The second-to-last weekend before National Signing Day tends to be one of the biggest and most important, and the Gators have seemingly pulled out all the stops.
Coach Jim McElwain and his coaching staff are scheduled to host 11 highly ranked prospects on campus for official visits.
Three-star quarterback Jake Allen (Fort Lauderdale, Fl.) has been committed to the Gators for more than 18 months and he’s seemingly seen everything UF has to offer.
But Allen will be just one of seven Gators commits who will arrive Friday in Gainesville for an official visit.
En route to the ‘Ville for my official
— Jake Allen (@Jakeallen_14) January 20, 2017
Gators commit DE Zach Carter (Tampa, Fl.) will make the trip north Friday for his official visit.
Yeaaa dat way ➡️ #HomeVisit pic.twitter.com/GDFZVhxft2
— Zachary L Carter (@_ZachAttacks) January 17, 2017
McElwain and staff went in-home with Carter on Monday, but his commitment hasn’t swayed the University of South Florida from continuing his recruitment.
USF came by…. pic.twitter.com/PZ3VeQRQj0
— Zachary L Carter (@_ZachAttacks) January 20, 2017
TE Zech Byrd (Millbrook, Ala.) gave the Gators his verbal commitment in August, and the three-star prospect is scheduled to arrive in Gainesville on Friday for an official visit.
Although Byrd doesn’t have an official visit planned for Jan. 27, Alabama remains in the running to sign the 6-foot-6 recruit.
Before he arrives Friday for his official visit, four-star running back Malik Davis (Jesuit) took home some hardware Thursday.
Honored to receive the Guy Toph award & have my name inscribed next to so many great players!!#GuyToph #AMDG pic.twitter.com/ZXzckzD6gi
— Malik Davis 2️⃣0️⃣ (@Campaign_Lik) January 19, 2017
Davis won the Guy Toph Award for his 2016 season, one in which he set the all-time Hillsborough County career rushing record.
With his brother bound for the NFL, Marco Wilson is set to begin his career in Gainesville.
The American Heritage standout and younger brother of former Gators defensive back Quincy Wilson will take an official visit this weekend to Gainesville.
— Marco Wilson (@MjW_era) January 17, 2017
Marco Wilson committed to the Gators over Miami (Fl.) and the University of Southern California, and all signs point to him having shut down his recruitment.
Joining Wilson will be his teammate, defensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton. While Florida appears to be the favorite to sign Slaton, the Gators face stiff competition from Miami (Fl.) and Georgia, who get Slaton’s final official visit on Jan. 27.
Offensive lineman T.J. Moore (Charlotte, N.C.) will head south Friday for an official visit at UF.
Moore committed to the Gators on Christmas and has seemingly shut down his recruitment heading into National Signing Day.
Defensive tackle Elijah Conliffe (Hampton, Va.) received a visit from Florida’s coaching staff Wednesday, and he’s set to return the favor Friday.
Heading To Gainesville Tomorrow . pic.twitter.com/5pIusT8Q2p
— Elijah Conliffe (@ElijahPrime) January 19, 2017
The four-star prospect took an official visit to Knoxville to see the University of Tennessee on Jan. 13, but the Gators will get a chance to exceed their impression.
Tampa Tech wide receiver Daquon Green received a visit from UF’s coaching staff this week, and the Gators commit will be in Gainesville on Friday for an official visit.
OV gone be too
— DaQuon Green (@iamDG7) January 20, 2017
Florida has two linebackers committed in the 2017 class, but the Gators are in play to sign a third.
Nick Smith (Orlando, Fl.) de-committed from N.C. State on Thursday and will take an official visit to Florida over the weekend.
Gainesville This weekend pic.twitter.com/7IKxykAR9r
— Nick Smith (@NSmith2017) January 20, 2017
After de-committing from Miami in October, Christopher Henderson has been leaning towards joining the Gators.
But Florida isn’t the only team in the mix to sign the highly recruited defensive back.
Henderson took an official visit to Alabama on Jan. 13, and 247Sports reports Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban went in-home with Henderson on Wednesday.
Florida will have an opportunity to erase Saban’s impression, however, when Henderson arrives Friday for an official visit in Gainesville.
Omw to Gville..
— Chris Henderson Jr. (@HendersonChris_) January 20, 2017