Taking a look at the Florida’s #GatorGangXX early signing class for 2020.
The first two seasons of the Dan Mullen era in Gainesville have earned the Florida Gators back-to-back New Year’s Six Bowl games.
Last year, the Gators routed Michigan in the Peach Bowl.
The on-field success usually translates well into securing a top recruiting class.
Entering Wednesday’s early National Signing Day, the Gators sported the No. 7 overall recruiting class in the country, which was No. 5 in the super-competitive SEC.
So how did Wednesday, which is the first of three days that high school players can sign a national letter of intent that binds them with their college choice, fare for UF?
Here’s a look at who signed with the Gators for their #GatorGangXX class:
▪ P Jeremy Crawshaw, Australia: Crawshaw set a record as the earliest signee in Gators program history due to him being in Emu Plains, New South Wales, where the clock was 16 hours ahead of the eastern time zone.
▪ S Tre’Vez Johnson, Jacksonville Bartram Trail: Having a player that can run a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash in the secondary is quite an asset. Johnson was one of several defensive backs the Gators signed for the 2020 class as they put a stamp on their claim as DBU (defensive back university).
▪ DT Gervon Dexter, Lake Wales: The Gators secured signatures from three more in-state players within 30 minutes Wednesday morning. Derek Wingo and Dexter are four-star recruits, with Dexter ranked as the No. 3 defensive tackle in the country and Wingo rated the No. 7 outside linebacker in the nation, according to the 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
▪ CB Ethan Pouncey, Winter Park: Gators fans should know the Pouncey name. He’s the cousin of former Gators Mike and Maurkice Pouncey. And his addition increases the depth at defensive back for this year’s class.
▪ DE/LB Antwaun Powell, Indian River (Portsmouth, Virginia): Powell hasn’t played much this year due to a shoulder injury but is expected to play in the Under Armour All-American Game.
▪ S Mordecai McDaniel, St. John’s College High (Washington D.C.): Before the clock hit 9 a.m., the Gators continued their impressive haul for the secondary. They also added a legacy with Odom, who is the son of former Gators offensive lineman Jason, who played on three SEC championship teams in the early 1990s.
▪ WR Ja’Quavion Fraziers, Dunnellon: UF coach Dan Mullen’s penchant for developing quarterbacks is well-known and he didn’t miss on securing a dual-threat talent in his backyard. Richardson’s signature on Wednesday was a formality as he already has been on campus participating in bowl practices as UF prepares for the Orange Bowl.
▪ CB Fenley Graham, Lakeland: The additions of Torrence and Graham by Wednesday afternoon brought the defensive back count to seven for this year’s Florida Gators signing class.
▪ OT Joshua Braun, Live Oak Suwannee: By now you have probably seen just how athletic and agile Braun is for an offensive lineman. His footwork dazzled Gators fans via social media when a video showcasing his tennis skills circulated after he committed to UF last week.
▪ LB Derek Wingo, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: Wingo joined a long line of Aquinas alumni to play in the SEC.
▪ OT Gerald Mincey, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons: Mincey is touted as having above-average footwork, and his signature provides added depth to the offensive line.
▪ OT Issiah Walker Jr., Miami Norland: Walker was the last signee from Wednesday after conducting his ceremony at 7:20 p.m., where he streamed his decision to sign with the Gators on Twitter.
▪ OG Richard Leonard, Cocoa
▪ TE Jonathan Odom, Tampa Jesuit
▪ CB Avery Helm, Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City, Texas)
▪ QB Anthony Richardson, Gainesville Eastside
▪ DT Johnnie Brown, Sebring
▪ DT Lamar Goods, St. Thomas More (Montville, Connecticut)
▪ CB Jahari Rogers, Arlington (Texas)
▪ S Rashad Torrence II, Marietta (Georgia)
▪ DT Jalen Lee, Live Oak (Watson, Louisiana)
▪ Transfers: WR Jordan Pouncey, Texas; OLB Brenton Cox, Georgia
