Gators signee Wilson turns into UF recruiter during week
Florida Gators signee Shemar James, a linebacker from Mobile, Ala., was unable to participate in the Under Armour All-American Game, but safety Kamari Wilson was.
Wilson, a surprise signee for the Gators during the early National Signing Day, is from Fort Pierce Westwood High but played the final two seasons of his high school career at IMG Academy in Bradenton.
Wilson turned into a big-time Gators’ recruiter, and one of his main targets was Pontchatoula, La., linebacker Jaoby Mathews, who is uncommitted. Mathews will be signing his National Letter of Intent on Feb. 2, and he’s down to five schools. The Gators are in the mix, as well as Texas A&M, Texas, LSU and Alabama.
Texas A&M had 16 players in Sunday’s all-American event, including Cypress (Texas) linebacker Harold
Perkins, who committed to the Aggies during the game. There have been plenty of future Aggies trying to recruit more players for Jimbo Fisher’s staff, but it’s not the only school.
“It’s not just Texas A&M; all these other schools are coming at me,” Mathews said. “Kamari WIlson from Florida, guys from every other school, they’re all trying to come at me and get me. It’s a lot, but they all just want me to play with them, so I know I’m wanted in that program, wherever it’s at.”
“I like dealing with the guys, but, yeah, they’ve been giving me a lot of trouble out here.”
Mathews said his interest in Florida stems from his relationship with new Florida head coach Billy Napier, who came over from Louisiana.
“[Napier] recruited me when he was at ULM,” Mathews said. “So I’ve been talking to him when he was there, and then Coach [Corey] Raymond [new Gators cornerback coach], I was talking to him when he was at LSU.”
Mathews is ranked as the No. 4 safety in the country, according to the 247 Sorts composite rankings. If he picks the Gators, he would be UF’s No. 2-ranked recruit in the 2022 class behind Wilson.
Paying tribute to late Ocoee star Aaron Wilson:
Baltimore St. Frances Academy defensive lineman Derrick Moore was named MVP of the game for his performance, which included two sacks. He wore a shirt under his jersey with a picture of former teammate and Ocoee product Aaron Wilson on it during the game. Wilson transferred to St. Frances in 2019. After a year-long bout with cancer, he died in April.
“It’s a great moment. I just went out and played my heart out and played for A4,” Moore said.
FSU signee tosses 1st-play TD pass:
Florida State signee AJ Duffy started off the fireworks for Team Icon, which won the game 23-17.
Duffy, a California native who played at IMG Academy last season, connected on a short pass to Missouri signee and East St. Louis, Ill., receiver Luther Burden, who turned it into a 65-yard touchdown pass to start the game.
Duffy was also the winner of the Under Armour event’s quarterback accuracy challenge Saturday.
3 in-game commitments:
Perkins, who chose to commit to Texas A.M., giving the Aggies 16 Under
Armour All-American Game commitments, was one of three in-game commitments Sunday. Las Vegas running back Jovantae Barnes chose Oklahoma, and DeSoto (Texas) defensive lineman Omari Abor selected Ohio State.