Before Billy Napier arrived at Florida, five-star IMG Academy running back Jerrick Gibson was the shining pearl of the Gators’ 2024 recruiting class. After Dan Mullen was axed, Gibson mulled things over and backed off that pledge, but he’s still giving the Gators a shot to earn back his commitment.
Gibson was in Gainesville Saturday for Florida’s final Junior Day of the January 2023 contact period. The entire month of February is a dead period for recruiting, so this visit served as the final word until spring trips begin in March. It was only his second time seeing the new facilities, and Gibson got a much better look than he did when he saw UF host USF in September, according to Gators Online.
“This was my second time visiting the new facility, so today was a surprise,” Gibson said. “The first time I didn’t see everything, but today I got to see everything and get around the facility. It amazed me how much stuff they have at the facility.”
He spent time with running backs coach Jabbar Juluke and Napier going over what his role might be with the Gators. Juluke coached three players to 500-yard seasons or better in 2022, so Gibson doesn’t see himself struggling to find playing time.
Montrell Johnson Jr. could be in the NFL by the time Gibson gets on a college campus, Trevor Etienne will be one year away from becoming draft-eligible and Treyaun Webb is the only scholarship back in the most recent class. A triumvirate of Etienne, Gibson and Webb might be elite, and quarterback DJ Lagway will be on campus too.
Florida has plenty of catching up to do, but there is the hometown element weighing on Gibson. Before he wound up at IMG Academy, Gibson was playing for Gainesville High.
“It’s home,” Gibson said. “It’s always been home, so that’s one of the things they got up on everybody.”
In addition to UF, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas are among the programs pushing hardest for Gibson. He’s hoping to take official visits over the summer, and one of those schools isn’t getting one. Florida has to figure out a way to make sure it’s not the odd man left out.
Gibson is ranked No. 11 overall and No. 1 among running backs on the On3 consensus. He broke the top 10 on the 247Sports composite, claiming the final spot with a .9941 rating.
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