After an up-and-down season for the Gators, a new recruiting class full of talent will look to improve the team. This off-season Billy Napier’s club has secured 18 four-stars and two three-stars. Despite the loss of a ton of players, Florida could be looking to have a comeback season with the impactful recruits they’re bringing in for 2023.
UF’s Most Impactful Recruits for 2023
#5 Treyaun Webb (RB)
The Gators, who already have a stacked running back room, are bringing in another impressive back. Treyuan Webb (the four-star from Trinity Christian Academy) is going to be a great addition to Florida’s already 1-2 punch. Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson (the players who make up that 1-2 punch) were a big part of the offense’s success.
The offense relied heavily on the run game because the Gators struggled to throw the football. The passing game for the Gators couldn’t exactly find a rhythm during the 2022 season even with Anthony Richardson under center. Now that Florida has locked in a grade-A running back, be prepared to see the running game succeed even more than it did last season.
#4 Aiden Mizell (WR)
One of the big storylines entering the 2022 season was how Anthony Richardson would turn out. The athletic, elusive quarterback was sought to be a big part of the Gators’ success during the season. 12 games and a 6-6 record later Richardson is looking to be a first-round draft pick with very little of that due to his passing efficiency during the season.
Furthermore, Aiden Mizell (the four-star from Boone high school) hopes he can add depth to the wide-receiver room. The wide-receiver room for Florida is in desperate need of more talent. Ricky Pearsall, who is coming back for his senior season, will need more players to step up and play a bigger role. Pearsall will once again be the main target, but Mizell could easily be a target number 2 or 3.
#3 Kamran James (DL)
In 2022 one of the biggest downfalls for Florida was the lack of run defense. The Gators’ run defense ranked number 100 out of 131 this past season. Bringing in big guys to help the defensive line was something Napier tried to focus on during recruiting. Napier delivered big time and brought in some key guys.
The addition of Kamran James was one of those key players. James (the four-star from Olympia high school) has the ability to help the Gators stabilize the run next year. He’s got perfect size (standing at 6’6) and can shoot gaps within the offensive line.
#2 Bryce Thornton (S)
As Trey Dean departs for the NFL, the Gators are going to need more safeties that can step in. Bryce Thornton (the four-star from Milton high school) has all the attributes a safety needs. His ability to drop in coverage and make plays is just one of his strong suits.
One of Thornton’s biggest abilities is his physicality. His big presence on the back line will help shut down any big play developments. Not only can he hit, but his speed also brings a nice addition. The combination of physicality and speed makes him stand out from a lot of other safeties.
#1 Kelby Collins (DL)
For starters, Kelby Collins is a defensive animal. Collins can make his presence felt right when he steps on the field. Breaking down blocks within seconds of the ball being snapped makes him so deadly on the line. The number one recruit Florida has in 2023 will be a huge factor.
Along with his brute strength, Collins is also very explosive. Quarterbacks that have had to play against him were given little time to make plays. As emphasized already, the Gators struggled against the run last year. Now with another addition to the defensive line, the Gators should be able to create more negative plays.
The Result
The list of recruits joining the Gators in 2023 goes on, but these five players should make immediate impacts. Florida who didn’t even go .500 last season will need to bounce back. The talent that the Gators have acquired has gotten people excited for what could be in 2023. If the team is unable to get better from last season, questions as to where this team is headed will arise. Even though Napier didn’t exactly disappoint in his first season, Florida will hope to see better results next season.
