The Florida Gators held their first slate of formal visits this weekend, with numerous of their top targets and pledges in attendance. Furthermore, the team looks to have hit it out of the park with a few prospects, receiving numerous positive predictions over the weekend.
On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Blake Alderman projected Mobile (Ala. ) Williamson four-star linebacker Ellis McGaskin and Lithonia (Ga. ) four-star offensive lineman Kennedee Jackson to join the Gators this weekend. On Monday, On3’s Corey Bender predicted that Florida would sign McGaskin and Zahmar Tookes, a four-star defensive lineman from Brighton, N. Y.
McGaskin is a former Notre Dame signee who re-entered the market in January. According to ESPN, he is the No. 220 overall player and No. 13 in Alabama. Other institutions competing for his signature include LSU, FSU, and Georgia, all of which have scheduled official visits with him in the next weeks.
If Florida prevailed in his recruitment, he would become the second linebacker to join to the Gators this weekend. The first commit was four-star linebacker Ja’Bios Smith from Swainsboro, Fla. , who committed Friday.
Jackson, who has already received numerous predictions to land in Florida’s 2027 class, is the No. 100 overall prospect and No. 11 player in Georgia, according to Rivals. Jackson’s top seven recruiting schools are Florida, Texas, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Auburn. He has a commitment deadline of June 10.
However, it appears to be a fight between Florida and Georgia for him, and he has a formal visit to Georgia planned for next weekend.
Jackson’s commitment to the Gators would be the program’s fourth blue-chip offensive line commit. Furthermore, it would be the first time since 2006 that they signed four top-150 offensive line prospects.
Finally, Rivals rated Tookes as the No. 182 overall prospect and No. 20 defensive lineman in the class, and he would be Florida’s fourth commit at the position, alongside three-stars De’Voun Kendrick, Stive-Bentley Keumajou Yondui, and Cain Van Norden. He has yet to set a commitment date, but the Gators look to be in the driving seat, with Penn State falling behind.
He is set to make formal visits to Penn State (June 5).
Nebraska (June 12) and Georgia (June 19).
Florida Gators 2027 Recruitment Class
Florida Gators on SI is keeping up with all of the Gators’ moves in the 2027 recruiting class on our official tracker. According to ESPN, Florida’s 2027 recruiting class is currently rated as high as fourth nationally, with a strong possibility of rising into the top three over the summer.
