Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Napier lands 2 commits amid angst over loss of QB Rashada
GAINESVILLE — Quarterback Jaden Rashada’s commitment to Miami on Sunday over Florida set off message board meltdowns, social media criticism of the Gators’ new staff and a war of words between attorneys on the nation’s two coasts.
Meanwhile, Billy Napier stayed the course and looked to bolster his pivotal 2023 class.
Jacksonville cornerback Sharif Denson of Bartram Trail High committed Monday night, delivering the Gators an athletic 4-star recruit from a key recruiting area. Gavin Hill, a 4-star defensive lineman from Gainesville Buchholz, committed Saturday night.
Sandwiched between the announcements on each defender’s Instagram accounts, Rashada scorned the Gators for Miami amid reports he’d received an NIL deal worth nearly $10 million. Florida entered last week in the lead for Rashada, the nation’s fifth-rated quarterback according to 247Sports, until a late push Miami first-year coach Mario Cristobal, reportedly with a helping hand from billionaire booster John Ruiz.
A native of Pittsburg, Calif., Rashada denied the deal his Newport Beach-based attorney Michael Caspino discussed with On3.com publicly. Caspino said his client “turned down millions” from the Gator Collective, a collection of Florida boosters facilitating NIL opportunities for athletes.
Caspino called the collective “dysfunctional.”
South Florida attorney Darren Heitner, who helped usher in the state’s NIL legislation and worked with the Gator Collective, fired back and accused Caspino of committing an NCAA violation.
“If he took an NIL deal, lesser or not, by picking the Hurricanes, then that’s a violation no matter what his contract states,” Heitner wrote.
The collective denied speaking to Rashada.
While the public drama unfolded, the Gators landed two top defenders close to home.
The 5-11½, 170-pound Denson is the nation’s 24th-rated cornerback prospect and No. 206 overall, according to on 247Sports composite rankings.
Following his announcement, Denson posted a video with himself, along with former Gators and fellow Jacksonville natives Fred Weary, Ciatrick Fason, Lito Sheppard and Guss Scott. Denson, whose parents attended UF, chose the Gators over Miami and Texas A&M.
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Hill is rated No. 38 at his position and No. 256 overall by 247Sports.
The Gators’ 2023 class ranking rose from No. 40 to No. 26 following two non-binding commitments. Early National Signing Day is Dec. 21.
The decisions also continued the success of Napier and his staff luring prospects close to Gainesville.
Last week, 4-star edge rusher Isaiah Nixon of St. Petersburg flipped his commitment from UCF to UF. At No. 195 overall, Nixon is the top-rated prospect in the Gators’ class.
Florida also has pledges from 4-star offensive lineman Knijeah Harris of Bradenton’s IMG Academy, 3-star wide receiver Creed Whittemore of Gainesville, the younger brother of Gators’ receiver Trent Whittemore, 3-star offensive lineman Bryce Lovett of Rockledge, 3-star wide receiver Tyree Patterson of Eustis and 3-star offensive lineman Tommy Kinsler of Ocala.
Rashada would have considerably boosted the Gators’ class and given Napier a big recruiting win over not only Miami but LSU, Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
Yet, Anthony Richardson, a 20-year-old redshirt sophomore also is poised for a breakout season.
The big-play threat of Richardson was on full display this past week at the Manning Passing Academy. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound Richardson’s heave of more than 70 yards set the Internet ablaze.
Richardson’s performance will be pivotal to the Gators’ success during Napier’s inaugural season. The Gators’ long-term fortunes will be tied closely to the new staff ’s first full recruiting class.
Headwinds remain.
Coming off a 6-7 season, Florida does not boast the recent success of Georgia, Alabama or even Texas A&M, 8-4 in 2022. The Gators’ recruiting efforts under former coach Dan Mullen left holes on the roster. The program’s efforts in NIL publicly have not been on par with other top programs.
A positive: The $85 million, 140,000-square foot standalone is set open at the end of the July and be fully operational in August.
The Gators remain in the hunt for many top prospects, but they have plenty of competition. Top running prospect Cedric Baxter of Edgewater, for example, attended Florida’s 7-on-7 camp last week. The nation’s No. 3 tailback, though, visited Texas earlier this month and could follow top quarterback Arch Manning to Austin.
Napier penned a letter to the fan base last week to express his gratitude for their support during his recent speaking tour and since his December arrival. The 42-year-old coach also emphasized his holistic approach to player development beyond the football field.
The letter led to immediate social media speculation Napier had written it to distract people from the program’s inability to land top recruits. A source inside the program said Napier had planned for weeks to release the letter when he did.