25​	90.14​	Florida​
Karmelo Overton Caroll (Caroll, AL) LB 6-0 200 89.5482 + 6.89​	89.55​	TBD​
Michael Mitchell Middleburg (Middleburg, FL) RB 6-0 195 89.2016 + 4.79​	89.20​	Utah​
Knijeah Harris IOL 6-3 335 89.1568 + 16.42​	89.16​	Florida​
Marcus Stokes Nease (Jacksonville, FL) QB 6-2 185 89.0586 +15.26​	89.06​	Florida​
Caden Jones De La Salle (De La Salle, LA) OT 6-7 305 89.0000 + 3.91​	89.00​	TBD​
Samuel Omosigho Crandall (Crandall, TX) LB 6-1 208 88.8611 +11.44​	88.86​	Oklahoma​
Creed Whittemore Buchholz (Gainesville, FL) ATH 5-11.5 175 88.3598 + 14.70​	88.35​	Florida​
Bryce Thornton Milton (Alpharetta, GA) S 5-10 185 88.2593 + 3.76​	88.26​	TBD​
Bryce Lovett Rockledge (Rockledge, FL) OT 6-5 330 87.5833 + 12.99​	87.58​	Florida​
Tyree Patterson Eustis (Eustis, FL) WR 6-2 175 86.5278 + 11.13​	86.83​	Florida​
Tommy Kinsler Trinity Catholic (Ocala, FL) IOL 6-6 330 86.1389 + 0.62​	86.14​	Miami (UF decommit)​

 

[DRU2012]

"Slow and steady"--like the tortoise, right?
I'd STILL like to see us grab some 5-stars along either line, though.
(But seeing that near-500 lb "immoveable object" they brought in as a "project" continue to shed weight while adding mobility and athletic prowess might still turn out well.)

 

[Escambia94]

"Slow and steady"--like the tortoise, right?
I'd STILL like to see us grab some 5-stars along either line, though.
(But seeing that near-500 lb "immoveable object" they brought in as a "project" continue to shed weight while adding mobility and athletic prowess might still turn out well.)

Keon Keeley just de-committed from Notre Dame and placed Florida in its top-3 with Ohio State and Alabama. Rumor has it that Jaquavious Russaw is also in the mix. Getting one of those two along with Cormani McClain puts Florida in the top 5.

 

[DRU2012]

Keon Keeley just de-committed from Notre Dame and placed Florida in its top-3 with Ohio State and Alabama. Rumor has it that Jaquavious Russaw is also in the mix. Getting one of those two along with Cormani McClain puts Florida in the top 5.

All in all, we certainly seem to have "turned a crucial corner" here under Napier & Co., at least as far as the admittedly important recruitimg game is concerned. If this indeed turns out to be the way things are henceforth done out there, that'll be a huge change that will pay dividends (something everyone in Gator Nation EXCEPT Dan Mullen seemed to understand over the last season or two, by the way; I still find that all so frustratingly strange...Did he just lose interest in college football in general? Or just in being Coach of the Florida Gators? Oh well; this will be the last time I mention it--or HIM, for that matter. I apologize, and will move on).
Meanwhile though, Game 1 2022 rushes upon us now, and frankly I don't know WHAT to expect against Utah, even at home. I want to take heart and courage from the reports trickling back about our performances in summer practice on BOTH sides of the ball--but these are sketchy at best, I fear: We'll have to go by "early onfield results" ALONE--so who knows??!
What's the over/under on our eventual record? Something like 7 wins, give or take .5?
But that's a pure "safe guess", drawn from a crowd of so-called experts who know more about general arithmetic than Gator football in particular. I don't even wanna GUESS til I see them play a game or two. But for now, heading into a season that is now crazily just DAYS away, I guess the most I can say with any "certainty" is that we may start out with some "promising uneveness"--maybe even losing a coupla close ones early--but showing more and more strength, even pulling out a couple/few surprises as the season goes on. I think we'll beat the "mendoza line" drawn by the media prognosticators--and deep down burns a small spark of hope that, with spirit and a coupla breaks our way we COULD do even better than that, and set ourselves up in the "Gators are BACK!" ROLE by bowl season.

 

[Escambia94]

All in all, we certainly seem to have "turned a crucial corner" here under Napier & Co., at least as far as the admittedly important recruitimg game is concerned. If this indeed turns out to be the way things are henceforth done out there, that'll be a huge change that will pay dividends (something everyone in Gator Nation EXCEPT Dan Mullen seemed to understand over the last season or two, by the way; I still find that all so frustratingly strange...Did he just lose interest in college football in general? Or just in being Coach of the Florida Gators? Oh well; this will be the last time I mention it--or HIM, for that matter. I apologize, and will move on).
Meanwhile though, Game 1 2022 rushes upon us now, and frankly I don't know WHAT to expect against Utah, even at home. I want to take heart and courage from the reports trickling back about our performances in summer practice on BOTH sides of the ball--but these are sketchy at best, I fear: We'll have to go by "early onfield results" ALONE--so who knows??!
What's the over/under on our eventual record? Something like 7 wins, give or take .5?
But that's a pure "safe guess", drawn from a crowd of so-called experts who know more about general arithmetic than Gator football in particular. I don't even wanna GUESS til I see them play a game or two. But for now, heading into a season that is now crazily just DAYS away, I guess the most I can say with any "certainty" is that we may start out with some "promising uneveness"--maybe even losing a coupla close ones early--but showing more and more strength, even pulling out a couple/few surprises as the season goes on. I think we'll beat the "mendoza line" drawn by the media prognosticators--and deep down burns a small spark of hope that, with spirit and a coupla breaks our way we COULD do even better than that, and set ourselves up in the "Gators are BACK!" ROLE by bowl season.

2022 Game Predictions by FPI and Win Probability

The Mighty Gators kick off the 2022 redemption tour against the 2021 Pac-12 champions Utah Utes. This will be the first year for Billy Napier as "head ball coach" (all lower-case in deference to Steve Spurrier) who is currently 40-12 (79.92%) as head coach for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Sports...

www.gatorenvy.com

 

[DRU2012]

2022 Game Predictions by FPI and Win Probability

The Mighty Gators kick off the 2022 redemption tour against the 2021 Pac-12 champions Utah Utes. This will be the first year for Billy Napier as "head ball coach" (all lower-case in deference to Steve Spurrier) who is currently 40-12 (79.92%) as head coach for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Sports...

www.gatorenvy.com

Bit of an "upbeat non-answer"--But with little more than "hope and fingers-crossed" myself, I'll take it and "run out there to the roar of the crowd", come game day.

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1571523166073196545